Beyoncé and Naomi Campbell prove they love these local designers as much as we do during their Global Citizen Festival visit | Life

06 Dec 2018

Afika Jadezweni

Mmuso Maxwell and Rich Mnisi creations that Beyoncé and Naomi Campbell were spotted wearing

By now it has been established that supermodel and fashion icon Naomi Campbell is our sister, as she has made it evident that Africa, as a whole, has a special place in her heart.

She's no stranger to various African countries and pictures of Mam'Winnie Madikizela Mandela and Nelson Mandela are scattered all over her Instagram feed.

She even suggested that there be a Vogue Africa edition when she attended Arise Fashion Week in Lagos, Nigeria.

It comes as no surprise then that earlier this week she was spotted in an item from one of our most talented local designers Rich Mnisi during her Good Morning Britain interview, marking the end of her Global Citizen: Mandela 100 celebrations.

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@naomi spotted wearing our RICH MNISI Xiluva Jumpsuit on Good Morning Britain - unpacking her experiences with the great Nelson Mandela for Global Citizen: Mandela 100
A post shared by RICH MNISI (@rich_mnisi) on Dec 3, 2018 at 11:37pm PST

The Xiluva jumpsuit is part of Rich Mnisi's NWA-MULAMULA: Lobola '19 collection, which showed at Lagos Fashion Week in October. The collection is symbolic of "packaging that transports [the designer] back home."

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Look: 5-6 Collection: NWA-MULAMULA: LOBOLA ‘19 Platform: @lagosfashionweekofficial Stylist: @petergeorgiades Men’s Shoes: @adidasza Inspiration: Continuing the centre of memory dedicated to my artistic muse and the place where I draw inspiration - Nwa-Mulamula. As the centre of my current inspiration, herstory is a universal story of keeping memory alive. She is a symbolic representation of African mothers in all their glory that has been lost in time, undocumented and buried in the depths of our hearts. In this collection I seek to imagine her into existence, through a day dream of her role as a matriarch set against the backdrop of a Lobola ceremony. Lobola is a ceremonial rite of passage in African culture that brings two families together through marriage. I draw from the visual elements and nostalgia of being a little boy running wild in the midst of a celebration. In this childlike dream, I am engulfed by Nwa-MulaMula’s stature and only awake to pieces of memorabilia. My pieces reflect highlights of colour, textures, gifts and prints that are reminiscent of this day dream. Symbolic of packaging that transports me back home.
A post shared by RICH MNISI (@rich_mnisi) on Oct 31, 2018 at 12:30am PDT

And as we predicted, the world's greatest performer Beyoncé Knowles Carter, wore more of our local designers' offerings during her Global Citizen Festival visit to South Africa.

Okay, she didn't wear the local labels we predicted, but it was a still a treat to see Queen Bey sporting other South African designers we love and whose collections we covet.

After arriving at Lanseria Airport last Thursday in Sarah Diouf's Tongoro Studio ZANZI two-piece, the multi-Grammy Award-winning singer took to the stage on Sunday night in a Quiteria & George gown that they collaborated on with actress Enhle Mbali Maphumulo.

The elation expressed in the design duo's caption is testament to the fact that dressing a star of Bey's caliber is no small feat.

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We @quiteria_george don’t even know where to start but we couldn’t have been more happier to have had this opportunity working with @beyonce team in creating some of the looks. Thank you so much for choosing us We truly are grateful for the opportunity going forward. We would also like to acknowledge and thank @enhlembali_ of Manuallrossa for the contribution she played ensuring that we had everything needed to execute this much biggest project. We knocked at so many doors closed doors for financial assistance which We truly needed to execute but @enhlembali_ And her husband @realblackcoffee believed in us and our ability. Thank you ?? and May you continue to support black young talents out here The 45 PIECES we made for the show couldn’t be in all the shows but we very much executed for every part or the world to experience a piece of Quiteria and George .More so we cannot wait to travel this journey of absolute beauty with @beyonce ?????????? @anitaferreiradesigns girl the world is not ready for your other pieces you created which they haven’t seen as yet but let them wait. @jerrysfabrics thank you for believing in South Africa young designers and for always be willing to give without expectations. May you and your team be blessed blessed beyond ?????????????? It would such a crime if we forgot to Mention the IRON lady as we call her ?????? the only person so far that has an ability like no other MRS CECILIA for @studio05fashion for spending all those sleepless night produce those patterns for us. There’s more costumes that people haven’t seen on the show but they still have that opportunity to witness your talent too. We couldn’t have been more blessed to have @studio05fashion look after our technic and design esthetic to ensure we start above the rest. Last but not least @lejenke for always believing in higher us. For discovering us and mentoring us to the LIONS ?? we are. Your patience sometimes surprises us. You over work us but with the intent to get us going and be better at what we do. You are LEGENDARY @lejenke WE LOVE ?? YOU and the whole team ????????
A post shared by Quiteria & George (@quiteria_george) on Dec 3, 2018 at 8:45am PST

