ICYMI: Mzansi Reacts to Simphiwe Dana’s Outburst Concerning Nomzamo Mbatha’s Hair
Apart from retelling the riveting history of the Zulu kingdom and its most famous monarch Shaka Zulu, Shaka iLembe is also known for its period-accurate wardrobe with a bit of creative license here and there. It’s nothing new for the show to find itself at the centre of public acclaim, particularly on the socials. Earlier this week, however, the show trended for a different reason: an Instagram post from singer-songwriter Simphiwe Dana seemingly putting one of the show’s executive producers Nomzamo Mbatha on blast for a hairstyle she felt entitled to claim as her own creation.
In the now-deleted post, Dana had some cutting words for Mbatha as well as the iLembe crew, insinuating that the coiffure Nomzamo had on was directly inspired by her without her being necessarily credited for it. “At least acknowledge me,” the post said, which explicitly accused the show and Mbatha of “appropriation.”
The hairstyle in question, which features distinct cartwheels which flank the temples and are woven out of hair, is one that is inspired by the Ovankhumbi people, natives of the nation of Angola.
A screenshot of Simphiwe Dana’s Instagram | Credit: X
South Africans on the socials were baffled by the post, with many of them citing Dana’s hypocrisy and being out of touch with reality and African history.
Author and socio-political commentator Naledi Mashishi said, “This whole time I thought Simphiwe Dana was deliberately paying homage to precolonial African hairstyles. Kanti she thinks she invented them? Weeeh.”
@ZeeRight jestfully quoted a picture of a Zulu man from the late 1800s with an elaborate hairstyle, saying, “Please credit Simphiwe Dana.”
@officialtwinny wrote about Dana’s supposed tone-deafness and inability to read the room, bringing up social and economic issues that plagued the country as a counter for Simphiwe’s outburst against Nomzamo and the iLembe crew.