My African story

Sharing the journey of two worlds

A JOURNEY started 162 years ago under African skies to what we enjoy today, from indenture to slave to freedom.

The tales are harsh of my people and their blood still runs on our land, but their joy of culture and tradition allows their hearts to forever remain with us.

We have thrived, risen above all odds and excelled as children born from indenture. The Indian Ocean has brought with it the echoes of scripture and chanting to our shores; apart from everything else that we have imbibed, the most valuable that Bharat (the name of India in ancient time) has given us is the quality of humility, patience, love and forgiveness.

Today 162 years later, a child who has been blessed to share the journey of two worlds – her ancestral land of India and born as a child of Africa – has a deep passion to share the weave of our land with the world.

This is our progression. We have evolved and as we celebrate the traditions of our foremothers, we still carry Kavady, we fire walk, and we prepare timeless foods such as idli, sambar, dosa and paniyaram. This is who we are.

But we have also imbibed the culture of the land we were born from, with the trials and tribulations it comes with. This has created the unique make-up of our beings, a unique personality that has the best of both worlds has allowed us to become powerful creators – making ground-breaking inventions and thought provoking conversations at many levels.

And 162 years later, adorned with all the best of our ancestors, we have a voice as an Indian African. We are a generation of influencers.

We have the collaboration of cultures. This is the pride of our people. The Indian African is the unique part of our nation bringing two worlds together.

Khanya Designs has created the first African sari with the vision to bring about collaboration using personalised Indo-african creations as a medium to experience social cohesion.

eshweshwe is the original heritage weave of our country, telling tales of our land, our history, culture and the soul of our people. Along with exclusive African beading and the finest of Indian silk and cotton, Khanya Designs is a competitive global brand taking Africa to the world. Wearing a Khanya garment gives one a sense of pride, belonging, the sharing of history and you make a statement that you have arrived without saying a word.

Welcome to the African Renaissance.