Bee Diamondhead is a creative director and fashion stylist, and the brains behind this feature. Her idea was to give young, up-and-coming creatives a platform where the'd get noticed.
"We’re often looking for directors or photographers that are fresh and new but we don’t know they’re out there. I wanted to put these kids [in the spotlight] so that people know they’re available and doing great work," she says.
Diamondhead collaborated with fashion designer Rich Mnisi, who’s spreading his wings as a photographer.
Says Mnisi: "The work from the younger generation is bolder, it’s honest, it’s uncomfortable. I love that".
1. THEBE MAGUGU
I am a fashion designer.
Inspiration: To make clothes that enhance a woman's life.
Born in: Kimberley.
Ultimate moment: The LVMH prize and going to Paris to meet [Vogue's] Anna Wintour.
Life goal: To create a truly global brand which has its roots in SA.
Favourite designer: Anyone who uses fashion to engage critically to create brands that have intention behind them. Miuccia Prada and JW Anderson are two.
Love about South African style: How it manages to fuse so many references and eras into one identifiable thing.
Instagram: @thebemagugu
Magugu wears: shirt and jacket by Thebe Magugu.
2. MMUSO POTSANE
I am a fashion designer and one half of the label MmusoMaxwell.
Studied in: Bloemfontein.
Highlights: Winning the 2017 SA Fashion Week New Talent Search, dressing Beyonce when she was in SA for Global Citizen with design partner Maxwell Boko.
Mentored by: David Tlale
Inspiration: Elderly women.
Instagram: @mmusomaxwell
Potsane wears: coat by Wanda Lephoto.
3. WANDA LEPHOTO
I am a fashion designer.
Born: Joburg - I love the diversity of the people. We're in the melting pot of Africa.
Inspiration: My friends, family and community - hardworking people trying to make things better for their themselves and their families. There's a lot of beauty that we ignore in the everyday.
Current project: Myself. I am the project I work on most.
Spend Saturday nights: Either with friends chilling and drinking or at home working.
Favourite designer: Thebe Magugu.
Instagram: @wandalephoto
Lephoto wears: T-shirt, jacket and trousers by Wanda Lephoto.
4. MAXWELL BOKO
I am a fashion designer and one half of the label MmusoMaxwell.
Studied in: The Vaal.
Started out at: David Tlale's internship programme in 2016
Highlights: Dressing Beyonce while she was here for Global Citizen with design partner Mmuso Potsane.
You may have seen him (and his partner) in: Vogue, True Love, Marie Claire SA, Vice Magazine and more.
How do you stay inspired? We always keep learning and bettering ourselves.
Instagram: @mmusomaxwell
Boko wears: shirt, jacket and trousers by Rich Mnisi; Puma sneakers.
5. NAO SERATI
I am a fashion designer.
Design aesthetic: Athleisure.
Inspiration: It is the fantasy and the dream that comes with the human experience. If we were all just humanall the time it would be exhausting.
Thoughts on gatekeeping: The time for gatekeeping is sooo 2001. If someone has a story to tell, then let them tell it.
What moves you? Being a designer you are literally covering people's bodies, so that person has to create a story along with the product you have created. It is always exciting for me to see how people live inside that body that I have already created.
Instagram: @naoserati
Serati wears: jacket by Row G; shirt and trousers by Nao Serati.
6. ZAMA MTHETHWA
I am a DJ.
Aka: Scotthegirl.
Born: JHB but have been living in the UK for 10 years.
Style: A mixture - house, European house, but I'm not tied down to anything.
Gigs: I play a lot at Great Dane and on Sunday at Saint [a restaurant in Sandton]. I'll be playing at Basha Uhuru at the end of the month.
Why I love music: Because it's an escape from life. Nothing is as great as seeing a head bop or a fist bump and making people dance and feel good.
Favourite track at the moment: Rampa: Like this.
What I love about SA: There's such a variation of people who love all types of music. There are so many opportunities here if you look. If you really have a dream you can make it happen.
Favourite cities: Amsterdam and Los Angeles.
Favourite DJ: Peggy Gou, she's a style icon.
