Rita Bunatal discusses the origins of her creative agency Malaika Collective, the challenges of building a business as a first-generation Ghanaian, Kenyan American, and the vitality of Black-only spaces.
I’ve never met her in person, but I’ve followed Rita Bunatal’s moves on social media for years. She’s a model, founder, creative director, and one of the first features of Free Black Femmes.
Bunatal’s face card never declines, her creative eye is impeccable, and her humor is infectious. From Malaika Apparel to being anointed, (ahem) appointed as a BeyGood recipient… (That’s Beyoncé’s foundation y’all!) She’s a fascinating person that I knew had a story to tell.
Challenging Stereotypes
Rita Bunatal has always understood the power of community. She grew up in Dallas, Texas, to parents who immigrated from Ghana and Kenya. But her life took a pivotal turn when her family relocated to Ghana during her high school years.
“I literally did not want to move because of things I saw on TV and all the stereotypes about Africa.” Rita reflects on the power of the media, and later admits, “Ghana … changed my life.”
The move allowed her to dismantle the stereotypes she had absorbed about Africa as a first-generation American. She eventually grew to appreciate the richness and depth of her heritage.
After returning to the U.S. for college in 2012, Rita immersed herself in African Student Association activities. She eventually led a PR campaign that challenged stereotypes about Africa and the African diaspora called The Real Africa: Fight the Stereotype.
The campaign went viral, gaining attention from major outlets like CNN. The experience reinforced her love for communications. It also sparked the idea for what would eventually become the Malaika Collective.
Creating Malaika Collective: More Than Just Apparel
In 2016, while still a student, Rita launched Malaika Apparel. The brand focused on celebrating African culture and building connections within the diaspora through fashion. “I was in my dorm room … with some extra scholarship money … and printed out the first 500 t-shirts,” she recalls.
The name Malaika, which means “angel” in Swahili, was inspired by a conversation with her father. “My dad is from Kenya, and one day he asked my sister and me what Swahili names we would want if we could choose. I picked Malaika.” The name stuck with her over the years, eventually becoming the foundation for her brand.
But as the brand grew, she realized that Malaika was about much more than clothing. In 2020, during the pandemic, Rita rebranded Malaika Apparel to Malaika Collective. This was a transition from an apparel line into a creative agency and a community hub for Black and African creatives.
“I realized it’s more than just clothing… people that wear clothing, they look at each other, they find each other in public, and they know each other, and they’re building communities.”
Malaika Collective now functions as a space for creatives to collaborate on projects. They focus on telling authentic Black and African stories. “We’re taking on projects that are powered by us, the Black and African creatives…to tell our stories, really to change the narratives, to reshape the dominant narratives that we haven’t had a hand in writing for ourselves.”
The Importance of Black Spaces
One of the driving forces behind Malaika Collective is Rita’s belief in the need for exclusive spaces dedicated to Black and African people. She is passionate about creating environments where the diaspora can connect, collaborate, and thrive without external pressure. However, this vision has not been without its challenges.
Bunatal recalls instances where she had heated discussions, and sometimes arguments, about why Black people need “things that are for us.” “People want to be in the mix with us,” she states, referring to the difficulty of defending the importance of Black-only spaces in a world that often resists exclusivity… at least when it comes to Black folks.
We need spaces that are for us by us. It is OK to have spaces that are for Black people. A lot of spaces are exclusively for them.
Rita has also encountered gatekeeping from within the Black business community. Early on, she reached out to well-known Black-owned brands for advice and was met with silence. “I remember reaching out. .. and I just asked for a little piece of advice … and they just … left me on seen.”
This experience left a lasting impression on Rita and shaped the way she runs Malaika Collective today. “That’s why even with Malaika now … it’s just a testament to things that I wish I had when I was starting out as a Black-owned business.”
Overcoming Homelessness and Finding Strength
While Rita’s entrepreneurial journey has been filled with highs, including winning a $20,000 business competition in college, it has also come with immense challenges. One of the most difficult periods in her life was dealing with homelessness after graduation.
“It’s hard … I graduated … was homeless for a little while … I had to figure things out … It was just so much.” Rita’s resilience and determination saw her through multiple bouts of homelessness, each time finding a way to rebuild. “Even like coming out of that … sleeping on people’s couches to being able to pay my rent early is a small victory.”
Programs like Goldman Sachs and BeyGOOD provided much-needed support during her journey. “In 2022, after getting into this new space and all that, being awarded not only money but just BeyGOOD … and then a year later, scaling the team … with the Goldman Sachs stuff was great too.” These grants helped Rita stabilize and expand Malaika Collective at crucial moments.
Through it all, Rita has managed to grow Malaika Collective and continue her advocacy for Black and African creatives, often reflecting on the mental and emotional toll that her journey has taken. “It’s a mentally strenuous situation…it’s hard to see the end of the tunnel.” Yet, she continues to press forward, knowing that her work is making an impact.
Navigating the World as a Fat Black Woman
In addition to the struggles of entrepreneurship, Rita has had to navigate the world as a fat Black woman, often facing challenges in spaces that weren’t designed to support or protect her.
“As a Black woman, as a fat Black woman, I learned very quickly that people are not going to take care of you.”
Rita recalls her involvement in protests and how, in those moments, she recognized the need for self-care and boundaries. “I don’t want to stroke out at 30 years old … I have to find a way where it works for me, where it’s healthy for me.”
Rita is adamant that Black women, in particular, must prioritize their own well-being. “We give up so much and we get so little in return. So much disrespect.” For her, the solution is finding community and building relationships with like-minded individuals who share the same values.
“Find people that you can really break bread with on a values level.”
Looking Ahead: Supporting Malaika Collective
When asked what she needs from the community right now, Rita is clear: “Telling people about what we do at Malaika, joining what we do, spreading the word…whether it’s through partnerships, funding opportunities, work opportunities, projects.” For her, the future of Malaika Collective is rooted in continued community support and collaboration.
Through her work with Malaika Collective, Rita Bunatal is reshaping how Black and African creatives connect, collaborate, and build. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, community, and the importance of creating spaces that are unapologetically for Black people. Supporting ventures like Malaika Collective ensures our stories continue to be told.
