By Margaret Kamba
Whoever said fashion and style doesn't exist within indigenous churches lied. I saw with my own eyes the creativity and fashionable wear exhibited by one indigenous church recently when I attended the 3rd Annual Conference of Johane the 5th of Africa International Church.
This style was evident starting with the Archbishop himself, who wore his different clerical gowns designed stylishly.
His prophets interchanged the blue, white, and gold suits while the prophetesses wore their white and blue dresses.
The female congregates interchanged between the t-shirts, wrappers, dresses, and garments while the men had their t-shirts and garments.
The footwear was something also of interest with the green, brown, black, and white shoes, if not boots.
I never quite noticed the female hair styles as they were covered most of the time.
The South African female ushers brought style to the ushering as their head gear resembled that of the airline Emirates. Their red theme throughout the conference was either used with white, cream, or blue skirts, making it enviable to be an usher.
Clearly, from this fashionable display, gone are the days when bright colors were not part of worship.
The morning announcements were closely followed by the congregates as they gave guidance to what was meant to be worn for worship each morning.
The colorful flags were also changed every morning with as they carried a deep meaning with each particular worship service.
Who wouldn't want to be part of a church exhibiting so much order. Apart from such order, an indigenous church that instills an ideology around patriotism, hunhu/ubuntu and wealth acquisition.
It makes you look forward to each service if not every Annual Conference.
They say there is an end of year gathering, what they call "Musangano weruwombeko", I wonder what they have up their sleeves this time. That would definitely be interesting to see.