Cultural Aspects of Nguni &Sotho People
The people of South Africa are a people who live simply but distinctly. They are loyal people who keep the traditions of their ancestors. They live in tribes that are called chiefdoms, where one chief resides over the tribe. Although each tribe has unique characteristics that distinguish them from each other, they are similar ' in many ways. The tribal people live in a polygamy society where men have multiple wives, but the traditions and rules differ per tribe. For example the North and South Nguni and other tribes can not marry within their family and are encouraged to marry outside of the tribe, whereas the Venda people can not marry anyone outside the tribe26.
Figure: 6
Sotho
Initiation veil
Size: 10 x 6 1/2
Prynnsberg Estate
This is a Lesotho girl's initiation veil. It is made from small wooden sticks fastened together and decorated with beads. this veil was used by girls to cover their faces. Also, as the part of their tradition, the girls would paint their bodies with white clay and be separated from the society for several months to be instructed on sexual and domestic responsibilities. A picture of this can be seen in "Abantu" pg. 15 fig. 205.
Figure: 7
North Nguni
Wood figure
Size: 6 "H
This small seated man is a Nguni doll from the late 19th century and is probably a tourist piece. The figure is carved from wood and has seed inlayed eyes. The figure is from a small group of known North Nguni figures that were collected and brought back to Europe from the same workshop in Natal in the late 19th century, There are two characteristics that distinguish Aguni/Tsonga figures from the other areas: the lack of genitalia and use of poker work. Pokerwork is the coloration of wood by burning the surface Examples of others like this can be seen in "Art and Ambiguity" on fig. 19, plate 25 & fig. 20, pg 41 & 51. (Ex-collection Douglas Fraiser).
The homes they live in are arranged in semicircles, These groups of homes are called a imizi or kraal because the homes often are arranged around the kraal of cattle11. Some homes are made of grass only and others painted clay walls, as seen in the Ndebele and South Nguni tribes8.
Myths, folklore and stories of the Nguni peoples' past and important ancestors are passed down through a tradition called praise. praises can be written by anyone and is a song of dedication using the voice and no other instruments. Praises describe physical features and great feats of an individual19.
Figure: 8
Female Maternity Walking Sticks
Size:
right- 41 3/4"H
left- 3 6 3/4
These figured walking sticks were proudly displayed by both men and women in the 19th century and earlier. The carved figures are thought to have evolved from male initiation figures that represent ancestors. Our examples are from the 19th century. The figure on the right is a very nice example of North Nguni preference to fineness in their work. Ex-collection John Hewitt, the other stick shows signs of considerable use and may be older.
Figure: 9
Nguni/Zulu
Coiled Basket
Size: 8 1/2 " x 11 3/4
Prynnsberg Estate
This basket is a Zulu beer basket. The shape closely resembles clay beer pots. Early examples rarely have design elements woven in its fine weave and great shape is finished off with a herringbone rim.
Figure: 10
Zulu Puppets
Size: 7 1/2"
9 1/2 "11
Prynnsberg Estate
These Zulu puppets are a highlight of the exhibit, collected by Charles Newberry of the Prynnsberg Estate (brief history on pg. 2). These puppets were used by the older men of a tribe to entertain the small children by dangling them from their toes by the cordage. Other similar examples can be found in "African Art in American Collections". Roffins & Nooter pg. 569, item 1596 These examples are 19th century made with articulated wood legs, hide, beads (glass and seed), fiber thread, wire and connecting fiber thread cordage.
Figure: 11
North Nguni Stool
Size: 8 1/4 " x 15 1/2
Nguni and especially Zulu' were not known for their stools. This stool is from the Prynnsberg Estate, South Africa and was collected by Charles Newberry. The two legged base with pokerwork is a Southern trait. An example is featured in "Zulu Treasures pg. 70, #B32, in the Killie Campbell, collection which shows King DinZulu''s stool he carved.
