I am a Pretty Girl

In I Am a Pretty Girl, Mbayiwa confronts the policing of women’s bodies and the patriarchal norms that dictate how they should dress. He contrasts these modern constraints with pre-colonial African traditions, where minimal clothing carried no shame—only dignity and respect. The work reclaims that heritage, asserting that beauty and worth are not defined by modesty or external judgment. Mbayiwa calls for a return to a deeper understanding of respect—one that honours women’s agency, freedom, and humanity.