Fred Eboka has dressed many legendary women, including Graca Machel and Miriam Makeba. He shares his favourite anecdote about an iconic client:

 

“Back when we were still living in Cape Town in 2000, I was at a brunch party when I got a call from Shado Twala. She told me that Miriam Makeba would like to meet me to design her dress for the next Grammy Awards. I couldn’t believe it because Miriam was the biggest African icon at the time."

 

“I was at an event but I told Shado I would meet them immediately at a restaurant in the V&A Waterfront. So when I got the restaurant Miriam was sitting there calmly and I was so overwhelmed by her celebrity that I didn’t know how to greet her so I actually asked, “What is the best way to greet you?” She replied, “You can give me a hug.” It was a dream come true, and funnily enough, we became good friends thereafter.”

 

Miriam Makeba was nominated for nine Grammies in her lifetime, between 1960 and 2000. She won a Grammy with Henry Belafonte in 1965 for Best Folk Recording.