Aya Afrikaanse Fashion Héritage – #RosyVousConseille
On the occasion of 125/5 years, the museum selected several proposals from individuals and organizations from the African diaspora in Belgium. Rosy Sambwa presents her project.
During the October fashion week, the stylist Rosy Sambwa proposes a reflection on African textiles and wax prints, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Taking the pro- and anti-wax print views that are hotly debated in the African diaspora as a starting point, Aya Afrikaanse Fashion Héritage will address the role of fashion and the influence of African know-how on thought, in collaboration with various designers and institutions in Belgium, France and Africa.
The event highlights six renowned and talented Belgian designers from the diaspora, a nod to the ‘Antwerp Six’ who graduated from the Antwerp Royal Academy and made Belgian fashion and fashion schools internationally famous.
The name of the event is deliberately composed of 4 major languages and could be translated as : I am the heritage of African fashion.
Why these languages?
- Ngandi because it is the language of my grandfather who served in the Force Publique (colonial army)
- Dutch because most of the colonists who were in direct contact with the population were Flemish
- English because it is the language of international business
- French because it is still the language shared by Belgium and its former colonies.
Programme of the event: online conference, in-person conference, exhibition and fashion show. ‘Aya Afrikaanse Fashion Heritage’ will be open to all, appealling to both fashion mavens (students, clients, stylists, cultural entrepreneurs etc.) and those who want to have a good time.
This project is an initiative of Rosy Sambwa, a graduate of ESMOD Paris, the oldest French fashion school dedicated to Fashion Design and Fashion Business. Struck by the absence of African and Asian countries in her courses, Rosy made this the focus of her research. Today, she gives lectures and writes about fashion, notably for the magazine ELLE Côte d'Ivoire – because what we wear is a message and helps decolonise minds in today’s image-conscious world. In 2022 she hosted a MuseumTalk for the museum.