Wander and Weave

Glow Nation: The Zimbabwean Makeup Artists Redefining Beauty You know that moment when you scroll through your feed and pause, not because of drama, but because the beat is beating, the blend is blending, and the brows? They’re preaching perfection!  Today on Wander and Weave, I’m shining a light on some of Zimbabwe’s finest makeup artists,  queens (and kings!) who are literally redefining what creativity looks like with every brushstroke. Some of these amazing women I’ve had the joy of working with, others I’ve admired from afar,  but all of them inspire me endlessly. Their work reminds me that makeup is not just about beauty; it’s about storytelling, confidence, and the art of becoming. So grab your tea (or your makeup brush),  let’s dive into the world of Zim glam! Miss Rosebud, The Queen of Soft Glam and Subtle Power Her brand is Image Fair, but let me tell you, there’s nothing fair about the way she slays a soft glam! Miss Rosebud is a creative powerhouse, a mak...

Kurauone Mwanangu (Grow up and see for yourself) “Kurauone mwanangu,” they said, voice calm, eyes wise, hands busy shelling groundnuts, as if they were not dropping a lifetime prophecy. And me , young, wild, barefoot and full of dreams: I laughed and said, “Ini handityi life, I’m ready!” Ah, youth, so brave, so clueless. Now here I am, grown and groaning, with back pain that started at 21 for no reason, with Wi-Fi bills that come faster than miracles, and dreams that need visas and prayer points. Kurauone, yes, I’ve seen it! I’ve seen the Monday blues in living colour, the kind that even coffee can’t baptize away. I’ve seen salaries vanish like dew at sunrise, and friendships ghost faster than 3G in the rural areas. I’ve attended weddings and funerals in the same month; both requiring outfits and money I don’t have. Kurauone mwanangu indeed. They didn’t tell us about the fatigue; the kind that’s not in your body but your soul, the silent kind that makes you stare at the wall and ask, “...

Small Acts, Big Hearts: The Beauty of Kindness in Unexpected Moments Today, I’m sitting at my desk in the staff room, sipping on my favourite matcha and mint tea, the kind that makes you feel like life is poetic and peaceful for at least five minutes before the printer starts beeping gain  As I take that first sip, I catch myself smiling. Why? Because I just had one of those sudden realisations that sneak up on you in the most ordinary moments: sometimes, what feels small to you might mean everything to someone else. This morning, I walked into the staff room, gave my usual cheerful “Ohayō gozaimasu!”, and started setting up my desk. Then, one of the teachers came up to me with the brightest smile ever. “Please, Ms. Jez, accept my gift,” she said, handing me a little gift bag  Now, my brain is doing somersaults trying to figure out what’s going on, did I win something? Is this another round of ‘guess the snack’? I opened the gift bag and… behold, a packet of flour. Flour! My e...

Pink Ribbons and Silent Cradles: Breaking the Taboos Around Women’s Health October is not just about pumpkin spice lattes and cozy sweaters; it’s also a month painted in pink and remembrance candles. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, two causes that carry both tears and strength, silence and resilience. Growing up in Africa, I noticed how certain conversations were whispered, if spoken at all. You’d hear someone say, “Amai so-and-so hasn’t been feeling well,” but no one would dare mention the “C-word.” Or when a young woman disappears for a while and comes back quieter, people start guessing, but nobody really asks. These are the quiet battles many women face, hidden beneath cultural expectations, fear of judgment, lack of education, or simply the dread of clinic bills that could eat up a family’s savings. Let’s be real: in many African communities, talking about breasts is already a cultural boundary-breaker, let alone breast cancer...

Crochet, Classism, and the Courage to Be Proud of Our Beginnings You know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this strange thing called  classism , how we sometimes look down on where we came from. The thought had been simmering quietly in my mind until one day, while scrolling through Facebook, I stumbled upon a post by a lady talking about her humble beginnings. She was explaining how her family used to hustle to make ends meet, and yet somehow, people made her feel ashamed of it. That hit home. It reminded me of some conversations I’ve had with acquaintances before,where people subtly (or not so subtly) mocked the days when our mothers and aunts went to South Africa to sell  madhoiri  (doilies, for those who don’t speak  Shona ). Those pretty crochet pieces that decorated sofas, tables, and televisions, the pride of every  Zimbabwean  living room in the ‘90s! I couldn’t help but think: since when did survival and hard work become embarrassing? See, my...

