GUITARIST Sylent Nqo always leaves fans clamouring for more every time he performs live. However, his fashion sense which many have described as weird, has always left fans tongue tied.
Nose ring, black nail polish and drape fashion are Sylent Nqo recent descriptions in recent public appearances.
Draping in fashion is the process of positioning and pinning the fabric on a dress form. Draping can be used to create the basic pattern or to design organically by playing with the fabric on the form.
The art of draping dates back to 3 500 BCE, beginning with the Mesopotamians and Ancient Egyptians. Greek fashion followed with the invention of draped silhouettes like the chiton, peplos, chlamys and himation.
Speaking to Standard Style, Nqo said he adopted drape fashion from his family.
“My father and grandfather were draped at home and so did people from my mother's family in Mozambique,” he said.
“This style you see me in today and on stage is not something new, it has always been in my family and I just carried it along.
“I love draping because it is comfortable as I am an individual who loves being comfortable in my clothes and with time my style has evolved.”
- Teachers, head flee as goblins terrorise school
- Sylent Nqo explains ‘weird’ fashion sense
- Popular Congolese guitarist Lokassa ya Mbongo dies in US
- Zimbabweans turn to medicinal herbs
Keep Reading
In contemporary society, draping in Africa is a type of dressing that is associated with traditional healers, ironically Nqo is affectionately known as the guitar sangoma-sanghoma means a traditional healer.
Quizzed if he was a real traditional healer, Sylent Nqo responded: “I can tell you, I am not fake!”
With his sound having what some can call a spiritual sound, he has worked with renowned artistes such as Chiwoniso Maraire, Diana Samkange to mention but a few, the guitarist said his roots and spirituality is not only visible in his dressing style but everything around him.
“I believe there is spirituality in everything we do and I make sure I express that,” he said.
“Africa is not just a single culture but it is so diverse that it can be shown through many different forms of art.”
With the release of his debut album Sylent Treatment in May last year, Nqo is currently on a tour in Ghana and he has promised more collaborations, music and tours this year.
