When we first start talking about this shoot, Ulenni knows immediately that he want's to shoot in town.
Walking around with him in town in Harare is always an adventure. He looks at space through a very hopeful lens, and sees beauty in every corner. I almost feel as if he can imagine and see an alternative version of the room he walks into in real time.
We decide to do the shoot at an open courtyard of the NSSA building, right next to the National Gallery.
"It's a space in town where you..
There is a moment when you wanna be in town, but you don't want to see anybody you just want to rest and yeah ... so you don't want to be at the gallery or in the busy streets.. You're probably waiting for someone to pick you up, but you don't want to be in a crowded place or in a space where everybody's coming through.
This is the space that I'd usually go then, when I don't want to be disturbed. "
"The reserve bank building as a background, and then everything you need for a chilled spot. /.../ The whole setup is there, the stairs climbing up... It's just about putting the chairs.
The NSSA could use it themselves, for so many things, for events. And I wish they could just rent it out to people who would want to use it creatively."
"It's just a beautiful place, I like it.
We've shot some couple of scenes here, we shot a bit of the video for Bantu Spaceship."
For this shoot, Ulenni is wearing Levis Jeans thrifted downtown in Mbare in 2020. The matching shirt is thrifted in Mutare in 2021, and the shoes are MMYs, also found while thrifting in Mbare.
"The hat, I can't remember where I got it. But the outfit is a Japanese inspired style." he sais.
"It's beautiful how the thrift culture has developed in Harare. I've been thrifting since I was young. /.../
I treat the thrift markets as a school of fashion. That's how I go there, to discover. Even if you don't want to buy anything on that given day, you just go there and you explore. Textures, colours, stitching. It's a whole journey of exploring and understanding a whole lot of things."
"Beside that, it (thrifting) is also eco friendly, and it teaches you to understand how to use money wisely, and move away from fast fashion. Im a slow fashion person, I like to recycle and explore."
Matobo born and Harare based Ulenni Okandlovu might be the truest multidisciplinary artist I know of. Entering Harare's art scene, he is a key figure to know and learn from. From curator of the biggest, lively cultural get-together Fabrik Party to singer and musician in the internationally touring afro-futurism band Bantu Spaceship, his roles and hats are many.
His love for fashion and street culture always shines through, you can sometimes get your hand on a rare clothing piece designed by him, and few know Harare's thrifting scene as well as he does. Through film projects and curious research, he deepens conversation, and with a base in Mbare Art Space he works actively to create inclusive spaces. Always mindful of others, he invites and shares generously - yet he manages to keep both integrity and quality at a high standard.