ZINE
THE FOLD(ED) GLOSSARY
We’re excited to share the first Fold Glossary; a co-created, multimedia compilation that brings together the diverse contributions that we received from our Open Calls.
A big thank you to all our contributors reaching us from 16 African countries, as well as some voices from the diaspora. Seeking to create a sonic and visual polyvocality of the word “fold”, we collated the audio and video contributions from the artisans, wearers, fashion scholars, designers, tailors, creatives, critical thinkers and artists who explored the fold, as a word, as an act, or as an idea in fashion. This wealth of knowledge, compiled in a zine, invites engagement with the sonic materialities of the fold. Explains, zine artist and maker Abdul Dube, “Our enquiries into what folds are, or how the forms of folds are seen and spoken in the broadness of the continent, offer something that can begin to bring forth other knowledge systems, and build community in putting out, for example, a zine.
We believe these fold-words and fold-stories – expressed in many different languages – can begin to re-word and re-map fashion knowledges from Africa. In bringing these together, we’ve included QR codes and AR activations, as well as on screen and print accessibilities. Both digital and physical accessibility is essential to decolonising knowledges, and to shifting narratives on and from the continent.
We are excited to launch the zine at Conversations on Creativity x The Fold, at Breezeblock, Brixton Johannesburg on Saturday 02 December. The Fold Glossary is committed to access that expands and enriches the field of African fashion studies. Watch this space as we unfold the Glossary online for future downloads and digital sharing.
Community contributors include:
@ChisomNwanyanw1 - Chisom Chienyenwa Nwanyanwu
@mshadeel - Hadeel Osman
@jeffreyhiuii - Jeffrey Hiuii
@adirebyabebistitches - Khadijat Ibrahim
Samkelisiwe Mhlongo-Setshedi
Katlego Mokwana
Charles Rolanda
@_adu_bola - Badmus Bolanle Nimota
@busicrocreations - Busisiwe_Jara
@Bassanitextiles - Peace Bassani Yohanna
@2wyth.gbedupoet - Otatane-oso Freeman Andrew
@Rolake_dairo - Dr Morolake Dairo
@semhalmaz - Semhal Tsegaye Abebe
Download the FOLD(ED) Glossary
A free copy is available at the link below