Growing up, Sumaya Galiwango wanted to become an artist. However, her parents would not let her take that path.
Instead, they asked her to pursue a course in teaching since her father owns a school. Perhaps, she was considered a potential human resource to that effect.
As a sign of respect, she took heed of her parents’ wish, but also clandestinely researched about make-up during her school days. The 23-year-old business-minded teacher told her story to Lilian Ntege.
On meeting her, I first recognise her sense of style – she knows what exactly suits her body to bring out her shape well. Clad in her decent Islamic attire, she says she is arguably a religious young lady.
Her looks aside, Gaiwango is not only a professional teacher, but also a freelance make-up artist.
THE IDEA
During her S6 vacation, she spent most of her time watching inspirational make-up video clips via social media. She then started applying make-up on her face and tried out different appearances.
She once got inspired by one make-up artist via social media. She kept looking at the online photos and just couldn’t get enough of it. Galiwango kept convincing herself that she could one day become like the artist applying make-up on the faces of the people in those photos.
“I got motivated and started looking out for make-up artists and photos on the Internet. Then I bumped into another artist called Rakia Abdul based in Malawi and tried connecting with her. The fact that I needed to put my passion into practice, this really helped me out,” she says.
The connection worked out so well that Abdul would send tutorials in form of video clips to Galiwango. Abdul always asked her to try out different looks by applying make-up on herself. After, Galiwango would send her photos to Abdul for observations and comments.
“Occasionally, she could also make lessons through video chats as she took me through the process,” says Galiwango, adding that she continuously practiced until she mastered the art. It became part of her daily work plan. “I could apply make-up for at least three or four times a day each single moment that I was free without coursework or classes.”
ATTRACTING FIRST CLIENTS
During her second year of study at university, optimistic Galiwango started getting student clients. As she says, fellow students adored her looks and wanted their faces have similar make-up like hers. It was then that she realized her three-month online training would yield. When she told them she was a make-up artist, they started seeking her services.
“Students started asking me to apply make-up on them whenever they had some small parties at campus. Then I started working on various students and charged them small amounts of money. I would also shape their eyebrows,” Galiwango narrates.
It was through such small parties that her network of clients expanded. After campus, she proceeded freelancing as a makeup-artist. More clients continue to come on board because the people she works on tell others about her services. With no make-up studio now, Galiwango meets her clients at venues of their choice.
She works on all clients including brides and grooms, photoshoots, weddings, musicians, and many others. She operates under ‘Dillar Queening’ as her brand name.
She uses various products including Mac, Sleek, Makeup revolution, and Matte, among others. She usually buys them in Kampala, but also has some suppliers who bring them to her from London at cheaper prices.
CHALLENGES
Galiwango says her promising business journey is challenged by some clients who want their faces to look exactly like the photos of other people she posts on her social media accounts. This, she says, is sometimes impossible because every individual has his/her face shaped differently.
She also adds that since makeup has become a serious business in Kampala, there is a lot of competition. However, Galiwango says she is determined to beat the competition by producing quality work.
Depending on the texture of one’s skin, she says she spends at most 30 minutes on a client.
TEACHING
Besides her make-up business, Galiwango is a teacher. However, she maintains teaching was never her dream profession.
“I always dreamt of perusing a course in line with arts such as industrial and fine arts, but my parents wanted me to study education because my dad owns a school,” she says. “After spending some time studying the course, I came to like it and started developing positive attitudes. Matters became better when I became one of the best students in class.”
Currently, Galiwango is a part-time teacher of Islamic Religious Education and History at Mbale Progressive School. Although she has plans of setting up a make-up studio, she has not thought about leaving teaching.
“Despite Sumaya being a professional teacher, she is one person who always believes she is stronger than she seems. She started way back at campus by trimming people’s eyebrows. Later on, she started applying make-up to some students whenever there were parties. Although she wasn’t perfect then, her work was good,” her close friend Ashley Nansubuga says.
Nansubuga adds that Galiwango’s love for looking good kept her moving because she always wanted her face to look better than other peoples’.
“My friend is very committed, brave and has grown in the industry because of the fact that she loves what she does. This has made her put her passion into practice and she is prospering accordingly,” Nansubuga adds.
EDUCATION AND FAMILY
Galiwango is the fourth born of the eight children of Hajji Hassan Wasswa and Hajjat Mastulah Galiwango of Bweyogerere.
She attended Nkokonjeru primary school in Mbale and Kinaawa High School for her O-level. She later joined Gombe secondary school for her A-level.
Galiwango attained a bachelor’s degree in education from Islamic University in Uganda. She majored in history and Islamic studies.
ntegeliliahn@gmail.com