Rwandan-born fashion designer and visual artist Eli Gold
left his home when he was 13 as his country was wracked by a civil war and
genocide, a journey that took him across several African states.
اضافة اعلان
Gold lived in Tanzania, Burundi and Malawi among others
after leaving Rwanda, before arriving in South Africa, where he is based.
Now 30-year-old Gold expresses his love of the continent
through art and fashion.
“By living in those places I got to understand what Africa
is about and I got to meet different cultures ... the inspiration that I use in
my creativity all come from different African cultures,” said Gold.
His company, Masa Mara, unveiled its latest fashion ranges
at an event in
Johannesburg on Tuesday to celebrate Africa Day, which
commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity.
Catwalk models showed off his collection of colorful African
prints called “Migration Is Beautiful, Destroy All Borders”, which is a call to
embrace migration and, like much of Gold’s work, was inspired by his own
experiences.
“I wanted to show that if we come together, understand and
embrace one another, we can have a beautiful united Africa,” he said of his
work. “I always say, if the garments can correspond and show harmony and
togetherness, we people can also do that.”
Gold is also known as Nyambo MasaMara. Nyambo, which means
“a long-horned Rwandan cow”, is a name he took after he styled his hair into
the shape of bull horns.
His other projects include “Beyond Borders”, a choreographed
show where a spirit travels through space and time to an Africa where borders
and limits to creativity do not exist. His “Gift of Life” exhibition also
combines visual art and design with movement.
Read more trending
.jpg)
.jpg)
