Among the peoples of Southeast Africa, a very close bond exists between the departed and surviving family members, with ancestors continuing to play a significant role in the daily lives of the living. Headrests are used to induce dreams, thus allowing the living to continue to assume a very personal and devoted connection with those in the ancestral realm. Among the Shona and Zulu, the headrest forms part of the woman’s dowry and is considered as a nuptial contract, which seals the alliance between two families and connects the bride’s husband with her father as a symbol of the continuity of the lineage. The Tsonga headrest is an important part of a man’s possessions and is used in the ritual known as Mhamba to contact a recently deceased father. Among the Zulu and Swazi, headrests reference cattle, suggesting that cattle are a major source of wealth, and it is through them that people maintain contact with their ancestors.