African identities

Ndebele People: South Africa

The Ndebele people of South Africa are part of the Nguni tribes. They have some of the most beautiful adornment pieces, and they have also managed to preserve their colourful traditional style of house painting for many generations.

Published

8 years ago

February 9, 2016

Ruvarashe Beta

The Ndebele people’s style of house painting was started in the 18th century. Painting was done by women as secret code to their people. The bold symbols represented communications of personal prayers, self-identification, values, emotions, and marriage. Their tradition and style of wall painting is passed down by mothers.

The Ndebele are also well known for their colourful bead work. For a woman, her traditional attire shows her status in the community and age. A married woman wears a blanket called “nguba,” usually with green yellow red and blue stripes. They also wear thick beaded hoops called “isigolwani,” additionally, they wear copper and brass rings.

Ndebele Woman with Brass Rings. Photo: South Africa Tourism

Emely Masemola (R) and her sister Emily Jtyana, members of the Ndebele tribe of South Africa display the traditional attire for married women in Kwaggafonten on May 11, 2010 about 165 Km north of Johannesburg. Photo: ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)