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Afrimaxx is at one of South Africa's biggest car culture weekends. What started as a niche meet has now turned into a full-blown movement. Let's meet builders, collectors, and fans from across the country and beyond.
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00:07today we add one of south africa's the biggest car culture weekends where africa's love for cars
00:14isn't just seen it's felt what started as a niche meet has now turned into a full-blown movement
00:22from builders collectors and fans from across the country and beyond custom cars rare classics
00:29and a community built by passion but before we drive in here's what's coming up we kick off a
00:36brand new series where my dear afri max colleague balesa tembe takes us on a tour of the finest homes
00:43in south africa can lilong wear become africa's new capital of adventure we discover how congo
00:50is bringing an ancient language back to life i'm claire prince and this is afri max
01:11starting with what's built by passion this is what it looks like when heritage becomes global
01:17meet the creative force behind blue vagabond these creations are causing a stir worldwide and
01:24are even worn by beyonce they're made by designer gina dia who hails from the multicultural district
01:33of la good door in the north of paris like many people with african roots despite her success
01:39gina has made a point of keeping her fashion boutique in the working-class neighborhood
01:45people have often told me gina what you do is quite chic why don't you go to one of the
01:50elegant
01:51neighborhoods in paris but it's really important to me to stay here and to spark interest especially
01:58among the younger generation and to show what all is possible the franco senegalese designer
02:04initially only made clothes for her friends and herself after attending the paul poire
02:08paris fashion school and making an inspiring trip to the maasai in tanzania she founded her own brand
02:15paul vagabond i immediately felt inspired there on site and got the urge to design fashion collections
02:25that also tell the story of people and the history of cultures the entire dna of my brand revolves around
02:39that in her creations geometric cuts meet ethnically inspired patterns
02:45gina dia makes fashion that has deep cultural roots while also being modern
02:51we mainly work with fabric that is traditionally woven and worn in burkina faso including by the
02:57upper class of society i want to reinterpret this fabric this piece here is very structured and
03:05emphasizes the waist it is the centerpiece of my collection her customers are locals from her
03:15neighborhood but also come from all over the world sometimes they're tourists who have heard of the brand
03:21and specifically come to the boutique it represents the neighborhood of lagut d'or it represents africa
03:28it represents to me you know the forwardness of african design and culture and fashion
03:35i know that i won't meet many people wearing the same garment and i like that
03:44the hand-woven fabrics are made by artisanal cooperatives in africa
03:49gina dia travels to burkina faso and senegal several times a year it's important to her that
03:55the working conditions there are fair and that traditional techniques are preserved
04:04these are not just fabrics there is a whole story behind them behind every fabric are artisans families
04:10children who can live better because of it it's an economic model that we are creating right now
04:15one that is completely unprecedented i'm very happy about everything that's happening
04:22the international attention was completely unexpected in december 2018 the american singer
04:28beyoncee was seen wearing a poor vagabond pantsuit on a trip to south africa
04:32that moment catapulted the brand's reach far beyond paris
04:42we had so many media publications reach out including vogue the day after beyonce's post on
04:49social media my website crashed we didn't expect it and were totally overwhelmed with the orders
04:56but at a time where i had doubts it gave me back my self-confidence
05:05whether it's beyoncee or customers from the neighborhood for the designer it's always about
05:10more than fashion her goal is to make cultural identity visible and for that people both in africa
05:16and in her parisian district are grateful as a black woman she's a role model for me she gives us
05:26a
05:26lot of strength and encourages others who also have a business here in september 2025 gina dia opened a
05:35large showroom near paris while keeping her old boutique she hopes that her ethnically inspired
05:40sophisticated designer fashion will now reach even more people and is already dreaming of further projects
05:50i would like to have boutiques all over the world and also sell pieces in africa whether in english
05:57or french-speaking africa wherever customers are interested in my creations
06:06first beyoncee now she's set her sights on another celebrity michelle obama it's quite possible that this
06:13dream will also come true for africans cars are more than just transport this is a part of our culture
06:21from a factory stock to fully modified this passion runs deep and there are fewer people that represent
06:28this better than professional spinner mc and a leading voice in south african car culture vic fadal
