A man is showing off himself and his clothes in front of the camera in a small room, his own, the movements and gestures are natural but much exaggerated, the man is a Swenka.

Swenkas is a small group of Zulu workingmen, which was formed in South Africa following the abolishment of Apartheid. On Saturday nights they perform at different venues to impress a judge, the prize for the most stylish suit is cash, but sometimes a goat or a cow. The men follow certain set values such as physical cleanliness, sobriety and above all self-respect. The video’s voice over is taken from an interview with photographer and journalist TJ Lemon, famous for photographing Swenkas in Jeppe Hostel and making them known to the public. He speaks about his interest in this cultural phenomenon and why his work is important.