Atongo Zimba steps high in Bambolse fabric

Fans of well-known singer and kologo player, Atongo Zimba, were excited to see him on stage at the recently-held Rhythms On Da Runway (Kente Edition) fashion extravaganza at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre.

Their thrill stemmed not only from hearing him perform his hit tracks like  ‘No Beer In Heaven’ and ‘Sorimala’ but also seeing him in a smartly-tailored shirt in hand-painted Bambolse fabric designed by Odefille Fashion.

 The women of Sirigu in the Upper East Region have a long-standing tradition of elaborate wall decoration known as ‘bambolse.’ For hundreds of years, Sirigu women have adorned the walls of their homes with designs that relay a variety of emotions and messages.

 Odefille Fashion has explored the ‘bambolse’ approach to wall painting and created beautifully- designed fabrics inspired by the cherished tradition. In addition to what Atongo wore at the fashion show, some models also walked confidently on the runway in attires crafted from Bambolse fabric. 

 Odefille Fashion, which has been vigorously promoting the Bambolse fabric designs, signs up single mothers in Bolgatanga, the Upper East regional capital, to hand-paint the fabric.  The fashion outfit sees that interaction as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to help improve lives in the metropolis.

 “We should treasure our local fabrics rather than always chasing after foreign ones. Whether it is Bonwire kente, Ewe kente, fugu, adinkra-designed clothes or local tie-and dye, they are all ours. We must patronize them and let the money stay in our system,” said Atongo who hails from the Upper East Region.

 He was happy Odefille Fashion made a mark at Rhythms On Da Runway (Kente Edition) and is looking forward to new Bambolse designs being embraced by the general public.