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=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117925881?refcatid=31 |last=Felperin |first=Leslie |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=Jan 17, 2005 }}</ref> |
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=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117925881?refcatid=31 |last=Felperin |first=Leslie |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=Jan 17, 2005 }}</ref> |
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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=http://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 ''The Swenkas'', a documentary about the group.<ref name="NYT">{{citation |url=http://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> |
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=http://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 ''The Swenkas'', a documentary about the group.<ref name="NYT">{{citation |url=http://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> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:43, 11 July 2015
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 The Swenkas, a documentary about the group.[1]
References
- ^ 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
Further reading
- The Swenkas at IMDb
See also
- La Sape - similar movement in Republic of Congo
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