Simphiwe Dana receives backlash after alleging ownership of ancient hairstyles
As the saying goes, 'Your hair is your crown,' and for many, it continues to hold deep significance.
But when Simphiwe Dana, the Afrocentric/Jazz musician, accused Nomzamo Mbatha and the Shaka iLembe crew of allegedly copying her signature hairstyles without credit, the debate surrounding cultural appropriation vs. appreciation was reignited.
Read more | 'For the past five years I've been stolen from'- Simphiwe Dana reflects on career
Simphiwe Dana is recognised for her powerful and spiritual music, as well as her bold fashion looks.
Her hairstyles have become part of her staple pieces and artistic expression, showcasing her connection to her African heritage throughout her public career.
Recently, actress Nomzamo Mbatha was the target of the 'Ndiredi' hitmaker's statement where she was publicly accused of copying her Afro-centric hairstyle ideas without any acknowledgment.
The controversy began when Simphiwe took to her social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to express her frustration in a now deleted series of posts stating, 'Honey, there's a difference between appreciation and appropriation,' with Nomzamo's pictures attached for reference.
Moreover, she felt disrespected and taken advantage of, that Nomzamo's hairstyles particularly those in the Shaka iLembe - the historical series where Mbatha portrays Queen Nandi, were inspired by her own signature looks without any credit given to her.
'I'm fed up with brands appropriating my style. The least you can do is acknowledge where you got the ideas from. I'm talking to you Shaka iLembe and Nomzamo Mbatha. The other sister I won't mention. It started here. Appreciate, don't appropriate,' she tweeted.
However, her outburst received much backlash despite her deleting her posts on both platforms, with many saying, she herself isn't the inventor of the hairstyles as she drew inspiration from ancient women, making example of the late Miriam Makheba.
Nomzamo Mbatha and the Shaka iLembe production crew have not yet responded to these claims.
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