Thursday 21 March 2013
It's officially spring here in the northern hemisphere but spring has decided to be fashionably late. It is still so darn cold. I am wrapped up in layers of clothes and getting slightly fed up of wearing gloves and scarves all the time. So today I'm wearing these lovely beaded zulu stretch bangles. I love the colours and patterns and how the colours relate to and influence each other.
The Zulu African tribe of South Africa are well known for their exquisite and brightly coloured beadwork. Their jewellery is very unique and distinctive in its colours, designs and patterns.
Zulu beadwork is an integral part of the Zulu culture and is an important way for the Zulu people to communicate with each other and usually relates to courtship and marriage.
Many people including myself are not aware of the meanings behind the colours and shapes found on bracelets, necklaces, pendants and other pieces of jewellery.
A shape most often used by the Zulu in their beadwork is the triangle. The three corners of the triangle represent Father, Mother, Child. The way triangles are positioned in the beadwork also communicate different meanings. For example, a triangle facing downwards signifies an unmarried woman while a triangle facing upwards signifies an unmarried man. If they are joined along the base to create a diamond shape, this communicates a married woman. If the two apexes of the triangle are joined, this signifies a married man.
Bead colours also communicate different meanings and can have positive and negative meanings. The seven main colours used in Zulu beadwork are green, blue, red, black, white, yellow and pink.
Not only is zulu beadwork beautiful but also very fascinating in how beads are able to communicate a wide variety of meanings.
Next time....the positve and negative meanings of colours in beadwork.
Until then
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