06:35vic how are you doing i'm great man you just gave me such a good intro i was like damn
06:40why are cars just
06:42more than transport for people for most of us growing up your extinction of your personality was the car
06:49that you drove what do festivals like this mean for young people is it status is a community is it
06:54um family
06:56some people paint art with a paint and a canvas yeah for us we create art via choosing a specific
07:02wheel
07:02embracing it with a specific wheel over suspension height colors tanks pumps and how you work all those
07:10pieces together and that just that specific piece is an art piece and it's just about other people
07:16appreciating your hard work your mad amount of hours in the garage yeah it's about just being a part of
07:23something bigger yeah than ourselves do you think people come here for the cars or is it really just
07:29about the vibes this this the joel this is how you embrace south african culture to the fullest yeah
07:35it's about the cause it's about the after party it's about socializing with people that you haven't seen
07:40since last year yeah but befriending new people it truly encompasses south african culture at its best
07:50home from fast cars to all inspiring homes this is the kickoff of a new series where my afri max
07:56colleague
07:57palese tembe takes us inside of south africa's most extraordinary homes starting us off with this
08:03breathtaking gem in the western cave across africa incredible homes are raising the bar of modern design
08:11this series gives you a front row seat to unapologetically stylish spaces
08:17the kind you can't help but save screenshot and dream about
08:25today we're in south africa's cape winelands and palese tembe's found a fabulous holiday home that's
08:32so bold and inviting you'll want to pack your bags immediately this isn't just a getaway space
08:39it's a vibe and it's all thanks to architect bryce henderson's vision you know what they say bryce
08:46first impressions last and what a warm welcome i got walking into the space can you tell me about
08:52the flow so as you would have noticed from the outside you greeted with quite a hard um sort of
08:57shell of the home that sort of uh carves away an entrance that leads you in to this beautiful
09:03courtyard space this is a space you can sip a coffee scroll or sneak in a few pages of your
09:09latest read
09:11then you hit the foyer airy open and setting the tone for everything that follows
09:18it gives you that open and airy feel and also allows you to see through the house over into the
09:25lake
09:26yep this house is a lake view but next stop the kitchen designed for those who love to cook or
09:34just look like they do bryce you know the kitchen is my favorite part of any home and here you
09:40certainly
09:41didn't disappoint thanks felessa um the kitchen in this home is more of a show piece at the end of
09:48the day the idea behind it was actually to raise it slightly by two steps as we just arrived up
09:54and the
09:54reason behind that was that when you're in the space and you're cooking and enjoying the flow of the
09:59kitchen you also have a more elevated position um to view the lake and the mountain in the distance
10:05the kitchen has a sort of easy flow around it sort of contains everyone around the island space it acts
10:13as a bar server warm textures earthy tones instant nature inside energy car grounded and seriously good
10:23vibes only the stone wall slips indoors softened by satin cabin tree that melts into the room's color mood
10:32it's a walk in and just want to be here kind of space totally livable thing we took through the
10:38whole home is this granite floor again super easy to clean when you're coming from the inside out wet
10:45feet from the pool non-slip but what that meant was a slightly colder feeling in winter with it being
10:51granite we offset that feeling by cladding the ceiling in timber which gives you a really warm glow and
10:57encapsulates the space we took that through the kitchen volume all the way into the living area
11:03further down and that frames the view out to the mountain range everything here has been
11:09individually chosen custom seating handmade tables unique lighting no off-the-shelf items just straight
11:18up wow from the moment you step in but step outside and this is where the home goes full pinterest
11:26board
11:26material the views spill right into the living spaces mountains water sky all framed like perfect
11:34postcards bryce the idea that you've continued the same flooring from the inside of the home all the
11:41way out to this patio terrace and then you've used wood to kind of frame it and board it can
11:47you unpack
11:48that idea for me so i think the main idea was obviously to keep that flow between in and out
11:54when
11:54all the doors are pocketed open however with angling the home to focus on the view and the sun we
12:01were
12:01left with quite a challenge when it came to the datum lines of the grouting and alignments of all of
12:08those elements coming together so i decided in that to rather enhance the fact that the home does have
12:14an angle to it almost like resort feel and something we haven't had an opportunity to talk about yet are
12:21the bedrooms the bedrooms the bedrooms were more seen as sort of guest suites essentially
