Reality TV star Queen Mercy Atang don cause big buzz for social media with her dress wey dem make from bread for Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards. Di dress wey use more dan 500 loaves of bread don spark serious debate for X and oda platforms.
Di 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards bin happun for May 9 for Eko Hotels and Suites for Lagos, Nigeria. Di event wey dem dey call African Oscars na major celebration of African film and television excellence. But dis year, e don become di talk of di town because of Queen Mercy Atang dress.
Di dress wey Toyin Lawani of Tiannah’s Empire design, feature gold spangles and loaves of bread attached from waist down. Queen Mercy wey get personal bakery business, don use di opportunity to promote her brand. She say na di idea of ‘wearing your business’ for red carpet.
Some people don praise di creativity, but plenty oda people don criticize am as waste of food. One X user write: ‘This is so crass. Honestly, this is the kind of thing people should actually be fixating on tonight and asking real questions about. Is that real bread? Is it dummy bread? Because even if it turns out to be fake, the visual alone is still deeply tone-deaf. Bread is one of the most basic food staples. In a country where people are constantly talking about food inflation, hunger and poverty, a designer and a client sat down, brainstormed this concept, executed it and photographed it. The image screams excess and waste, and this idea shouldn’t be seen anywhere near high fashion artistry.’
Anoda user tok: ‘That bread dress worn to the AMVCA was made of edible loaves of bread; That was not only a waste of good bread but also a direct disrespect to the poor and needy and highly insensitive considering the present situation in Nigeria. If the AMVCA is serious, whoever wore that should be banned from ever gracing the event. Everything can’t be excused or permitted in the name of fashion or content creation.’
One more user yarn: ‘She carry more than 50 people daily bread sew gown.’
Queen Mercy Atang don respond with an open letter to Multichoice and Africa Magic. She propose make dem add a special night wey dem go call ‘AMVCA Nigerian Entrepreneurs Night’ for entrepreneurs to showcase their brands. She write: ‘Hello Multichoice @africamagic @multichoice_group. An open letter to the platform that gave me visibility. I’m beyond excited to have made an appearance at the just-concluded AMVCA, and even more excited to see how business entrepreneurs have embraced this trend even before @tiannahsplacempire and I officially made it one. Just a thought since we already have the AMVCA Cultural Day and other special events before the main award night, would it be possible to create a special night dedicated to entrepreneurs in Nigeria to showcase their brands, creativity, and impact? Imagine AMVCA Nigerian Entrepreneurs Night. Massive, classy, and inspiring. Let me go home and pray on it ooo.’
Di star-studded event feature many celebrities and fashionistas wey make bold statements. Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman make history by winning both Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Di movie ‘My Father's Shadow‘ win Best Movie, Best Director, and several technical awards. Di show host na comedian Bovi Ugboma and South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha.
Di red carpet wey dem describe as high-fashion spectacle and often label as Nigeria’s ‘Met Gala‘ see plenty dramatic designs, including dresses made from unconventional materials like glass.
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