The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Life Correspondent
DESIGNER and GANU founder, Nkanyeziyethu Malunga hopes taking part in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will enable her to bring a global appeal to her designs and brand.
Malunga, a self taught fashion designer and textile designer, is one of several Zimbabweans that have been chosen to take part in this year’s prestigious YALI that will see her take time to study at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
“The programme will enhance my career in terms of globalisation, upon my return I will be able to share a broader perspective of fashion with an aspiring and established fashion audience in order to embark on a more relevant and sustainable fashion journey. I hope to learn ways in which the fashion industry may be used to influence the socio-economic structure of Zimbabwe. Furthermore, I’d like to learn how other creatives are catering for the vulnerable groups and the environment through fashion,” she said.
On hearing the news of her selection, Malunga was gripped with numbing excitement. She says she couldn’t believe she had made it, something which made her keep the news to herself for a couple of days. Malunga (28) said the fellowship is an opportunity to meet up with other young African leaders, share experiences and also to learn and share the African story and identity.
She said it is also an opportunity to raise awareness of African culture and the progress the country and continent has made. Malunga, who leaves on Thursday and returns on 4 August, will be at Lehigh University for five weeks where she will go through practical and classroom learning and will also get to connect with community through working with the local community organisations.
The former model founded GANU in 2013 and with a mother who is a craft production designer, she found it easy work and grow in the field.
“We may say the apple did not fall far from the tree because my mother is also a designer and she, together with highly experienced friends Levi and Lincoln assisted me take GANU to the next level. “Having a good support system (family and friends) is essential in the growth of a designer’s life,” said Malunga, who described herself as an old soul who loves all things stylish, regal and edgy, but with secret aspirations of being a scientist.
An environmentally conscious person, Malunga values the usage of natural resources in textile production and fashion designing. She has taken her designs to various catwalks including the Durban Fashion Fair and Intwasa Fashion Show. The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the brainchild of former United States president Barack Obama.
The program started in 2010 as the Young African Leaders Initiative before rebranding to the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
It is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.
