Zambia’s Lukando wins M-Net Face of Africa ’10

IN a stylish haute couture showcase on Saturday, 22-year-old Lukando Nalungwe from Zambia joined an exclusive group of winners when she was named the eighth M-Net Face of Africa.

The striking model scooped US$50 000 from M-Net along with a modelling contract from O Model Africa and skincare products for 12 months from Iman Cosmetics.
Reinvention and innovation are hot buzzwords in the global fashion community and in a two-hour show, screened live from Lagos to 47 countries across Africa, M-Net presented a bold new vision for the Face of Africa final, opting for an edgier version of a traditional runway show and presenting the models on a black, floor-based runway in a contemporary warehouse.
With the final themed to resemble the loading warehouse of an art museum, where precious gallery pieces are prepared for display, the staging included massive cargo boxes stamped with African destinations with huge gold frames that showcased the fashion and the finalists and packaging tape demarcating the runway from the show’s seated guests, it was a uniquely fresh approach to showcasing Afro-chic expression.
Hosted by Studio 53’s Fareed Khimani (Kenya) and former Face of Africa Kaone Kario (Botswana) with a guest appearance by last season’s Face of Africa Kate Menson (Ghana), the finale included entertainment from Nigerian superstar D’banj belting out his hits ‘Suddenly’ and ‘Fall in Love’.
Meanwhile soulful South African songstress Lira, shimmering in green silk, showed why she’s one of Africa’s rising stars with brilliant performances of two of her hits – ‘Feel Good’ and ‘Believer’.
But the night belonged to the Top 10 – and from the minute that Nigeria’s Marvis kicked off the show, followed in rapid success by Tholakele (Zimbabwe), Lilian (Tanzania), Esperanca (Angola), Thembi (South Africa), Blessing (Nigeria), Rosanna (Zimbabwe), Diana (Kenya), Ernania (Mozambique) and Lukando (Zambia), it was very clear just who the stars of the show really were.
Showing how much they’ve learnt during the Face of Africa search, which DStv audiences have been following for 15 weeks, the Face of Africa Top 10 hit the catwalk with confidence and grace as they strode down the catwalk resplendent in garments designed by the best of African designers.
Led by featured designers John Kaveke (Kenya) and David Tlale (South Africa), a contingent of Nigerian designers and a group of designers from across Africa, Anna Getaneh (Ethiopia), Kofi Ansah (Ghana), Anisa Mpungwe (Tanzania), Gloria WavaMunno (Uganda), Chakirra Claasen (Namibia), Cathy Kathunzi (Malawi), Koketso Chiepe (Botswana), Liz Ogumbo (Kenya), Taibo Bacar (Mozambique) and Angela Mulenga (Zambia), showed off their edgy designs.
And in living up to its reputation for merging African design with the latest in international trends, the Face of Africa final included the unmistakable style of Christian Lacroix, Versace and Emmanuel Ungaro while jewellery maestro Chris Aire brought his signature style to the fashion accessories utilised.
Then with all the fashion over, it was time for the big moment, the announcement of the M-Net Face of Africa 2010. Returning to the platform that made her a star a decade ago, the always elegant Oluchi was on hand to reveal the winner and she soon revealed Lukando’s success.
With Lukando now jetting off to New York with M-Net to participate in New York Fashion Week, courtesy of Arise magazine, attention will now move to how she fares in the Big Apple.
Over the next two weeks, every Saturday at 19h00 on DStv audiences can watch her take her first steps to stardom on M-Net with two special “wrap up” episodes.