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The doek is spoken about with some reverence in our country because of what it represents.
Not only does it provide protection for the beautiful crowns of African women, the doek has also been significant in historic moments – cemented in our memories by some influential doek-wearing women. They include the likes of Miriam Makeba, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Sibongile Khumalo and Abigail Kubeka.
This is partly what inspired a series of motivational gatherings that are aimed at the modern African woman. Their purpose is to empower and fuse the traditions and history of the doek with the vogue of South African life at present.
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Thandi Mavata is an accountant by trade but aspires to motivate other women with her series of markets called Doek on Fleek.
“The concept started in 2016. It was initially just a theme for a Mother’s Day celebration which was hosted [in Diepkloof, Zone 2] in Soweto,” Mavata says.
This initial event – a simple market – was a success and, from it, the idea to take this concept and craft it into a gathering of feminist energy was born.
“This market was in celebration of women and our empowerment, but it also presented the opportunity for women to have stalls and trade. So, from that, I just saw an opportunity for us to actually have a movement for women, where they come and support each other, but still be in a chilled environment,” Mavata explains.
She then decided to launch the Doek on Fleek Market as a recurring event.
A past experience in Mavata’s life partly led her to this idea that has grown beyond its unornamented beginnings. This initiative was in part conceptualised as a result of Mavata’s struggles with her mental health.
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“I had gone through a couple of years during which I was admitted to a mental institution and I was in and out for 38 days. I kept relapsing and a huge reason for my depression, or what triggered my depression, was my financial status.”
It got so bad that her bank balance was at zero quite regularly – something that can drive anyone up the wall.
Instead of wallowing in her misery, Mavata used this setback to fuel her creativity and has gone about rising on her own while pulling other women up along with her.
“I tried to get different items to sell. Because I already had a huge following and also had friends, I just thought it would be easy to sell [goods] and I would just bounce back [financially] from that.”
This was, of course, no easy feat and she found it particularly difficult when other women would deter her efforts and offer anything but support to this vision.
Herein lies her choice to march towards championing the cause to motivate women in a world that does so much to bring people down.
The idea grew in support and reputation, and now the Doek on Fleek Market is ready for a national tour. It has morphed into a picnic where women are encouraged to engage with each other on issues that concern them while enjoying a safe and sophisticated social space.
You might still be wondering why the doek itself was chosen. Mavata says: “I wanted it to relate to women. Doeks don’t have a race or education.
“I mean, you wear a doek when you have a bad hairday. You wear a doek when you’re going to show respect [at a funeral]. Or you just wear it as a fashion statement.”
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Look out for the Doek on Fleek Market and picnic tour. Visit their social media pages for more information on the tour. Enjoy the full version of this article online at citypress.co.za
