iBheqe noCu

For some time now I have been trying to figer out what is what because I understand the word UCU which means a strand or string. The thing that was confusing me was that people would call Ucu a zulu love letter where as it is just a sign of love or an agreement that the girl likes the guy in return. The guy would ask the girl out and if she excepts, then would make him and herself a matching pair of ucu to show that he is taken. In the other hand iBheke, also known as a Zulu love letter is different to Ucu in the sense that it has more detailed bead work where as Ucu is a strand of beads that is usually five meters long.

Proud

These young ladies are very proud of their culture as you can see that they are not afraid to take part of the reed dance, where the king is ment to chose his next wife. I love their bright colours but I guess that has to do with wanting to stand out of the crowd. Every tribe or area has their own style or taste for beadwork. They can be told a part by the different colours or stitches. I'm in the process of making the fool beaded outfit but with a small twist or should i say "Isimodeni?"

The zulu reed dance

Once a year young Zulu or African ladies attend the Zulu reed dance that is held at Ulundi or kwaNongoma. Before this function or this gathering the ladies have to go to a virginity test and if you’re no longer a virgin, you do not take part. The ladies have to carry long reeds and hand them to the king, King Goodwill Zwelithini. It is said that if your reed breaks before you hand it over, you lied about going throw the virginity test and passing it. I made this neck piece because it is one of the items that ladies wear at the reed dance and I would like to make the whole out fit. I made it this long so that it can go past the breast and hide a bit of the flesh.