Instagram: @scotthegirl
Mthethwa wears: dress and jacket by MmusoMaxwell; Puma sneakers.
7. NKULEY MASEMOLA
I am a DJ.
Aka: DJ Akuma (means demon of excellence in Japanese).
Age: 20 years old.
Born: In Pretoria, we moved around a lot because my parents were vagabonds.
How long DJing? One and a half years.
Style: Gqom and alternative house.
Regular gigs: Kitcheners, DJ First Thursdays and some Saturday nights.
Why do you like to wear makeup? I like being a shapeshifter and changing the
way I look often.
Life goal: To live as luxurious a life as I can - and play at luxurious parties in luxurious places.
Inspiration: I grew up loving Disney princesses - I connect them in my head with luxury - they had diamonds, pearls ... everything.
Ultimate gig: To play at a the annual big Victoria's Secret show.
Instagram: @nkuleymasemola
Masemola wears: shirt and trousers by MmusoMaxwell; Puma sneakers.
8. ZANE LELO MESLANI
I am a DJ.
Aka: DJ Lelowhatsgood.
How long Djing? Two years.
How did you become a DJ? A friend asked me to make a playlist for an event. I loved it and it became my thing.
Style: Durban Gqom, Vogue or ballroom music, which is underground queer house music that's become a subculture in the US. I also play a wide range of alternative hip-hop, rap and pop.
What do you feel about the queer space in SA? People are starting to have the right conversations. In general, society is becoming aware of the struggles of gay people but more work needs to be done on acceptance for everyone.
Ultimate gig: I am going to play my ultimate gig this year at Afropunk.
Instagram: @lelowhatsgood
Meslani wears: jacket and trousers by MmusoMaxwell; Puma sneakers.
9. LULAMA WOLF
I am a stylist, blogger and creative director.
My blog is where I enlighten people on dormant perspectives as well as broaden the lens through which people view the world and its inhabitants.
Has collaborated with: Adidas, Woolworths, Cotton On and more
Inspiration: My mother, Oprah, Frida Kahlo and Phylicia Rashad.
Instagram: @lulamawolf
Wolf wears: hat by Studio Lennie; dress by Diamondhead.
10. SIWA MGOBOZA
I am an artist.
Inspiration for your work: I didn't grow up in SA. I came back when I was 18 and I found that there were so many different forms of othering that I wasn't used to. So my work challenges how we perceive each other and interact. I am trying to find a way that we can stop talking about the other and look towards building each other.
Instagram: @siwamgoboza
Mgoboza wears: shirt by Selfi; skirt by Viviers Studio.
11. HEIDI SINCUBA
I am a visual artist, healer and lecturer at the university formerly known as Rhodes.
Studied in: The Netherlands and London.
Artistic themes: Colonialism, African history, gender, traditional knowledge systems and more.
Thoughts on capitalism: I think capitalism has played a massive role in both othering people and viewing certain groups as monoliths. The arts are an interesting way to start rethinking. We are in a position where we know other ways of living, transacting, surviving and trading. We know that even in the West capitalism is not succeeding, and the arts are an important way for us to start to rethink those conversations. Of course we need to survive but we can start to think of ways to live where we are not selling our cultural capital.
Instagram: @heidisincuba
Sincuba wears: shirt and trousers by Superella; coat by Mantsho.
12. AZANIA FOREST
I am a stylist.
Highlights: Worked for Glamour Magazine and I've just been featured on the Ezine Bubblegum Club. I've also contributed to Faculty Press (Thebe Magugu's annual magazine).
What you love most about your work: I'm always on the go. Nothing is static. I love the rush and thrill of working in styling. It's not predictable.
What you love about South African style: It can be conservative, but there is a new wave of up-and-coming creatives expressing themselves through clothing.
In 10 years' time: I see myself as having a clothing line and a concept store that will be a curated experience for people who love expression. There'll be art, music and beauty products.
Listening to now: Cleo Sol (I love her bluesy feel), Zoe Madiga and Darkie Fiction for some flamboyant African punk.
Currently watching: Black Mirror - I'm fascinated by what technology will make possible in the future — and RuPaul's Drag Race.