12:28they are extremely calm and neutral spaces that are seen as the retreat type environment that you
12:36go to at the end of the day
12:40the flowing bathrooms really do make it feel like a spa retreat ah bliss this is a home that brings
12:48nature
12:49inside calm airy and effortlessly beautiful wouldn't you stay here in a heartbeat zen out recharge and
12:58snapping pics from every angle
13:06this weekend isn't only about admiring cars there's also serious competition on the line
13:12including the coveted best in show title here to showcase my rides it's uh last of the city sports
13:192009 aircon spec uh everything in this car is original except the custom sound audio yeah um all
13:26it's built and done by myself let's hear the sound let's hear the sound
13:47my main thing is when i was younger i this was my dream what does that also feel like being
13:52able to
13:53share something that you've dreamt of with so many people it's my first time at a show like this oh
13:58wow
13:58and uh it's just awesome to be here yeah why do you think people are spending so much time and
14:05money
14:06making their cars so amazing building cars is a sport especially for young girls like me or young people
14:13like me so you come with your dad it's a family affair but it is very expensive are you paying
14:20for
14:20this land no it's my dad actually yeah he pays for it because like i've been using all my university
14:29money
14:32it's giving me pimp my ride literally it's giving me pimp my ride this is what it's giving
14:38actually like i actually grew up watching pimp my ride so even though pimp my ride kind of died out
14:42as
14:42a show my passion for customizing cars to like that extent has never never died so when i got my
14:47first
14:47car i said you know what this car is going to be like a steeping piece i'll say yeah yeah
14:51exactly
14:52that yeah gen z is choosing not to be bogged down by bad news headlines as such so here is
14:59on a mission
15:00to find five spots filled with adventure proving that malawi's youngsters are on a mission and focusing
15:06their energies on the good things in life forget the scary headlines le long was gen z isn't waiting for
15:13life to get easier we're skating racing and flipping our way through the chaos this city's hustle hits
15:19hard but we hit back louder i'm zaheer and today i'm swapping out the designer gear for some adrenaline
15:27they say the economy is a roller coaster so i figured why not get an actual one you're going to
15:32want to
15:33stick around for this one first stop the nyasa skate hive founded in 2002 by kalfin kajingwe it's not
15:43just flips and tricks it's actually a movement that promotes a community that welcomes bmx scooter riders
15:50and also skate riders skating isn't just a vibe it's a full body aerobic workout that sharpens your balance
15:57for us every lap is a strike against stress at the hive you don't skate alone every wobble gets a
16:03tear
16:04every fall gets a hand in a country where economy feels shaky finding your balance literally hits
16:11different it's community therapy on wheels and if two wheels are too slow for you how about four with an
16:18engine hello how are you i'm good how are you go-karting is the new heart rate hero of lelongwe
16:33this is a massive core and arm workout it burns up to 600 calories an hour while flooding the brain
16:40with dopamine it's the ultimate haze clearer there's this moment after the first turn where your brain
16:47stops thinking about bills responsibilities or long way traffic your whole nervous system goes into
16:54pure don't crash clarity and that's the kind of escape gen z's live for next up the adventure i was
17:08looking the least forward to
17:14they told me to reach for the stars but i didn't think they meant literally throwing me at them
17:20my stomach is currently late malari but my soul
17:24my soul is flying high
17:28these rides flip your stomach and your mood that flight of flight kick that gives you a clean
17:34adrenaline rush that snaps your mind wide awake these rides hijack your whole nervous system for 20
17:40seconds you're basically a screaming physics experiment and then suddenly life's chaos feels lighter
17:46you scream it out and somehow you reset
17:56time to defy gravity and my own doubts one jump at a time
18:05jumping is basically high intensity interval training disguised as fun
18:09it strengthens the core and improves lymphatic drainage although i provided a pure joy of flight
18:22the best
18:23adulting is heavy but for one second mid-air you're 12 again weightless careless loud and alive
18:34kind of stuck
18:45After all that flying, it's time to ground myself.
18:48They always say, take the high road.
18:50And with this view through the trees, I'm tempted to never come down the pavement again.
18:55Malawian's national sport is walking.
18:58And a walk up here on the boardwalk really resets everything, because that's the kind
19:03of quiet that actually clears your head.
19:05This is amazing!
19:10Lilongwe isn't just a capital.
19:12It is on track to become an African adventure capital.
19:16These spots show that Malawians aren't their challenges.
19:19We're resilient, creative, and we're on our way up.
19:30These aren't just cushions and rugs.
19:32Jess Akilubikila from the DRC is transforming Cuba textiles into high impact design that
19:39is shaking up luxury spaces worldwide.
