such prints I don’t wear them.
JWK: Do you think prints have been sold
out in Africa? People say prints are not Af-
rican enough these days because they’re
not coming from Africa, do you agree?
MNF: We have to even look
at the origins of some of
these prints. It’s not just
from us; there are prints
all over the world. I think
our understanding of prints
are a little too limited and
maybe we should rather be
focusing on creating new
prints - new ideas. I think
that’s where prints should
be now, the creation of new
prints that may be deviate
away from what we know
as African prints - there
should be a new African
print; and perhaps I need to
explore that.
JWK: Janet Jackson recently shot an
entire video in African prints and people
are saying she’s ‘appropriating’ the entire
African culture, what do you have to say
about that?
MNF: I think as Africans we are a bit con-
fused. We don’t know whether we want to
be celebrated or want to keep these things
to ourselves. Sometimes we allow others to
come and see the good in us; put it on then
we complain. So it’s a bit confusing for me,
we need to focus on us and what we put out
there because as for the appropriation, it will
be done - but amongst the African diaspora
too is that really appropriation?
JWK: Do you really get people telling you,
you’re stylish?
MNF: Let me tell you when I knew that
things we are changing with me. I think it
was about a year ago; I was walking in New
York City - a place filled with many stylish
50 | Colossium . December 2018
people. I walked maybe 4 blocks and a good 4
or 5 people stopped me to tell me how amaz-
ing I looked.
JWK: And you knew that you had arrived.
MNF: [laughs]…You know because in Ghana,
it started with ridicule - then it was like “it’s
cool”, “he’s different” - and then it was a bit of
celebration.
JWK: I feel that’s the problem with Ghana-
ians. We are really quick to criticize things
we don’t know. They try to attack your per-
sonality; if that doesn’t work then the next
stage is they start appropriating it with
everyone trying to look like M.anfiest.
MNF: Yeah, I mean I can’t even try to claim
I’m the single drive or whatsoever but me
being unflinching and how I decided to
approach my style by combining African
and modern vibes . The interesting thing is
people say “M.anifest dresses traditional”; I
don’t dress traditional. I might be wearing
the same pants, same style but in a different
thing - then instead of wearing weird rings
from somewhere, I’m wearing these weird
rings from artisans here. I think in a way, it’s
gratifying to know that when you stay on a
course - guess what? People come to you and
you will be way ahead of them.
JWK: Should what a woman wears up on
stage influence whether she’s talented or
not?
MNF: Not at all. I think that the times have
changed. You should be talented and be
yourself. People like Simi are talented and
are themselves; they don’t have to dress in a
certain way.
JWK: Which African artistes do you really
want to collaborate with?
MNF: Burna Boy and Asa.
JWK: Manifestivities, this year?
MNF: Yeah, December. Let’s make it happen.
I think we will do it like “Come dressed Kab-
bafestive or we bounce you”.
JWK: Thank you, M.Dot for your time
MNF: Thanks for having me.