ZAMBIA

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A Lifetime Achievement Award winner in Zambia, Mickley Banda is a pioneering fashion designer, catwalk coach, writer, creator, filmmaker, and music composer, whose influence has shaped the fashion and modeling industry in Zambia and beyond.      Originally pursuing law studies, Mickley Banda made a decisive shift to follow a creative calling, earning a Diploma in Fashion Design from Evelyn Hone College (2001–2003). This bold decision marked the beginning of a groundbreaking career that would redefine fashion, catwalk culture, and creative training in Zambia.      

 Early international recognition came with the design of a USD 10,000 couture gown for the finals of the continental beauty competition Face of Africa at Sun City, showcased alongside globally recognized names such as Swarovski, Abraham Pelham, and AngloGold. This milestone opened the door to invitations from major platforms including Cape Town Fashion Week, Mozambique Fashion Week, Fashion Business Angola, and later World Fashion Weeks, as well as international charity events such as the Canine Fundraising Fashion Show in New Hampton.      

 Mickley Banda has dressed high-profile figures including national bank governors, musicians, actors, and public personalities, and has designed stage costumes and makeup for award-winning theatrical productions such as Chiti Muluba. Notably, he dressed Jenna Bush for the Elephantasia campaign, supporting the conservation of African elephants.      

 A true pioneer, Mickley Banda is widely recognized as the figure who introduced professional catwalk training to Zambia, at a time when fashion presentation was largely limited to beauty pageants. In the field of catwalk coaching, he has trained approximately 90% of Zambia’s top models, many of whom have gone on to international success. Among them:    

• Patience Mwanza, who modeled for Michael Castello 
• Chai Fundanga, featured during Paris Fashion Week 
• Christine Sakala, who walked in Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks 
• Lukundo Nalungwe, winner of the continental competition Face of Africa 

In addition to individual mentorship, Mickley Banda has contributed extensively to the training and development of pageants, theater productions, modeling agencies, and creative institutions across Zambia.      

 Beyond fashion, he continues to expand creative boundaries and is currently developing the reality show “Myth Mickley: The Creator” and the feature film “Soul Trader (Vendeur d’Âmes)”, exploring storytelling across new cinematic and artistic dimensions.     

Through decades of innovation, education, and cultural leadership, Mickley Banda remains a defining figure in Zambia’s creative history—bridging fashion, performance, and storytelling with lasting impact.