Another local designer who can relate is Mmuso Maxwell, who makes women's ready to wear clothing. Beyoncé's stylist Zerina Akers dressed her in an ensemble from Mmuso Maxwell's Spring/Summer '16 collection for a chic daytime look.

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@beyonce wearing MMUSOMAXWELL SS16 at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 Styled by @zerinaakers _ #madeinafrica #mmusomaxwell #fashion #photography
A post shared by m m u s o m a x w e l l (@mmusomaxwell) on Dec 4, 2018 at 9:12pm PST

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QUEEN @beyonce wearing MMUSOMAXWELL SS16 at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 Styled by @zerinaakers _ #madeinafrica #mmusomaxwell #fashion #photography
A post shared by m m u s o m a x w e l l (@mmusomaxwell) on Dec 4, 2018 at 9:15pm PST

Rich Mnisi's threads were again seen on Bey. She wore Mnisi's custom Rhundzu Blouse and Crocodile Half-pleat skirt - a moment of absolute joy and pride for the young designer.

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@beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter wearing custom RICH MNISI Rhundzu Blouse and Crocodile Half-Pleat Skirt. Growing up all I have always wanted to do is to design clothes that reflect my own energy and love of colouring outside the lines. I have dreamt of my favourite icons wearing my clothes like any kid dreams of meeting their icons. Protect your dreams with all you have because they have the power to define your destiny. This is for the dreamers ?????? styled by @zerinaakers
A post shared by RICH MNISI (@rich_mnisi) on Dec 5, 2018 at 9:26pm PST

And then of course, Mrs Carter wore Tongoro for the fourth time this year, as the first and only celebrity to ever don this two-year old Senegalese label. This time, she went for the custom MALIKI suit - a tribute to Malick Sidibé's work, who is Diouf's "number 1 inspiration".

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I had just landed in Lagos last October, mentally exhausted from the workload of the past 6 months, and on the verge of a physical burn out when I got the request. It was 5:30 in the morning, I remember first thing I did was texting my mom, then I started crying, for no reason. Or maybe a combination of joy and exhaustion. Back to Dakar, a week later, while being seriously sick, I started working on what will forever be my biggest client request. I poured all the energy I had left, as my body was literally letting me down, and I had this inner voice in my head whispering : « Don’t stress it out sis, you did your best. Now give it to the Universe» But the thing is, the Universe can only do so much by placing the cards for one of the many possibilites that are offered to you to materialize. You actually have to do the work. You HAVE to do the work. Well, I did the work. And I manifested it so hard. And it worked out. And here I am. Living this beautiful moment, which holds so much power and meaning as it is everything coming full circle, with the greatest artist of our era enjoying the motherland in a 100% #MadeInAfrica custom fit. A @tongorostudio custom fit : the MALIKI suit, a tribute to Malick Sidibé’s work (my forever #1 inspiration) and the beginning of the African golden era post independences (60s) which defined what would later be called ‘The African aesthetic’. @beyonce is the first and only celebrity to wear #Tongoro so far. Four times — this year. My brand is two years old. #StyledByZerinaAkers #Beyonce
A post shared by Sarah Diouf (@dioufsarah) on Dec 4, 2018 at 11:02am PST

This is all proof that "Africa, your time is now" is not just an empty phrase.

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