Instagram: @azaniaforest
Forest wears: dress by Crochet by Fei; Puma sneakers.
13. NOENTLA KHUMALO
I am a stylist.
Inspiration: I get my inspiration from the streets and watching people live their live.
Describe your aesthetic: My aesthetic is always changing. It depends on what I am going through at the time, so as I evolve as a person so does my aesthetic. I try to incorporate our traditional attires and cultures.
Future of traditional wear: I think we will be re-purposing a lot. So we'll take what was traditionally there and make it individually ours while still respecting what certain pieces mean.
Biggest strength: Staying true to myself and learning from past mistakes.
Instagram: @makhosinoentla
Khumalo wears: dress by Crochet by Fei.
14. DIDINTLE NTSHUDISANE
I am a stylist.
Inspiration: Everyday people inspire me. Last year I started a photo series called Style Strangers where I would go around the city and style random people. My peers also inspire me.
What will the world look like in 100 years? I see the world being wild, like flying cars and stuff. Basically just a crazy technology-driven world. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing though.
What I am tired of hearing from old people: The old guard tend to be very protective of their craft. So they're always saying that we have to do things the way they did it. It is very limiting. Just let the kids be.
Instagram: @didintlen
Ntshudisane wears: dress by Crochet by Fei; Puma sneakers.
15. AMY ZAMA
I am a stylist.
The youth versus their elders: The young crowd are more open to collaboration. From what I have seen from older stylists, they were more focused on doing things for themselves to achieve a goal and only now do they have the time and space to mentor the younger kids like me. Whereas with the younger kids I feel like we work more closely together. We network across rather than above.
If you could change anything about the industry: I would change the stigma around the idea that you need to have experience before you can show your art. Don't get me wrong, experience is important, but a lot of kids get discouraged because they don't have experience or connections.
Instagram: @amyzamaa
Zama wears: knit by Pringle of Scotland; dress by Crochet by Fei; Prada sunglasses from Luxottica; Puma sneakers.
16. DAVID KABAMA
I am a model and visual artist.
Stereotypes about models you run into: The usual ones. That we are vain, not intellectual, don't have much going for us outside of being pretty.
Are they accurate? Not at all. I have met so many guys who are doing so much outside of modelling.
Outlook on life and art: I've never wanted to create something that already exists. It feels like whenever I see a group of people gathered in one spot over there for whatever reason, I'd immediately want to stand on the other side and do the exact opposite thing. I'd rather be on the road less travelled.
Instagram: @davidjkabamba
Kabama wears: coat by Nicholas Coutts; shirt and trousers by Amanda Laird Cherry; Puma sneakers.
17. KGOMOTSO TLEANE
I am a photographer.
Best place to get inspired: JHB CBD. There is so much going on there. It is a melting pot of different cultures. I'm also generally inspired by black people.
Advice for the older generation: Older people have a habit of talking down to the youth because they have a thing where they think their opinion matters more because they have more life experience. They need to start listening more to what the kids have to say. They need to take more of a guidance role. Listen more.
Instagram: @kgomotso_neto
Tleane wears: coat by Wanda Lephoto; shirt by Rich Mnisi; hat by Simon and Mary.
18. LESEDI MOTHOAGAE
I am a photographer and videographer.
Is it more important for a viewer to catch your meaning or find their own? I think it is important for the viewer to take whatever message they take from it. When I create an image I already have a message I'm trying to encode, but whether they get it or not doesn't matter because we all come from different backgrounds and upbringings. The viewer should decode the image in their own way because that is exactly what is goingto happen.
What moves you: What moves me most are people's eyes. I feel like we carry the idea of our souls in our eyes.
Instagram: @lesedi_mothoagae
Mothoagae wears: coat and shirt by Wanda Lephoto; trousers by Nicholas Coutts; hat by Simon and Mary.
19. GALE MAIMANE
I am a director.
Inspiration: Your inspiration doesn't always have to be so cerebral. In fact sometimes if it is too smart then who is going to understand? My inspiration comes from people and the communities around me and humanity in general
In my industry I wish: We didn't have such prohibitive standards. For instance a kid can't really make it without doing certain things but then you will turn around and say you can shoot things on your iPhone and use iMovies to edit it, even though we all knowthe powers that be won't really accept that
Projects: Me starring Zoe Modiga and styled by Nao Serati. (Watch it below.)
