Meeting the Men of the Namibian Runway

As we inch closer to this year’s MTC Windhoek Fashion Week, the content we are getting is constantly highlighting the exploits and preparations of the entertainment industry’s resident pretty people – and we must say, the men are definitely holding their own.

There is so much to be said about the work models do, as well as about the lavish lifestyles they seem to portray, so we felt it was best to get a bit of insight into the minds of the men of the Namibian runway from the horses’ mouths themselves.

We spoke to Albert Moses, Kumue Muetudhana, Mmoloki Samoca, Jean-Claude Tjitamunisa, Djodjo Postiga and Kutenda Nyamupfukudza.

Moses has a face that looks good in any situation and works well for him.

He was born at Ongwediva, in the north of Namibia, and was raised at Swakopmund.

He works as a project coordinator at the Pupkewitz Foundation, sells Herbalife on the side and runs a service-delivery company called Just On Time Services, while holding a diploma in business administration and an honours degree in accounting.

Moses has been a runway and commercial model since 2017, when he entered the annual beauty pageant of the University of Namibia (Unam).

This led to him successfully auditioning for the Windhoek Fashion Week in that same year.

He has walked the runway for big brands, like Maria Nepembe’s Ria, Ingo Shanyenge, Synergy by Simeone Johannes, Sirenga, Pewa, MN Creation, SA’s House of St Luke, Malawi’s Motions, as well as Zambia’s Nkanda Yatu, while off the runway he appears in adverts for Standard Bank, Real Good Chicken, Unam and Harley-Davidson.

Moses says his favourite thing about being on the runway is the adrenaline rush it involves.

“One never gets used to that. I also love creating content for local brands and being in front of a Muetudhana says his favourite part of being a model is being able to be a muse for designers.

He considers himself versatile in his abilities.

Muetudhana says he has been doing this for about six years now, since bursting onto the scene as part of a runway show for the Djun label.

He says he loves being able to do highly creative gigs where designers have the liberty to express their ideas.

In his opinion, the craft requires a particular level of discipline.

“You should be able to follow instructions, keep your body in shape, come to sets on time and most importantly, be easy to work with,” he says.

Some of his favourite fashion trends are oversized outerwear, relaxed tailoring, thrifted pieces, military boots and pale colours.

“Anything that is comfortable and looks good is where I’m at,” he says.

Postiga, a commercial, print and runway model, feels the job requires one to be more than just a pretty face.

The Congolese-born model has been strutting his stuff for about three years now and is well sought-after in the industry.

His photos are normally highly colourful and creative, and he often thinks outside the proverbial box.

Although he loves modelling, he says it wasn’t always so.

“I didn’t really grow up loving modelling. I was just there in my own zone, doing my own thing. I love football, and I was dreaming of becoming the next Ronaldo, when a friend of mine told me I needed to go to fashion week auditions. It went well for me,” he says.

Like the others, he has worked with top brands like Deon Angelo and Melisa Poulton and has been seen on the runway countless times. He was also included in a BBC Africa featurette.

Nyamupfukudza (23) is a student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, and will be seen showing off formal wear from menswear store 4 May.

He says doing what he does comes with a lot of misconceptions.

“Some people think us models in Africa or in so-called third-world countries are wannabes, or they think all this beautiful content we drop is only for the gram or for clout chasing. That is false. The truth is it takes passion to be involved in this. If you’re not in any circles where models chill, you wouldn’t understand why we do what we do,” the six-foot-tall model says.

Another misconception, according to model, graphic designer, actor and photographer Tjitamunisa, is that what he does is easy and that models do not deserve a decent wage or respect.

“Modelling goes hand in hand with the fashion and marketing industries. It contributes largely to the gross domestic product of countries of which the industries have been nurtured and have grown,” he says.

Tjitamunisa knows the grind. He has been in this business since he was 18, in 2014.

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