Durban - What do Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, mayor Zandile Gumede, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Lupita Nyong’o have in common?
Well these beauties are proud wearers of the doek, a head garment that sets African women apart with its bold and colourful designs.
The ANC Women’s League are big proponents of the doek. In June, the chairwoman of the African Union, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, told supporters of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) that they should show solidarity by wearing doeks from Friday to Sunday.
“It is important to demonstrate and outwardly wear our doeks, because we are now doing it for the ANC,” she said.
Phumzile Dhlamini, a teacher from Durban, said the doek was a cultural accessory.
“Women who are married use it as a mark of respect, especially when they are in front of their elders and ancestors. It is also used as a scarf for unmarried women whose family had received labola. It also goes well with cultural attire.
“Recently, the doek has been trending and has become a hit among young women of all cultures. In fact, young people are now wearing doeks irrespective of their race,” she said.
The doek is also used when a person died, as a symbol of mourning.
Dhlamini admitted that she struggled to tie a doek.
The waitresses at Spiga d’ Oro on Florida Road, Durban wear their colourful doeks with pride and are often asked to pose for a photograph with patrons.
Each morning, before the start of business, the ladies gather to tie each other’s head dress.
There are different ways to dress a doek, from the flower, twisting style, wrap, plait or the traditional way. It depends on an individual’s style.
The restaurant initially introduced doeks for hygiene reasons but now has set the trend with other restaurants following suit.
“We decided to make the ladies wear this head dress as it was more visually appealing than hair nets, however I have received calls from other restaurants who want to adopt the trend, and many waitresses are happy,” said Sergio Santoniccolo, Spiga’s owner.
Waitress Shenay Prinsloo, 23, from Morningside, said the doek had grown on her. At first she did not know how to tie it, and “pestered” her colleagues for help.
Then one day she decided to experiment a little, and her love for tieing the doeks developed. Now she helps other staff get their doeks on.
“It is so versatile and everyday there is a new style we can tie it in. It helps hiding my bad hair days,” she laughs.
Although it was a mandatory work uniform, she also wears them during nights out.
Vimbai Rutsito, from Zimbabwe, said doeks ranged in price from R20 to R200, depending on the print and colour.
Businesses were raking in money too with many women of all races and ages purchasing them.
Thabisa Nosipho, the owner of Hoi Thabisa, an online doek store, called it the African crown. In the two months since she opened she had received calls from Australia, Germany and London.
She sells the African print doeks at R60 and the Mesai sell at R150.
After a demand for the doeks on social media, she turned it into a business.
“The doek symbolises how a woman holds a family together and her journey to being a lady. It also shows creativity as no one ties a doek the same way twice,” she said.
Sunday Tribune
* See the Sunday Tribune Facebook page to watch a video on how to tie a doek.