Swenkas

The swenkas are a small group of Zulu working men which formed in South Africa following the abolishment of Apartheid.

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 judge, who is a randomly picked. Traditionally, the prize for the most stylish suit is cash, but on special occasions such as Christmas, the winner may receive a goat or a cow. This traditional fashion show still happens today, but it is unclear as to precisely when it was instigated. 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.