Postcard from Africa - Namibia scoops Face of Africa - "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"<BR> The "Face of Africa" Beauty Pageant triggers debate on the definition of Beauty...- 1 March, 1999

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NAMIBIA SCOOPS FACE OF AFRICA

Benvinda Mundenge
Benvinda Mundenge
Benvinda Mundenge a 19 year old Namibian girl scooped the "M-Net Face of Africa" title for 1999 on the 28th February, in Windhoek.

She burst into tears when the announcement was made in the presence of dignitaries from all over Africa. Mundenge, who speaks English, Afrikaans, Portuguese, French and Oshiwambo, won herself a three-year modelling contract with the New York based Elite Model Management worth a minimum of 150,000 US dollars over three years, as well as clothing worth 20,000 US dollars from international designer Mark Eisen and South African designer Julian Smith.

There are also accessories coming her way from many sponsoring companies that include Europe Art on Line.

Mundenge’s kudo comes in the face of the sudden death of her 17-year-old sister died three days earlier, while her mother was hospitalised for the resultant shock.

Twelve young women from North, East, West and Southern Africa participated in the competition broadcast in four countries.

The young ladies were from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, Tanzania, South Africa, Niger and host Namibia.

Last year’s winner, Oluchi, was a penniless Nigerian schoolgirl when she became M-Net Face of Africa. She now graces the world’s catwalks, commanding fees in thousands of dollars a day.

Tracey Maitland-Stuart
A race row in the meantime has been sparked after a South African white woman became one of the 12 finalists in the Pan-African beauty contest, reminding post apartheid south Africa that the divide is still alive.

A leading magazine described the selection of the white South African for the Face of Africa competition as insulting to black people.

The South African magazine insisted that the Face of Africa should be an African face, not a white Western one.

It accused white people among the organisers and judges of not taking black sensitivities into consideration.

The magazine called on black African finalists to withdraw in protest from last Sunday’s final.

But none of the twelve contestants who made it to the final, withdrew from the pageant.

Perhaps, the chance of winning first prize - a three-year contract with the leading Elite modelling agency, worth $150,000 - may have influenced their decision.

A few of the black finalists actually came out in support of their white rival, Tracy Maitland-Stuart, saying she is as African as they are.

Maitland-Stuart herself responded asserting she is African because she was born in South Africa and that beauty is colour-blind.

One of the organisers Lizy Matsena, insisted that an African face belongs to a girl, born and bred on the African Continent and her looks meet the "International Standards" since she would go to New York and Paris to meet international models. The Judges are looking for, "a beautiful girl, tall, has exotic looks different from other girls. She has to have sharp bone structures on her face", Lizy elaborated.

Tracy Maitland-Stuart is one of the four girls chosen to represent Africa at a modelling extravaganza in Paris this year.

The heated debate has touched on some of the most sensitive issues in post-apartheid South Africa, not only of who is an African, but of cross-cultural racism and the relationship between black and white.

None knows for how long such rows will quietly linger under the fabric of post-apartheid South Africa.

Thabo Mbeki
South Africa remains a deeply divided nation where most whites remain in the top income bracket while nearly one quarter of black households remain in the lowest income category, according to Vice President Thabo Mbeki.

In a recent address to the National Council of the Provinces in Cape Town, he warned that it was vital to bridge the gap as promptly as possible.

"The combination of abject poverty at one end and a comfortable affluence at the other, compounded by the fact that this describes a black-white divide, constitutes an explosive mixture which has to be addressed," he said. "The question we have to ask ourselves during this debate and beyond is how committed are we seriously to ensure that we move as rapidly as possible to close these race and gender disparities."

He added that he recognised that there would be an outcry whenever changes were contemplated or made by that sector of the population being forced to tighten their belts.

"And yet, when the thunder will have died down, the fact will remain that there is no consensus among us that we need to take exceptional measures to redress the truly exceptional reality created by centuries of racial oppression and discrimination, thus to act in a manner which favours the black poor, demanding sacrifices of the white affluent," he pointed out.

However, he said there were hopeful signs that a number of people from across the ethnic divide were aware of the need for change - including Afrikaner youth.

"Our people will then judge all of us not according to how shrill our voices of criticism and opposition are, but as to what we have done to help eradicate the apartheid legacy which continues to imprison the entirety of our people, regardless of race or gender," Mbeki said.

Vice President Mbeki, however, warned that government will come down harshly against all forms of corruption, including bribery and abuse of public trust.

Perpetrators of corrupt practice in both the public and private sectors would be severely punished for contributing to the "moral mayhem" which had crept into the fabric of society.

Mbeki said government’s campaign against corruption would include a review of anti-corruption legislation, drafting of new laws, more efficient monitoring and management systems, and a more comprehensive "whistle blowing" system.

Mbeki who is expected to take over from President Nelson Mandela in the general election around May ,2000 has given assurances that he will not change South African Policy.

But still the question remains whether the Face of Africa belongs to someone born and bred on the continent or on ethnic features. Most Southern Africans believe that Africa should be represented by an ethnically looking African who should be then pitted against beauties from other continents.

Beauty Contests generally appear to be a point of disagreement.

In Zimbabwe a Cabinet Minister Mrs. Joyce Mujuru advocated that the criteria for winners of beauty pageants must be based on the Girl’s contribution to her community and the nation rather than on "displaying her half-naked body in front of men".

Beauty contests are still held in Zimbabwe for purposes of raising funds for Charity.