Dressed in black

  Portrait of a young Miriam Makeba 

Imagine a world in which you count every second and are certain of only a few minutes. A world in which tomorrow is not certain. Imagine appearing attractive on the death line despite all the ugly. Essentially the tale of the African woman! Black women are well-groomed and incredibly attractive; dressing up and being seen is an integral part of who we are, and there are plenty of opportunities to do it every day. Since the beginning of time, we have been endowed with strength and style.
This site features two ladies with classic, inspirational styles. Get me a fresh wardrobe! 

Miriam Makeba - Clothed in perfect melodies 

"In the mind, in the heart, I was always home. I always imagined, really, going back home"

Zenzile Mirriam Makeba, a South African activist and songwriter/singer, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on March 3, 1932. Sixteen years after her birth, apartheid began to take hold in the nation. Many people in South Africa and throughout Africa were subjected to the same oppression during this gloomy time.

"Africa has her mysteries, and even a wise man cannot understand them. But a wise man respects them"

Mirriam was able to convey her enthusiasm for the various designs and textiles found throughout the continent without being constrained by a single style because to her very simple yet exquisite sense of style.
Mirriam never shied away from showing off her beauty; she always wore the largest headpiece, representing Africa with pride.

"African music, though very old, is always being rediscovered in the West"

The world gave her the nickname "Mama Africa," which came to symbolize the essence of the black woman—that extra spark that God gives us that enables us to shine even in the darkest moments. She could switch from being a glamorous girl to the girl next door while still looking elegant.

"I kept my culture. I kept the music of my roots. Through my music, I became this voice and image of Africa and the people without even realizing"

After touring the UK and the USA, Miriam fled into exile. She later returned to attend her mother's funeral. After that, the authorities of the time forbade her from entering the nation and cancelled her passport, sending her into exile and causing her to relocate permanently to Italy. During this time, Europeans developed a fixation on the sounds that originated from the continent. 

Whilist she made Italy home, she sorely missed her home South Africa. 

"It was hard to be away from home, but I am glad that I am home now"

Hugh Masekela, a jazz musician and activist, was one of many young Africans who immigrated to Europe. From 1964 to 1966, the pair composed beautiful songs together, but their brief marriage did not live up to their legacy. Later, Mirriam wed jazz musician Sonny Pilay and then Caribbean political activist Stokely Carmichael.

"I see other black women imitate my style, which is no style at all but just letting our hair be itself. They call it the Afro Look"

Miriam realized the freeing power of letting our hair be, therefore she rocked every hairstyle, from headwraps to braids, and her hairstyles were everything from boring. 

 "I look at an ant and I see myself: a native South African, endowed by nature with a strength much greater than my size so I might cope with the weight of a racism that crushes my spirit"

The fact that this woman was stunning will never go unnoticed; she possessed an alluring, effortless beauty that spoke to a wide audience and that we enjoyed seeing her display. 

  "Age is wisdom if one has lived one's life properly"

Her sense of style, in my opinion, perfectly complemented the message she sent both on and off stage. She sang with such beauty, creating calming tones, and she sang for and about Africa, wearing it rather well. Mama Africa, that's what she really was.

 "Malaika, nakupenda Malaika"

Winnie Mandela - Winning Closet

“To those who oppose us, we say, ‘Strike the woman, and you strike the rock”

It was a fresh day for fresh horror every morning. On September 26, 1936, Winnie Mandela was born in the middle of darkness, but she was covered with such a huge light. One woman who would wear white and pearls to the war was Mama Winnie. 

“There is no longer anything I can fear. There is nothing the government has not done to me. There isn’t any pain I haven’t known.”

Though one may assume Mama Winnie had a lot on her plate no time to think about fashion, Winnie Mandela never had to think about it. Instead, she made it a point to come up dressed with grace and authority. She was amazing from birth. Winnie had a very expressive sense of style; she was, in my opinion, a switcher—she wore anything at all, but she was always elegant.

"Together, hand in hand, with our matches and our necklaces, we shall liberate this country."

Every image captured her tale; she was a young mother and the wife of a man inprisoned for the crime of justice, and despite her immaculate appearance, she represented the hope of the people.

            "I am the product of the masses of my country and the product of my enemy."

Not only did Winnie possess a good head on her shoulders, but she also always wore a trendy and elegant hat and wrap.
She offered hope and hats whether she was speaking to the country or participating in protests. 

"I will not allow the selfless efforts of my husband and his friends to be abandoned. I will continue the struggle for a free and equal South Africa."

  Breaking mountains and splitting rivers, the women of the fight were prepared to alter the course of history. With just a grin and a pair of pearls, Mama Winnie faced the battle head-on, giving everyone she knew and met reason for optimism.

“It was in the townships where we shed so much blood. Nothing could have been achieved without the sacrifice of the people. Black people.”

Mama Winnie never gave up on style, and her love for the people was clear in everything she did. She lived surrounded by the people she served, and every day was a fashion display in the life of Winnie Mandela.

"It dawned on me then that you either had to survive apartheid, or you had to perish with it. And I decided to survive"

 You would prevail if you could face death while remaining elegantly attired! Mama Winnie looked the part and looked stunning in everything she wore.

“I’m not sorry. I will never be sorry. I would do everything I did again if I had to. Everything.”

In addition to being a mother, wife, and freedom warrior, Winnie Mandela was also a fashion star who was unwaveringly loyal to her people, the African continent, and herself in every way. She never expressed regret, had nothing to be regretful of, and performed everything so elegantly.