A person of great importance in a tribe is the "sangoma" or diviner. This person helps people overcome sickness, smell out evil spirits, get rid of them, and talk to those in need of instruction26. See plate 50 for a sangoma amulet.
Cattle are a very important part of daily living. They use the meat to eat, the milk to drink and the hide to clothe themselves11. Examples of this material being .used is seen throughout the exhibit, for examples see plates: 2, 3, 15, 25, 39, 78, 82.
Grass is one of the most readily available resources in South Africa, and is used to build homes, constructions of basketry (figure 9), making floor mats, weaving skirts and necklaces and beer lids and beer sifters22. (examples in plates: 44, 65, 77). Pottery is used to make a variety of cooking and storing vessels4, as seen in plates: 67, 72, 73.
Figure: 12
North Nguni
Gun Shaped Spoon
Size: 12 "H
This finely carved spoon is an example of spoons used by the North Nguni people. Spoons were very important personal items of all members of the North Nguni clans, This particular example of a gun shape d spoon is exceptional for its fine carving and attention to detail. This spoon probably dates to the late 19th century.
Figure 13
North Nguni/Zulu
Chief Beaded Collar
Size: 17 112"H
19th Century
Prynnsberg Estate
Chiefs restricted certain colors for royalty For example Zulu chiefs reserved red, blue and white as a royal combination. This collar is made with glass beads, buttons and fiber thread.
Dress is a sign of demarcating status and one's identity, distinguished by the types of fur worn, length of skirts, and the number and type of beads worn (plates: 1, 3, 20, 23-31, 49-60, 78-82, 84, 88-90), Certain types of fur and colors of beads were only used by high ranking council members or chiefs. For example, the use of leopard skin was only for 11 as well as the beaded collar in figure 13.
Beads were a sign of status because supply was limited and regulated until Shaka allowed white traders to live and trade with the tribal people, which increased the bead availability12. Beads are incorporated in daily life as body adornment, artistic decoration, as well as special ceremonies, such as weddings.
Figure 14
Sotho/Lesotho
Beaded Skirt
Size: 9 3/4 x 6"
19th Century
The design and color of this Skirt is traditional for Lesotho. The Skirt is made with small glass beads on fiber thread.
Figure 15
North Nguni
Earplugs
Size: 2 3/4
Earplugs are worn as a Zulu identity marker and as ornamentation and adornment in situations such as courtships and family celebrations by both males and females. Earplugs date back to as early as the 7th-11th centuries when Iron Age ceramic disks were used. In later years, ivory rare woods, wood covered with vinyl asbestos flooming, and in present clay, wood covered with colored plastics.
All tribes have specialized their rituals such as initiation and marriage. Initiation is a ceremony celebrated, by both female and males when entering into adulthood. During this ritual (still practiced today), there are special costumes, songs and activities26. See figure 6, a Lesotho initiation veil or plate 89, which shows a woman's headdress of whose boy is going through initiation16. It is suggested that wood statues representing ancestral couples were used in the male initiation of the Sotho, Nguni and Tsonga tribes.
Figure 16
Ndebele
Beaded Dolls
Dolls are important to married women and young girls because they are thought to have influence on their fertility and unborn children. These dolls are made on a con? husk and grass bundle foundation with individually constructed beaded rings to create an entire body.
Bushmen are a unique people of South Africa They are known for their keen hunting skills and primitive way of life. The bow and arrow is the weapon most Bushmen use. They specially design metal arrows and poisons27. Bushmen have very few personal belongings, such as a necklace, water container (made of gourds or ostrich eggs like in plate 4), and a small amounts of clothing made from animal hide, and occasional beads (plate 1-12). Cave and rock art is especially important to the Bushmen for passing down the stories of their past ancestors and folklore. From these pictures, much is understood about the Bushmen hunting techniques and marriage rituals27. An example can be seen in figure 2 in "The Beginning.
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