The Rise of ZuluBoy

If you pay attention to the whispers, there are a few names in the Namibian entertainment industry making waves in fresh and creative ways. Look to the left and they are conquering, avert your gaze to the right and they are winning.

One such name is ZuluBoy, real name Pinehas Shikulo, the ingenious brain behind the trendiest pieces of clothing out right now, Gweri Socks.

Hailing from Onayena in the north of Namibia, and growing up between there and the capital city, his brand – the Gweri Vintage Collection – is the umbrella company under which Gweri Socks, Namibia’s very own colourful ‘happy’ socks, are released and flourishing.

The graphic designer, aspiring chef, stylist, dancer and entrepreneur dreams up the funky designs and has always been a creative. He studied visual art at the University of Namibia, and has also studied fashion, so he knows his way around a needle and thread.

This fuelled his passion for clothes and now adds authenticity to his products, which are worn by all kinds of people – socialites, singers, models, corporate moguls… it seems they can’t get enough of the funky footwear.

TopCheri, Namibian musician and self-proclaimed ‘Queen of the Gweris’, among other local celebrities, has been spotted wearing the socks on several occasions. She loves to add them to her outfits because they are stylish and beautiful, and supporting local brands is important to her.

“They are authentically Namibian and it’s important for us to keep our coins circulating in our own communities,” she said, adding that she cannot wait to see what else the business will come up with.

Gweri Vintage Collection has plans to expand their range of products, but ZuluBoy chose to begin with socks because they are staple items in any high fashion vintage look.

“I fell in love with the vintage look thanks to my mentor Loux the Vintage Guru. Anywhere you see me, I will be dressed in the dandy style. People didn’t really understand the look I was going for before, but wearing vintage gave me so much confidence now people love it,” he says.

Since releasing the first line of socks in October 2018 and then also debuting the brand at Windhoek Fashion Week, his name has become synonymous with what’s hip and happening on the Windhoek style scene.

Go to your favourite bar or restaurant or scour social media timelines, and Gweri Socks are bound to come up.

ZuluBoy believes what has aided his success is his desire to create a good quality product that is for everyone and to represent his people the best he can.

“The word ‘gweri’ typically refers to someone who doesn’t know anything cool or isn’t welcome to have the good life, so I wanted to create a product for them, something everyone will wear.”

This year has brought a wave of good news for the sock maker: his partnership with Gondwana Collection, who bought 800 pairs for distribution around the country and have their own custom Gweri Vintage design; and Nictus Giga Namibia coming on board as a distributor. But it was the news of his work with MTC that was the biggest deal for him.

For the next two years, he is Mr 4G, the face of the mobile telecommunications giant’s ‘oSmartPhona’ campaign. In the ads, he is featured in colourful garb designed and styled by Loux the Vintage Guru, sporting his very own Gweri Socks to match.

He used to think doing ads were only for models, but now he is breaking barriers with his art.

“A lot of people don’t know that I have worked with MTC before. I was in another advert of theirs a few years back as a dancer. So when the agency creating the campaign needed a face, they thought I would be perfect.”

And perfect he was.

Advantage Y&R, the agency behind the ad, was keen to work with him again as they had seen and appreciated the hard work he was doing by pushing his sock line.

“I work with a lot of young, cool Namibians who tell me all the time what is trendy and cool,” said Advantage Y&R’s creative director Toufic Beyhum. He added that when talks came up about who would be the new ‘oSmartPhona’ face, ZuluBoy seemed almost obvious.

“I work with a young graphic designer, Ezer Mbumbus, who played a pivotal role in creating what would be appealing. The client said yes to our choice immediately.”

Beyhum noted that the response from the public was “insane”, but that it was to be expected since so many people love ZuluBoy and his energy.

“He has such a nice vibe; we love his energy and we are just excited to support a young entrepreneur.”

ZuluBoy also created the music for the campaign, with the help of producer Solani Glo.

If you ask enough people about the young style connoisseur, they will tell you he doesn’t sleep and that he is always thinking of the next great idea. Between being the creative director for the Gweri Vintage Collection and a graphic designer for various brands, Ama Daz Floor – a music group of which ZuluBoy is part of – is releasing an album later this year.

“The music sounds so good,” he says. “The album is beautiful.”

“This is not about me, this is about we,” he says boldly of his brand.

He has big dreams. Dreams of employing thousands of Namibians, given the opportunity. Currently he just lacks the financial capacity to do so.

“The machines aren’t there. I get so many requests. Someone wants us to make children’s socks, but we just don’t have the machines to do so.”

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