If you are interested in local arts and crafts Zulu beadwork is something you need to explore. It is colourful, vibrant and highly decorative.The Zulu are an ethnic tribe who live mainly in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. They are renowned for their artistic, colourful bead craftsmanship. Zulu beadwork is not only beautiful, but is also rich in tradition and cultural meaning.
The only shape used by the Zulu in their beaded jewelry is the triangle. The triangle is a representation of the father, mother and child. Here is what the triangles on the jewelry depict:
- A triangle pointing down represents an unmarried woman.
- A triangle pointing up represents an unmarried man.
- Two triangles joined at the base represent a married woman
- Two triangles joined at the points in an hourglass shape represent a married man.
The colours of the beads used also influence the meaning of the message conveyed through the beadwork. Unlike the shapes used in the beadwork, which have traditional and specific meanings, the colours used can have positive or negative meanings. The seven main colours used by the Zulu craftswomen are green, blue, red, black, white, yellow, and pink. Each of these colours has an optimistic meaning, however the meaning can be changed by the context in which the beads are used within the jewellery piece. Listed below are seven colours, and their associated positive meanings, followed by a list of each colours negative meaning.
Zulu Bead Jewelry Positive Meanings of Colours:
- Red – Strong emotion.
- Yellow – Wealth.
- Green – Contentment, bliss.
- Blue – Faithfulness.
- Pink – Adds emphasis to a promise.
- Black – Marriage.
- White – Love.
Zulu Bead Jewelry Negative Meanings of Colours:
- Red – Anger, impatience.
- Yellow – Badness.
- Green – Illness.
- Blue – Hostility, ill feelings.
- Pink – Poverty.
- Black – Death, sorrow, despair.
- White – Has no negative meaning.
Each of the seven colours as previously explained can be used by the artist to express a negative, or a positive meaning. For example, yellow can mean wealth in a positive context, but evilness in a negative one. Red means physical love and strong emotion, but adversely it can illustrate anger and heartache. The craft itself creates a linguistic message devoted entirely to the expression of ideas and feelings related to relations between the sexes.
Depending on the design, colours and symbols that are put together in each piece, the Zulu beadwork has its own specific and very personal message created by the artist.
If you want to explore this beautiful craft fashioned by the Zulu women for yourself, a visit to the various craft stalls in the village of St Lucia will offer you a wide colourful selection to choose from. If you are not sure where to go, just ask us at St Lucia Eco Lodge reception.
Tourism Tails 