The Coverage& Exclusive By. Sir Kempson Ari weYulu
@ZambiazHarshTag @KempsonAri
The arts in their many different guises provide us with a glimpse of excellence, and a taste of the sublime. Art said Picasso, blows away the everyday cobwebs from the soul. All should have a chance to taste that breeze. The aesthetic of fashion has been on the back foot for a long time in Zambia, and is now just getting in its stride. A standing ovation must be given to Karen Nakawala (@karen_nakawala) and her Zambia Fashion Week (@zedfashionweek) squad for her diligence in putting together an event of such significance to the Zambian fashion industry, the astounding David Tlale Workshop. Sincere gratitude must be extended to the government through the Ministry of Tourism and Arts and Culture, as well as the National Arts Council for their unwavering support to this blossoming trade. A colossal curtain call is reserved for the maestro and avid advocate of fashion Mr. Tlale (@Tlale_large), who not only graced the occasion but also delivered a poignant discourse and spectacle indeed. I’ll get to the selfies in a bit, but we must establish the raison d'etre.
To say the event was a success would be an injustice. It was an invaluable endeavor indeed that fed the minds and souls of hungry artist. There was enough wisdom decimated to put a fool on his course and guide a blind man to his destiny. The workshop unfolded like clockwork, from the dialogue with David, to his mini fashion show (in which the Zambian models strutted to the rhythms of Simphiwe Dana (@simphiwedana)) delivered to an attentive audience. The synthesis of the key note speech was the need for us as Africans to excel in excellence through the production of quality and pride in our culture, and aesthetics that go back a long way. Chairperson of The National Arts Council Mulenga Kapwepwe (@MulengaKapwepwe) also emphasized that, believers make us accountable for our dreams and as such we must seriously follow through and materialize our visions into actions. The Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Arts and Tourism put the exclamation mark when he stressed that there was a need to diversify from nature based tourism, and the fashion industry needed to tell government what incentives it needed. A throng of talent in true Zambian flair was converged for awareness as well as to officially witness the launch of The Intern by David Zambia. 
The super eccentric gifted included Marilyn (@4ev3rMarilyn) in her signature felt Stetson hat, winner of the best upcoming designer at Zambia Fashion Week Debbie Chu (@debbiechu101) and Musha in an architectural inspired bespoke frock. Yves (shares name with one of my favourite designers Yves Saint Laurent) Katongo also showed up in a stunning white calico piece with a print collar she had sewn the morning of the event… what passion for the craft indeed.
Wait! Did I just see and hear Fay with her stunning locks of natural shaggy hair & Betty (in her signature duku (head wrapper)) are headed to Paris while I was staring at and nodding at Lucie (@Lucie7) (in a fashionable stripped pink shirt) with best friend Nkole (@nkolewanseko) ? No, there was no drama or diva behaviour, everyone behaved themselves as the event was well organised and started on time. Thumbs up to the 100 strong crowd, each looking very original indeed, spotting their own eccentric designs and original African hair do’s.
If a bomb went off in the Intercontinental ballroom on Friday 21st August, Zambian fashion & arts and South Africa’s iconic designer David Tlale would have been wiped out with only an outstanding portfolio and legacy to survive the talent in the room. All protocols observed included the PS Ministry of Tourism and Arts and Culture Hon. Stephen Mwansa , The Zambian mother of the arts Mulenga Kapwepwe (@Mulengakapwepwe), The Zambia Fashion Week master mind Karen Nakawala, seated next two me where the award winning originators of Zambian fashion
blogging MaFasho (@MaFashio) and in front of me was the
retro Kutowa (@KutowaDesigns) visionary Towani Clarke
(@TowaniClarke). The running shout outs and selfies would not be complete
without an appearance by the sexiest news anchor on Zambian television
(ZNBC) Chitalu Mulenga (@chil_mwelwa). The event was indeed worth a
thousand selfies. David Tlale will also be in attendance at Zambian
Fashion Week 2015 (15th -17th October 2015).
Catch the full Tlale Exclusive: The Struggle Is Never In Vain Slayed David on Wed 26th August 2015, 3pm CAT at kalembaweyulu.wordpress.com
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