Episode Details

"Dressed Like Kings" presents a compelling glimpse into oswenka, a South African tradition where men don their finest apparel weekly for the title of "Best Dressed." The stories of oswenkas Simon Khoza, Adolphus Mbuyisa, and Bhekiznzo Buthelezi reveal the mystique of swanking and explore this fifty-year-old Zulu tradition. However, the practice faces threats from high prices, waning interest, and a new generation preferring jeans and T-shirts. Historians speak on black diasporic identity in fashion as the film questions whether self-expression through dress is worth the cost.

"Dressed Like Kings", directed by Stacey L. Holman, is part of Frame By Frame: Black Public Media, a partnership with CUNY TV and Black Public Media to showcase the remarkable talent of BPM's community.

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