The Homeless Kids Collective Hub (THK): Where Creativity Finds a Home This week on Wander and Weave, we’re diving into a movement that’s shaking up Zimbabwe’s creative scene , and no, it’s not about kidswithout homes (so don’t call social services yet 😅). It’s about The Homeless Kids Collective Hub (THK) , a vibrant movement redefining what it means to be young, creative, and unstoppable in Zimbabwe. At its core, THK is all about creating a home for the homeless dreamer, the one who sketches fashion ideas on the back of a receipt, edits videos on borrowed Wi-Fi, or performs poetry to an audience of two. THK saw these hustling dreamers and said, “Come through, fam , let’s build something real!” When asked what inspired THK, the founders said they drew from Zimbabwe’s most abundant resource , resilient youth. The movement was born out of lived experiences and real struggles, a reflection of the founders’ desire to amplify voices often drowned out by life’s noise. Through fashion and ...

Soup Flings & Steamy Feelings I never imagined I’d become that person, the one who gets excited about soup. But here we are. Ever since I moved to Japan , I’ve fallen head over heels for this warm, comforting bowl of goodness. Back home in Zimbabwe , I wasn’t much of a soup person (I had my few favorites, of course), but now? I’m indulging in them like no one’s business. Maybe it’s the chilly air, the cozy evenings, or maybe Japan has secretly put a “soup spell” on me. And you know what? If you’re a porridge lover like me, you’ll totally get it. Soups have that same hug-in-a-bowl effect, only fancier, with a little more flavor and flair. There’s so much to love about fall, beautiful weather, golden leaves, baked treats, hot drinks, but soup? Soup is my crown jewel. So, to celebrate the season, here’s a lineup of my favorite soups, their health benefits, the best time to enjoy them, and of course, some easy, heartwarming recipes to keep you company this autumn and winter. Let’s sta...

  Love That Hurts, But Still Heals. Grief. Just reading that word feels heavy, doesn’t it? It’s one of those things that never knocks,  it just walks right in, rearranges your emotions, and dares you to make sense of it. Writing this piece has not been easy. Every time I sit down to talk about grief, my heart swells, and memories I thought I’d buried gently rise up and sit beside me. I have lost many loved ones over the years. Each loss left a mark,  some gentle, others carved deep. I still remember it vividly,  2008, my grandmother’s funeral. I was young, confused, and utterly broken. But the moment that changed me forever wasn’t the wailing or the whispers of the mourners. It was seeing my grandfather cry. The man who had always been the pillar of strength in our family, suddenly small and fragile before our eyes. Fifty years of love, laughter, and partnership, gone. After the funeral, he turned to me and asked softly, “Muzukuru, did you cry enough? If not, please ...

🍂 Autumn in Style: Cozy, Chic, and Camera-Ready in Japan 🍂 Last time on Wander and Weave, we were wandering through fall spots in the Kanto region, hunting down ginkgo trees and fiery maple leaves. Today, we’re shifting gears, but not too far. Because what’s a perfect fall outing without the perfect fall outfit? After all, if you’re going to be standing under golden trees in Tokyo or sipping matcha in a Kyoto garden, your outfit deserves as much attention as the scenery (and trust me, your Instagram will thank you). Japan in autumn has a personality of its own. September is still flirting with summer, October pulls out the chilly breezes and spooky pumpkins, and by November, you’re practically begging your coat collection to do the heavy lifting. Let’s talk outfits that not only keep you warm but also make you feel like the main character in a cozy, cottage-core film. October in Japan feels like that awkward-but-cute stage of a K-drama romance: sometimes warm, sometimes chilly, but o...