Category: Fashion

WINDHOEK, 13 FEB (NAMPA) – The late President Hage Geingob was not only renowned for his leadership but also his impeccable sense of style.

His attire, carefully chosen for every occasion, whether domestic or international, left a lasting impression on many, including local fashion designers who admired his fashion sense.

Namibian fashion designer, Melisa Poulton shared her insights on Geingob’s iconic style and the impact it had on the fashion scene in the country, saying: ‘He was a true style icon. His choice of clothing always exuded confidence and sophistication. His preference for tailored suits, often accessorised with vibrant Namibian fabrics such as Oshiwambo-inspired patterns or the bold colours of the Damara/Nama people, became a signature of his style.’

She added that Geingob’s attention to detail, from perfectly coordinated ties to polished shoes, set a high standard for sartorial elegance, saying that he understood the power of clothing as a form of self-expression and representation.

She sai
d that his attire conveyed a sense of pride in Namibian culture while embracing global fashion influences and was a testament to his ability to bridge traditional and contemporary aesthetics.

Poulton stated that if she had been accorded the opportunity to design or style the late president, she would have jumped at the chance since that is what she has strived for her entire career.

Whether attending official State functions or representing Namibia on the international stage, President Geingob’s wardrobe choice was always meticulously curated, reflecting his status and the value of the nation.

‘As Namibia mourns the loss of President Hage Geingob, his legacy lives on not only in his contributions to the country but also in the enduring influence of his distinguished style. Fashion designers and enthusiasts alike will continue to draw inspiration from his timeless elegance and commitment to representing Namibia with grace and dignity on the global stage,’ Poulton noted.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Kisumu County has been endorsed as the host of the 5th edition of the World Blacks and Africans Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) to be held next year. The event will spotlight Kisumu City on the global stage as the epicentre of cultural excellence. Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o praised the historical vision of uniting the Black race through culture, music, fine art, literature, dance, and religion and highlighted the origins of FESTAC in 1966. He commended the FESTAC leadership for not letting the spirit of black consciousness die despite the political upheavals at that time. ‘Today we gather here with the courage and resoluteness of the Pan-African fathers to say that Kisumu is ready to bring the black people home as the host of FESTAC 2024,’ stated Governor Nyong’o. Prof. Nyong’o hailed the FESTAC festival saying it is an inclusive festival that brings together all global cultures to participate and celebrate the richness of Africa’s continent. ‘This is a celebration of the people of Africa and people of African descent in the diaspora through music, dance, poetry, story-telling fashion and more. It promotes the strong talent that cuts through the continent,’ Nyong’o observed. The Chairman of FESTAC, Mr. Yinka Abioye declared the opening of the highly anticipated momentous occasion to take place from 20th to 26th May 2024 at Kisumu’s Mama Grace Onyango Social Hall. ‘The effects and gains we are bringing to Kisumu County should go beyond the arts and culture. It should go into the youth, sports, diaspora initiatives, climate change initiatives, business exhibitions, food and fashion so we welcome everyone in the county to witness the event,’ said Abioye during the declaration and endorsement of Kisumu City as the festival’s next host held on Wednesday. Abioye said the event will be held in collaboration with Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre and Misango Arts Ensemble – who participated in this year’s festival in Arusha, Tanzania. The Kenyan team under the tutelage of the Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre Mr Obat Masira have been tasked to curate the events program filled with an array of local talent such as captivating exhibitions and electrifying performances. ‘Since 80 percent of the festival would promote local culture a local representative would provide a more hands-on approach to the festival’s program,’ stated Abioye. He added, ‘We are also making room for upcoming artists in the festival. A period of time will be set aside for the upcoming artist, in the open mic session. We want them to come and perform and maybe some of our international visitors can see our local hidden gems and provide opportunities.’ The Chief Executive Officer of United Bank of Africa (UBA) Kenya, Chike Isiuwe introduced the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a program started in 2015, and that has since had over 680 beneficiaries from Kenya receive training in business knowledge, succession planning, and accounting to empower the African youth. ‘The program seeks to identify, train, and support young African entrepreneurs in setting up their businesses or in enhancing their capacity to run their businesses. The applicants are trained for a period of between six to 12 weeks. The selected beneficiaries get a seed capital of Sh750,000 grant for their businesses,’ said Isiuwe. He emphasized that the most important factor when choosing an applicant was the business idea introduced and not the qualifications of the applicants since they believe that the idea is what will set up a good and sustainable business.

Source: Kenya News Agency

OSHAKATI: The annual Tsumeb Copper Festival will take place from 01 to 04 November this year, under the theme ‘Empowering entrepreneurship for a sustainable Namibia.’

