These expertly crafted pieces are designed and made exclusively by Zulu women, though women and men wear them. This means that any beadwork worn by a man has been given to him by a woman. Because of this, there are a lot of "love letters" (incwadi) in Zulu beadwork, crafted in the form of bracelets and pins usually. A man may wear one of these "love letters" to signify that he has a girlfriend or wife. Thus, there exists a complex language and communication of feelings, ideas and facts between men and women through beadwork. Mothers, daughters and sisters, however, do not give beads to brothers, sons or fathers, as that would be considered incestuous.
This is just one example of the special language of Zulu beads. Each color and pattern means something. Messages are created through geometrical designs and shapes. The language is made up of seven colors and uses patterns involving one geometric symbol - the triangle. For example, a downward facing triangle signifies an unmarried woman and an upward facing triangle an unmarried man. Unlike the triangle patterns, which are set in one meaning, colors have both positive and negative meanings.
Though Zulu people, and people anywhere, could live comfortably without such jewelery, as it is only a fashion statement and one form of communication, Zulu beadwork is still used to convey messages of significance and regarded as popular fashion.
This is just one example of the special language of Zulu beads. Each color and pattern means something. Messages are created through geometrical designs and shapes. The language is made up of seven colors and uses patterns involving one geometric symbol - the triangle. For example, a downward facing triangle signifies an unmarried woman and an upward facing triangle an unmarried man. Unlike the triangle patterns, which are set in one meaning, colors have both positive and negative meanings.
Though Zulu people, and people anywhere, could live comfortably without such jewelery, as it is only a fashion statement and one form of communication, Zulu beadwork is still used to convey messages of significance and regarded as popular fashion.