Swenkas: Difference between revisions
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In [[South Africa]], '''Swenkas''' are [[working-class]] [[Zulu people|Zulu]] men who participate in amateur competitions that are part [[fashion show]] and part [[choreography]], the purpose of which is to display one's [[Fashion|style]] and sense of attitude.<ref name="NYT"/> The practice, called "'''swenking'''", ultimately derives from the English word "[[:wikt:swank|swank]]".<ref>{{citation |title=The Swenkas |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117925881?refcatid=31 |last=Felperin |first=Leslie |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=Jan 17, 2005 }}</ref> |
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The '''swenkas''' are a small group of [[Zulu]] working men which formed in [[South Africa]] following the abolishment of [[Apartheid]]. |
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These well-dressed men are proud and considered to serve as an inspiration to others. Frequently, on Saturday nights they meet up to compete in a fashion show of sorts. The Swenkas are judged both on what they are wearing (typically, expensive designer suits with well-known European names on their labels) and their choreographed movements (their 'swank').<ref>{{citation |title=Swanky Swenkas: dressing sharp regardless of cost |url=https://www.vice.com/read/swank-v14n5 |last=Fleminger |first=David |work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] }}</ref> There is an entrance fee to compete in these swank-offs and the winner of the night goes home with a portion of the money collected from the competitors. The men follow certain set values of swanking, such as physical cleanliness, sobriety and above all self-respect. In 2004, [[Denmark|Danish]] filmmaker [[Jeppe Rønde]] created a short documentary entitled ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4VVZ8wIMY4 The Swenkas]'', free to view on [[YouTube]]<ref name="NYT">{{citation |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/movies/09swen.html |title=Saturday Night Peacocks in Squalid South Africa |last=Catsoulis |first=Jeanette |date= November 9, 2005 |work=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref> and reviewed in 2005 in [[The New York Times]] as "a study in contrasts".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Catsoulis|first=Jeannette|date=2005-11-09|title=Saturday Night Peacocks in Squalid South Africa|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/movies/saturday-night-peacocks-in-squalid-south-africa.html|access-date=2022-01-05|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |
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These well-dressed men are proud and considered to serve as an inspiration to others. On Saturday nights, these men leave their work clothes behind and don highly fashionable suits to impress a panel of judges. Traditionally, the prize for the most stylish suit is cash, but on special occasions such as Christmas, the winner may receive a goat, a cow, or sometimes a gold watch. This traditional fashion show still happens today, but it is unclear as to precisely when it was instigated. |
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Elements of so-called "African dandyism" as expressed by the Swenkas are also found in the [[DRC|Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)]], where the participants are known as Sapeurs and the phenomenon is called [[La Sape]] or Sapologie. According to a YouTube documentary entitled [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdrEtiE8P2I "The Congo Dandies"] produced by [[RT (TV network)|RT]], Congolese soldiers returning home from France after WW2 brought with them a taste for the latest Parisian fashion, but [[La Sape|other sources]] say that as early as the 1920's West African colonial workers called "Bapopo" or "Coastmen" who came to the Congo, inspired the Congolese elite to cast off notions of ingrained inferiority caused by French and Belgian colonialism. |
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==References== |
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<references /> |
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==Further reading== |
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*{{IMDb title|0457499|The Swenkas}} |
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==See also== |
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*[[La Sape]] - similar movement in [[Republic of Congo]] |
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Latest revision as of 11:56, 1 February 2024
In South Africa, Swenkas are working-class Zulu men who participate in amateur competitions that are part fashion show and part choreography, the purpose of which is to display one's style and sense of attitude.[1] The practice, called "swenking", ultimately derives from the English word "swank".[2]
These well-dressed men are proud and considered to serve as an inspiration to others. Frequently, on Saturday nights they meet up to compete in a fashion show of sorts. The Swenkas are judged both on what they are wearing (typically, expensive designer suits with well-known European names on their labels) and their choreographed movements (their 'swank').[3] There is an entrance fee to compete in these swank-offs and the winner of the night goes home with a portion of the money collected from the competitors. The men follow certain set values of swanking, such as physical cleanliness, sobriety and above all self-respect. In 2004, Danish filmmaker Jeppe Rønde created a short documentary entitled The Swenkas, free to view on YouTube[1] and reviewed in 2005 in The New York Times as "a study in contrasts".[4]
Elements of so-called "African dandyism" as expressed by the Swenkas are also found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the participants are known as Sapeurs and the phenomenon is called La Sape or Sapologie. According to a YouTube documentary entitled "The Congo Dandies" produced by RT, Congolese soldiers returning home from France after WW2 brought with them a taste for the latest Parisian fashion, but other sources say that as early as the 1920's West African colonial workers called "Bapopo" or "Coastmen" who came to the Congo, inspired the Congolese elite to cast off notions of ingrained inferiority caused by French and Belgian colonialism.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Catsoulis, Jeanette (November 9, 2005), "Saturday Night Peacocks in Squalid South Africa", The New York Times
- ^ Felperin, Leslie (Jan 17, 2005), "The Swenkas", Variety
- ^ Fleminger, David, "Swanky Swenkas: dressing sharp regardless of cost", Vice
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (2005-11-09). "Saturday Night Peacocks in Squalid South Africa". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
Further reading[edit]
- The Swenkas at IMDb
See also[edit]
- La Sape - similar movement in Republic of Congo
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