Instagram: @galerekwemaimane
Maimane wears: coat and dress by Mantsho.
20. ZANDILE TISANI
I am a director.
You may have seen my documentary: Rave & Resistance.
Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere.
What old folks should stop telling me: I wish people would stop telling us about what is not possible. You get told a lot about what the limitations are rather than what the possibilities are.
Being a black female director: It is an exciting time to be a black female director. It is always going to be harder for us but I don't know that there has ever been a better time to be a black woman director.
Instagram: @zanditee
Tisani wears: shirt and dress by Mmuso Maxwell.
21. LUCILLE SLADE
I am a singer/songwriter.
Style of music: R&B, pop. Started my career with covers like Cassper Nyovest's Tito Mboweni.
Latest project: I have a new single out, written by me, called Velvet.
Performed: At Diamonds and Dorings Music Festival in Kimberley in March. My music video for Velvet debuted on Trace Africa TV recently.
Born: Kimberley, based in Joburg.
Love about Joburg: People are crazy here, they're so individual. They can be totally toned down or super extravagant.
In 10 years' time: I want to be one of the biggest music artists in Africa.
Ultimate gig: Live at the Grammys.
Instagram: @lucille_slade
Slade wears: shirt and trousers by Amanda Laird Cherry; Puma sneakers.
22. MX BLOUSE
I am a rapper.
Born: Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal. I'm a small-town kid at heart.
Currently working on: A new EP, which is ready to launch once I think of a new name. I was going with Homecoming, but then Beyonce took that.
You in one word: Abundant
Highlight as a performer: Playing at a club in Berlin where the audience was going crazy for my music. They were all dressed in the weirdest outfits.
Ultimate gig: I don't have one. I just want to be playing music all over the world for as long as I can.
Style: A reflection of my multidimensional personality.
Instagram: @sandiblouse
MX Blouse wears: shirt and dress by Amanda Laird Cherry.
23. ZOE MODIGA
I am a singer.
Born: KwaZulu-Natal
My debut album is: Yellow the Novel.
What I wish the older generation would stop saying to me: I get very annoyed with the idea of genres of music and people being purists about what genre that is. Music is a sound that is constantly evolving and it should be allowed to move and shift as it is supposed to.
Inspiration: I am inspired by the human experience and relating life back into art.
Instagram: @zoemodiga
Modiga wears: shirt and dress by Amanda Laird Cherry.
24. KATT DADDY
I am a rapper and one half of the music duo Darkie Fiction.
Must listen: Darkie Fiction's track Bhoza
I would like to see: SA at a place where Africans can come here to find opportunity and feel safe. We are at a very privileged place in terms of resources and global reach so I think South Africans have a responsibility to be welcoming.
Instagram: @darkiefiction
Katt Daddy wears: shirt and coat by Amanda Laird Cherry.
25. YOZA MNYANDA
I am a vocalist and one half of the music duo Darkie Fiction.
You might have seen Darkie Fiction perform at: Oppikoppi and Bacardi Holiday Club.
Next huge gig: Afropunk Johannesburg
In the future: I hope South Africans are at a point where we embrace our heritage and our history a lot more. I just hope my child doesn't grow up in a generation of little Americans.
Instagram: @darkiefiction
Mnyanda wears: dress by Animari Honiball; coat by Amanda Laird Cherry.
26. WILLIAM NKUNA
I am one half of the rap duo Champagne69.
Advice to the youth and the elderly: Stay in your own lane and keep putting out dope stuff. That is where your mind should be and not whether old people or new people think you're doing it the 'prope' way.
Instagram: @champagne69_
Nkuna wears: shirt and trousers by Selfi; Puma sneakers.
27. SIYA MDLEDLE
I am one half of the rap duo Champagne69.
Inspiration: The internet and internet culture influences a lot of what we talk about in our music and how we make it.
Instagram: @champagne69_
Mdledle wears: shirt and trousers by Selfi; Puma sneakers.
