by Jemimah Chungu
This edition of the African international magazine is giving plaques to Nomzamo Mbatha in the hit series; shaka iLembe. Nomzamo Mbatha plays the part of Nandi, the mother of the Shaka Zulu whose storyline is based in the movie and she is also part of the production team.
Shaka iLembe has a storyline of one the most prominent iconic kings of southern African history; the mighty Shaka Zulu. This movie- series of 12 episodes is artfully created retelling the story and eventualities of king Shaka from his childhood to adulthood in the 1700s- 1800s.
Nomzamo Mbatha, 33, gave nothing but beautiful cultured Zulu fashion when it comes to Shaka ILembe. She purposefully made an incredible Zulu fashion at the Shaka iLembe movie premiere on June 18, 2023 where she styled an elegant algald rached farm fitting grown fashioned with an intricate metal breast plate. She styled her look with a shawl by millet couture designs and complimented this look with a big black wig/ cape inspired by a South African traditional hat called an ishololo,
Mbatha’ fashion statement of the Shaka iLembe movie premiere is credited to creative director Felipe Mazibuko and House of Ayi designer Andile Makaula Andile says, “Nomzamo saw one of my dresses on Instagram – well, there’s a red dress with bra plates that I just made nje for fun and she saw it and she said she wanted something like that and, today, we came up with that.”
In the season so far, Mbatha has echoed Zulu styles that has given history and tradition nostalgia. The fashion icon- actress has rocked natural afros, braids and cornrows. Her hair-dos are heavily styled with beaded and crotched accessories and other South African traditional jewellery. These are also arrayed from the head and waist to wrists and ankles known as izuncu shouls kmous aslbahahji. This talented natural beauty also fashions the ishololo in the movie.
The clothes in the movie are made in contemporary styles from animal skin and material. Mbatha and other actors fashion skirts made from canlide called iduaba materials used in this movie are rich ravishing deep rooted attires. They are moulded with preferably natural nude Makeup to complement them.
She and the entire movie cast have shown a lot of skin in the movie alike the ancient Zulu days and present Zulu culture homage lifestyle. Mbatha is seen completely topless on some scenes of her character as Nandi.
These looks are absolutely amazing and nostalgic. They have been ideal for the movie that has been described as, “bringing history to life”. However, this has had a lot of controversial reaction on social media. This backlash has only proved modern sexualizing of breasts as opposed to culture especially in the southern African region where exposing breasts was a norm until foreign interference.
Mbatha fashion statement of the Shaka iLembe movie is credited to Sheli Masondo
