BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
LUDZIDZINI – While sunglasses are used to minimize solar flares on the sun, they also added flair to the traditional fashion at Incwala.
As Incwala evolves ever so gradually with Eswatini culture, so does the attire and accessories involved in the traditional national prayer festival.
The accessory of sunglasses has slowly become a prominent feature during the cultural event, with many emaSwati citing that they go very well with the colorful traditional attire.
The fact that sunglasses serve a purpose in the bright and hot weather seems to be a happy coincidence for many.
Speaking to Eswatini Positive News, here is what some people had to say about being able to attend the event in sunglasses.
Bandile Fakudze from Mahlanya: “I love that I’m able to wear my shades to this occasion. It is actually my first time so I didn’t even know if they were allowed. The sun is hot so the shades are very practical, not to mention that ayasakha (they make us look better).”
Simphiwe Dlamini: “I love how the glasses just work because it is really sunny and they also add to the look. It just works”
Local stylist and fashion concept designer Fiona Motsa, who was also donning shades, noted that it is mostly the youth who tend to infuse their own style into the traditional attire.
“It is encouraging to see the youth embrace the culture and show up to Incwala in their own way. Fashion is all about infusing your personal element into the clothing pieces that are already there. It is a way of personalizing the available fashion to suit one’s own personal sense of style. The wearing of shades is a subtle indicator of emaSwati incorporating their own style into the traditional wear,” said Motsa.
The addition of Western elements to the Eswatini traditional attire is not happening for the first time.
Other Western elements which have been beautifully incorporated into the Swati attire include the plastic beads which form necklaces and bracelets which always go with the attire (e.g. smohlwana, ligcebesha, umgaco).
This was preceded by the evolution of the fabrics which are used in some of the covering attire called emahiya. As the Western style of processing cotton and fabrics became pervasive in the world.
It remains to be seen how sunglasses may become even more localized to blend with the beautiful Eswatini traditional look.
