Invest in your hair because it is the crown you never take off. With colored affectations on puffed up hair, beads, braided patterns or twisted locks, show off your charm and unique flair. The one who gathers the most admiring stares becomes the star of the day! An offering by Haut Monde Africa, Nywele Fest is the only place you can wear your exotic and quirky hair with pride and confidence.
The first ever edition of Nywele Fest was supposed to debut in March this year but was unfortunately cancelled following the COVID-19 pandemic. Lucky for hair enthusiasts, Haut Monde decided to go back to the drawing board and once again plan the all-about-hair festival after restrictions eased. Like fate, Halloween presented the opportune moment for the festival to make its introduction in the Kenyan entertainment scene and the social class was ready for it!
“Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it’s about finding the imagination within ourselves.” This ancient festival originates from the Celtics of 2,000 years ago,eager to ward off ghosts and has seen its integration in modern society as one of the spookiest festivities each year. At the Nywele Festival, guests were not only given the chance to play dress-up but also to experiment with their hair.
Dubbed Nywelloween, the Nywele Fest Halloween edition took place on 31st October at the Bamboo Bar in Gigiri. We arrived in the late afternoon just before the sun set to usher in the ghostly evening. Event organizers went all out to select an amazing location with equally mesmerizing décor. The stunning fairy lights perfectly captured the essence of the dark, starry evening. Meanwhile, the stacked hays covered with Maasai Lesos added an authentic Kenyan ambiance, making you feel right at home but still giving that outdoor halloween feel. The soul of the event however was mostly attributed to the event’s attendants who showed up immaculately dressed and in merry spirits to welcome the first ever Nywele Festival. From fanged vampires, bloodied victims, cunning Maleficent and ruthless Joker, there were all types of cosplay characters in attendance. They happily mingled at the Bamboo bar, made alive with enticing music, great food and quenching, unsobering drinks. We tricked, treated and danced the night away; that is until curfew hours were upon us and we regrettably had to go home.
“We want people to celebrate the hair they have by showing people that their hair makes them who they are. We want people to see their hair as their greatest asset. An asset that enables them to feel royal and prestigious. Just the same way we celebrate royalty, is the same way we should celebrate our hair.” This statement from the event organizers, Haut Monde; best describes what the event seeks to achieve.
Nywele Fest sets the bar for celebrating individuality, imagination and expression through hair. The crown that we don on the daily may seem mundane but it is a representation of who we are and definitely needs recognition. We look forward to what Nywele Fest will have for us in the coming years.
— Written by Mary Njehia.
