Fashion at the SAMAs

I ventured to Sun City on Monday to try and attend one of the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) after parties.  I internally debated myself for weeks about actually attending the SAMAs, but couldn’t see forking over 300R worth it.  The fact that I thought 300R was too much to attend a high production, national awards show comparable to the Billboard Music Awards or the MTV awards AND an after party is quite comical---300R is roughly equivalent to $38.66.  The $39 wouldn’t have even covered the tolls for me to go to NY to attend a music award show. ROTFL  Although 300R isn’t a lot in dollars, I keep reminding myself and everyone in my community I get paid in Rands not Dollars!

I diverge.

Since Sun City is only 30 minutes from my house, I rode with my host brother (well the son of the couple that owns the B&B I stay at) and his girlfriend.  Sun City which is roughly a vacation (with time shares) resort with a casino, water park, and other numerous cheesy effects to appease vacationing families.  It was packed wall to wall with people who all apparently had the same idea we had.  Folks had traveled from all over SA to be in Sun City for the awards and some ever walked over from nearby villages. 

The after parties were all sold and even though I flirted, threw around my American accent, and even offered to pay, I wasn’t able to get me and my guest into one of the parties.  It actually kind of upset we should have at least been able to bribe someone to get it.  So instead we hung out in the hallways and attended the “let in” and “let outs.”  This gave me a great opportunity to observe the crowd.  I quickly realized that hood rat, hot mess, bamma and similar terms aren’t nationality specific.  Fashion was butchered, strangled, and murdered up and down Sun City’s hallways.  I actually walked up to one guy wearing leather winter gloves (sporting a Kayne West type look) and asked why and he simply answered for fashion.  Oh ok.  I didn’t get it.  Maybe I am just too old or American to get it???!!! 

I wasn’t able to get a picture to truly capture the travesty, but here are two to give you an idea.  

You can't tell from the photo but the tights were also turquoise to match her T-shirt.

--Mei