south africa
News
Damola Durosomo
Aug. 17, 2018 11:31AM EST

South African Students Clash With Police While Protesting Unbearable Living Conditions at Their University

"Media says we're protesting slow wi-fi, but it's way deeper than that."

South African students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Durban, have run into clashes with the police after protesting their school's substandard living conditions.

Classes were cancelled earlier this week when the protests first began and up to 18 students were arrested during a walk-out. The situation escalated once again on Friday when student protestors were met by police forces who dispensed teargas after students allegedly pelted police water cannons with rocks and set fire to a guard house. So far, seven students have been arrested in today's run-in, South Africa's East Coast Radio reports. Campus is currently a "no go area."

A video shared on Twitter shows students being chased down by police officers.

While several reports have emphasized the student's complaints about slow wi-fi, many students have taken to social media to show that the protests are about much more than just wi-fi—though reliable internet is absolutely necessary for students to do be able to do their work. Many have shared images of the poor, unworkable conditions of their living quarters using the hashtag #Kwazekwanzima.


Images from social media show rat-infested dorm rooms and kitchens, inefficient laundry rooms, storage rooms used as makeshift dorm rooms, and other adverse conditions that have left students vulnerable to further harm. One student, Twitter user ZeeCrabby, says a fire broke out when one of the kitchens was converted into a storage room, which led to student's belongings being burnt.

Other students had similar stories to share of roof leakages, broken showers and more. 'Media says we're protesting for poor WiFi but it's way deeper than that,' wrote one student.







protest south africa
Style
Image courtesy of Daily Paper

Wekafore Releases Fela Kuti Inspired Collab With Daily Paper

The one-of-a-kind 'The Spirit Don't Die' capsule collection celebrates African heritage and a hope for a brighter future.

Amsterdam-based African streetwear brand Daily Paper has joined Nigerian fashion brand Wekafore in creating a unique capsule collection of note. The 'The Spirit Don't Die' collection is inspired by fashion and Nigerian activism icon Fela Kuti, but celebrates the bountiful beauty, potential, and heritage of Africans.

Nigerian designer Wekaforé Maniu Jibril, owner, and designer of the Wekafore brand has been hot since his 2013 debut. The brand has gone on to become a great success within the realm of West African fashion. Wekaforé represents a newer, more fearless generation of African designers and their latest collaborative collection tells the tale.

Daily Paper x Wekaforé 'The Spirit Don't Die' collectionImage courtesy of Daily Paper


The two popular brands share a rich history and intention to further African fashion's reputation in the world, as well as as a shared desire for raw necessity, organic growth, and authentic community engagement, development and, support. The fashion brands are making it known that street and casual wear are more than we once thought - fashion can be inclusive and fun. The stars truly aligned to bring us this partnership guided by similar core values and the hunger to celebrate Africa and her diasporas through fashion.

The Fela Kuti-inspired collection is filled with distinctive and bold pieces, honoring Africa's past while paving the way towards the future. Wekafore is known for their clear integration of West Africa's 1970's cultural golden age, and this limited collection speaks to those themes, making it a no-brainer to dedicate the line to the legendary King of Afrobeat, whose style never disappointed. It's clear to see how Kuti's influence inspired the exciting and vibrant creative renaissance seen in the collection. On using Kuti as his muse, Wekaforé says, "Like Fela, the pieces are very punk, very psychedelic, and very African at the same time. And that represents me 100%. And I think being able to speak that way through a platform like Daily Paper is a testament to contemporary African consciousness."


Image courtesy of Daily Paper

Daily Paper x Wekafore 'The Spirit Don't Die' Collection

Check out more of Daily Paper x Wekafore's collection 'The Spirit Don't Die' collection here.

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