Chairperson of the Tsumeb Copper Festival, Julius Gaeseb, on Monday said the festival is aimed at uniting the business community, fostering networking and collaboration.

He said this year’s festival will feature local and international exhibitors who will showcase their products and services.

“The Tsumeb Copper Festival, since its inception in 2003, has grown to become a premier marketing event on our social and economic calendar,” he said.

Gaeseb stated that the festival boasts a diverse array of activities, including SME training, a youth summit, farmers’ day, business conference, and a sporting bonanza set to kick off the festivities the previous weekend.

These initiatives underline the festival’s commitment to community engagement, economic empowerment, and sustainability in Namibia, he said.

Gaeseb also noted that they raised N.dollars 620 000 during the first-ever breakfast meeting and official launch of the Tsumeb Copper Festival held on Friday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The celebration of Hora Finfinne, part of the Irreechaa festival, is underway today in Addis Ababa colorfully.

Irreechaa is a traditional Oromo thanksgiving celebrated every year at the bank of a river to mark the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvesting season.

Dressed in unique traditional outfits, people from various parts of the country gathered on Saturday morning in Hora Finfinnee, Addis Ababa to celebrate the occasion.

This year’s Irreechaa festival is being celebrated under the motto “Irreechaa: Symbol of Unity and Brotherhood.” in the presence of various segments of the society including Aba Gadas and Hadha Sinqes.

The celebration is a special stage in which the people display its cultural and spiritual values including beauty, aesthetics, and unity to the world where cultural singing and dancing are common.

Irreechaa is based on the traditional thanksgiving event to the Waka or Wakayo who is believed to create the heavens and the earth.

The Oromos thank the Waka (GOD) for good harvest, promotion of family human and soil fertility and livestock health and primarily for peace in their communities.

Irreechaa is celebrated in different localities across Oromia and worldwide where Oromos are living.

In particular, the Irreechaa festivity which is taking place at Hora Finfinne in Addis Ababa and Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu town, is a unique thanksgiving festival which brings together many people from all corners of Oromia and the country.

The celebration of Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu town of Oromia region will be held colorfully tomorrow.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in his best wishes message for the celebration noted that Irreechaa is a festival of justice, equality, love and unity that demonstrates fraternity and solidarity among the people urging all to work hard to do away with obstacles and make tomorrow brighter.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Invocation of Abbaa Gadaas as part of Irreechaa Festival in Addis Ababa today.

Inscribed in 2016 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, Gada is a traditional system of governance used by the Oromo people in Ethiopia developed from knowledge gained by community experience over generations.

The system is led by Abbaa Gadaa to regulate political, economic, social and religious activities of the community dealing with issues such as conflict resolution, reparation and protecting women’s rights.

It serves as a mechanism for enforcing moral conduct, building social cohesion, and expressing forms of community culture. Gada is organized into five classes with one of these functioning as the ruling class consisting of a chairperson, officials and an assembly.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Exhibitors participating in the Amalgamated Rotational Annual Festival (ARAF) taking place in Omaruru have welcomed the platform availed to them to enable them to showcase their products.

ARAF is a collaborative initiative by the Omaruru, Karibib and Usakos Local Authority Councils (OKULAC), and will be rotationally hosted in the three different towns annually.

Mayor of the host town Vincent Kahua during the opening of the four-day festival expressed that the event is set to revive the economy and attract investment opportunities within the three towns, equalising small and medium enterprise growth and expansion for the betterment of the three towns’ livelihood.

Among the exhibitors is Gabriel Kambinda, a local farmer specialising in the production of vegetables.

Kambinda said the festival is a good platform for him to showcase his produce and promote his family business on the outskirts of Omaruru town.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to be allowed to also be part of it, although customers are not really many yet, it is understandable because it is still the first days of the festival, I believe more customers will come as time goes,” he stated.

Kambinda expressed that although the farm is faced with water shortage which sometimes affects production, his family have dug a man-made well to enable them to extract underground water to be able to water their crops.

“We have applied to the municipality for a prepaid card, which is what the municipality currently uses to supply water to the town’s residents, and we are hoping for a positive response soon because we want to grow our farm,” he said.

Another exhibitor Lawrence Nyambe, who travelled from Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region said he saw the festival as an opportunity to market his upcoming catering business, Taste Buds, to the masses.

Nyambe commended the initiative, adding that platforms such as these should be provided often as they enable those who are unemployed to earn a little income.

“The unemployment rate is so high and often we sit and wait for something to be handed to us and nothing ever happens, so we are taking initiatives into our own hands. This business also enables me to be financially independent,” Nyambe expressed.

The local exhibitors also expressed the need for more platforms like these and permanent markets in the future to enable them to sell their products.

ARAF has attracted over 100 exhibitors including cooperates and SMEs, and ends on Saturday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency