Annual Kunya Mama na Dada
Women's Fashion Show
In February 2003 Mama na Dada Board member, Elizabeth Stephenson, traveled to London for a Board meeting. She brought with her a suitcase full of women's clothing for Joyce to bring back with her. Joyce took the clothing into the MamaNaDada office in Nairobi where the workers in the office had such fun with the clothes they decided that on Elizabeth's next trip to Kunya Village in July 2003, they would do a fashion show for her.
They chose teenage girls from the MamaNaDada Stay Alive group (20 from Nairobi and 20 from Kunya Village) to be the models. They not only wore clothing that Elizabeth has sent, but also put together costumes from their own tribes.
Transportation for the girls from Nairobi was provided and they all came
to the village a day early in preparation. Many boys also wanted to
participate so they came on their own bringing with them musical instrument
and offering to help put up banners.
The original event was held outside behind the MamaNaDada center in Kunya village where the boys also put put up a "runway" made with stakes and string. Over 100 people came from neighboring villages.
It has since grown into an annual cultural event featuring not only the fashion show, but also music, drama, indigenous food preparation and dinner. People from 3 neighboring villages participate and it is now being held in large facility just outside Kunya Village where about 500 people attend. Some women walk 4 hours to get there!
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