Staff Writer
In a vibrant celebration of heritage, creativity, and community, the German Embassy in Harare—alongside the Fashion Council of Zimbabwe and the Friendship Bench Hub—will present the grand finale of the cultural preservation project “Matobo goes Fashion . . . and beyond” on May 24, 2025, from 4:30pm to 8:00pm, at the Friendship Bench Hub, Mount Pleasant.
This artistic journey began over a year ago with a bold vision: to breathe new life into the centuries-old tradition of Ndebele hut painting in the Matobo region, a UNESCO cultural landscape renowned for its living artistic legacy.
For generations, Matobo women have adorned their homesteads with striking patterns made from earth pigments—coal, ash, sand, and mud—an ephemeral art form washed away with each rainy season and lovingly recreated again and again.
In an inspired twist, this vanishing art has now found a new canvas: fashion. The German Embassy, working in partnership with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, the Fashion Council, and a host of Matobo women artists and Zimbabwean creatives, transformed the hut designs into wearable works of art under the collective label “Matobo Collection.”
From flowing garments to handcrafted bags, lampshades, and ceramics, these pieces tell a story—of lineage, resilience, and beauty.
Not only do they capture the spirit of Matobo’s geometric artistry, but they also offer an avenue for economic empowerment, with products now available at select outlets like KUMBA Home & Gifts, Hyatt Regency Harare, and Bottom Drawers.
The event promises an immersive experience, with the centerpiece being a fashion show (5:30–6:30 PM) featuring top designers from Bulawayo and Harare, choreographed in collaboration with the Fashion Council of Zimbabwe.
The evening will also feature a live music performance by Othnell Mangoma & Friends, who will showcase a soul-stirring fusion of Bulawayo Township rhythms.
A Pop-Up Store will offer attendees a chance to purchase pieces from the Matobo Collection and handcrafted items directly from the artists.
Best of all? Admission is free, and guests can enjoy food and drink from local vendors while mingling with creatives and culture lovers.
As the sun sets over Harare, this event will not just mark the end of a project—it will celebrate the beginning of a new chapter for Zimbabwean art, where tradition and innovation walk the runway together.
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