19:47In Kinshasa, where traditions vanish fast and inequality runs deep, one designer is betting
19:56everything on a dying craft and a forgotten script.
20:00Can heritage really pay the bills?
20:04African design faces two battles, cultural erasure and economic disparity.
20:13Jess' answer?
20:15Fused tradition with entrepreneurship and put women at the center.
20:20In a city where traditions are disappearing fast, Jess is asking a bold question.
20:27What if the future of African design is written in the past?
20:30So we're working specifically on Congolese aesthetic and design.
20:35We're working with Cuba textile and Mamdombé.
20:37Mamdombé is super interesting.
20:39It's a script that was created outside of the decolonization process.
20:45And it's a logical system and symmetric system based on two numbers, the five and two.
20:50So that was the first collection we launched about five years ago.
20:55And we're very happy because it was shown in Paris, in New York, in Milan as well, and recently in
21:02Tokyo, Japan.
21:03Meet Mamdombé, a script born to reclaim African identity after colonial erasure.
21:12Jess saw more than letters.
21:15He saw a design language powerful enough to rewrite the future.
21:20Mamdombé became the blueprint for reimagining one of Africa's most iconic textile traditions,
21:27the Cuba textile that fused Mandombé with raffia.
21:34Because it is a language, not just aesthetic, it can be applied on different mediums.
21:39And that's why today we're using it on textile, but also on furnitures.
21:43And we believe from this, it has the capacity to build heritage pieces, contemporary pieces.
21:51And most importantly, we have the IP still sitting in the hands of the workers, in the hands of the
21:57artisans.
21:58We're not just diluting an aesthetic to sell it outside, but we're actually presenting our identity in our own terms
22:05and making sure we create world-class products.
22:08We needed to give structures to their creativity.
22:11We needed to give structures so that they won't have to struggle in order to do things.
22:15And we organise them as a cooperative.
22:18And we meet at least four times a week in the workshop.
22:22And that's how we're able to make interesting products.
22:25That's how we turn, you know, creative African mythology into a job, into craft, into real profession.
22:37And that can create livelihoods and that can create economic power, economic industry for the people who make it.
22:45Kuba Textile sell for thousands in Europe.
22:49But the women who weave them often can't afford school fees.
22:54Jess is flipping that script, turning artisans into co-designers, not labour.
23:03We dedicate ourselves more to completing our client's orders and then regarding the designs they request.
23:10We also have to make an effort to respond exactly to what the client asked for.
23:15But I'm proud because as soon as I finish my rug, I get paid.
23:20Women artisans in the crafts, in the textile industry, they're the ones who hold the knowledge.
23:25They're the ones who hold the technique.
23:26So working with them would make sure that we value this creativity, not just from a marketing perspective,
23:33but we're actually using them for their skills, for that knowledge, for tradition that they've honed from generation to generation.
23:41And they are the key level to move from just an extractive craft to actually building something from them.
23:49There are a few. And as a general rule, the creative industry, the craft industry, works a lot on exploitation.
23:56If you look at the data on a finished product, the artisans usually get 10% of the price.
24:03So on $100 piece sold, $10 would go to the artisans.
24:07For us, we're shifting this narrative and using technology to do so.
24:11So now we're moving to 90% digital payments, so mobile money transfer, and that removes the opacity of cash.
24:20Together, they re-imagine Kuba Textiles using Mandombe as a foundation, ensuring the people who carry the knowledge also share
24:30the value.
24:31Jess is taking the idea even further. This year, his studio becomes a school, training mostly women, not just in
24:41craft, but in entrepreneurship.
24:44Because tradition alone isn't enough, it has to sustain lives.
24:49It's very important to have this capacity building, and that's why we're building the school today,
24:54because we want to double this number by the end of the year, so moving from 20 to 40 women,
25:01in order to really build the capacity.
25:04When women control not only the craft, but also the income, it changes all the value chain.
25:10Heritage isn't a museum piece. It's a movement. Jess is proving that African design can fight poverty, reclaim identity,
25:21and still look stunning in your living room.
25:27And that's a wrap from VW CamFest, from stunning custom builds to rare classics and the amazing people behind them.
25:35This has been unforgettable. For more, head to dw.com AfriMax.
25:41Until next time, goodbye.
25:55We'll see you next time.
25:57Bye-bye.
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