“While visiting Salvador da Bahia in 2019, I was deeply moved by the vivacity and vibrant Afro-Brazilian essence. It was an experience in which I felt a deep connection tomy ancestral heritage. I was able to loudly and proudly honour, celebrate my Negritude, share the variants and the significance of my Black gaze, and experience in a uniqueway the impact that these sounds and ways of celebrating instantly captivated me.
I decided to dedicate this collection to my memories on Brazilian soil, bringing together pieces that reflect on African heritage as a patrimony of the black Diaspora. It is an affirmation and diffusion of Bissau Guinean cultural elements that were transmuting and gaining power in some parts of Brazil such as Maranhão, Belém do Pará and Salvadorda Bahia. It is my sincerest expression of love, celebration and preservation of the beauty of these intertwined countries. It is an Ode to my ancestors who managed to recreate, preserve and continue our cultural heritages while resisting slavery and all other forms of oppression.” Jucelyne.
“Roda di Tina” Collection brings together everlasting ties between the symbolism ofTina’s traditions and the vibrant Afro-Brazilian essence. In Guinea-Bissau, Tina is a work utensil used by women for numerous purposes, such as, washing clothes, conserving water, cooking and serving food at various ceremonies, weddings and much more. Later, gained other purposes as a percussion instrument that accompanies the songs of women in moments of fellowship during their work at the river or at the well.
This movement generated a transition to the field of sociability, whereas a rule, its protagonists were from the same generation, which also allowed it to serve as a space to discuss ideas, share their burdens, dreams and challenges, but also a space for solidarity and cultural expression where music, dance and storytelling converge with vibrant ceremonies that celebrate the community and heritage that we know today as Mandjuandadi.
In Brazil, projecting Bahia, which pulses with the sacred energy of Candomblé – which I have always been passionate about – the mix of rituals, chants and the presence of deities, as a cultural expression inserted in a worldview and deeply symbolic like Sambade Roda, is a celebration of Afro-Brazilian identity and resilience, rooted in the historical experiences of African descendants in Brazil.
Each piece in this collection is an expression of cultural narrative, meticulously designed to reflect the dynamism and beauty of these rich traditions. To further enhance and expand the essence of Tina, who plays a fundamental role in the social and cultural life of Creole communities in Guinea-Bissau. By incorporating elements of Tina's historical narratives, JÚ seeks to honour ancestors who shaped these traditions and, at the same time, celebrates their contemporary expressions of cultural pride and projects the dignity of the Bissau Guinean people.
The Spring Summer 2025 collection features a wardrobe inspired by the garments that the Mandjuandi and Candomblé women wear during their cultural celebrations and religious rituals, respectively. A celebration of craftsmanship, showcased through hand embroidered designs, accessories and Bissau Guinean traditional woven based cotton loom called Panu di Pinti.
The layered skirt echoes the striking circular movement created by the dances during the Candomblé celebration, but also represents the circle of life that has a huge impacton African beliefs. The skirts were also adapted to Sindjidura, a type of belt used to hold Panu di Pinti and off shoulder silhouette mimicking camisa di soka and Ropon, exclusive clothing worn by Mandjuas and women during traditional rituals and ceremonies such as weddings, funeral celebrations and enthronement from the soul to the world of spirits.
The show begins with a live performance by a group of Mandjuandadi, and will later feature a soundtrack produced by Remna, a Bissau Guinean musician and son of the pioneer of modern music from Guinea-Bissau José Carlos Schwarz.
Credits:
Creative Director: @jucelynesamantha
Movement Director: @martinaallie
Photography: @iamkenyatay
Stylist: @malcolmyaeng
MUA: @vivianemelomua @lahmua_uk
Hair Artist: @dsrhair
