Bracelet Zoulou en perle noir et blanc
 

Zulu Beaded Bracelet, Black&White, South Africa

49,00 €

Zulu Beaded Bracelet in Glass Beads: Handcrafted Authenticity

  • Material: Glass Beads
    Dimensions: Diameter: 6.5 cm x Width: 3 cm
    The bracelet opens at the back, allowing you to adjust it to your wrist. Its black lining adds comfort and an elegant touch

Artisanal Note: Each piece is unique, crafted with care. Shipped items may slightly differ from the photo. To ensure your choice, feel free to request a photo before shipping; we’ll be happy to send you one!

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Description

Zulu Beaded Bracelet, Handcrafted in South Africa

Affirm your style with our unique Zulu bracelet, a true work of art handcrafted by talented artisans in South Africa. These captivating bracelets embody the authenticity of Zulu culture, steeped in a rich history and exceptional craft tradition.

Material – Glass Bead Approximate Dimensions:

  • Diameter: 6.5 cm
  • Width: 3 cm
  • The bracelet opens at the back, allowing you to adjust it to your wrist. Its black lining adds comfort and an elegant touch.

Explore the Heritage of Zulu Beaded Bracelets

Zulu beaded bracelets, along with Ndebele bracelets (also available on our e-shop), are perhaps the most visually striking beadwork produced in southern Africa.

Both Zulu men and women traditionally wear these bead adornments, indicating the wearer’s status and serving as a means of communication among courting couples. In Zulu and Ndebele cultures, beadwork is a visible way of expressing group values and identities. To convey these affiliations or values, complex meanings are transmitted through the coding and juxtaposition of motifs and even colors in bead fabrics or panels.

History of the Zulu People

The Zulus, the largest and most well-known ethnic tribe in South Africa, hold a central place in the continent’s history.  Primarily due to their remarkable fighting spirit. The history of South Africa would be incomplete without mentioning the Zulu tribe.

Zulus people emerged in the late 18th century from hundreds of small clans in the northern regions of KwaZulu-Natal on the eastern seaboard of South Africa. Constant struggles for grazing rights were common among the clans, leading to frequent conflicts. They eventually unified in the 19th century to form a great kingdom under the leadership of Shaka.

Today, there are an estimated 10 million Zulu residents in the KwaZulu-Natal province. Their presence and historical influence continue to shape the region and, by extension, all of South Africa. The beaded bracelets we offer are not just works of art but also cultural testimonies of a rich history and an exceptional community.

They bear witness to a piece of the powerful history of the Zulus and their essential contribution to the fabric of South Africa.

An Authentic Zulu Bracelet

In traditional Zulu beadwork, each color and shape carries a complex cultural meaning. Every hue, except white representing love and purity, has both positive and negative connotations depending on the accompanying beads. The choice of color in beaded ornaments can even symbolize the wearer’s mood, with black indicating mourning and green depicting contentment or bliss in marriage.

Traditionally, Zulu men relied on these messages for specific information, such as a woman’s marital status. Beadwork indicates gender and informs others about the wearer’s number of children, region of origin, and number of unmarried sisters.

Women also rely on beadwork to strengthen bonds within the community. The time spent beading together enhances the community bond and is passed down from mother to daughter.

Thus, these beaded bracelets are not just decorative items. They also carry a rich cultural tradition, subtly conveying information about identity, status, and social connections within the Zulu community. By wearing them, you contribute to the preservation of these traditions and the celebration of the rich history of Zulu culture, a cause we passionately advocate at AS’ART!

Our products are handmade. Color associations may vary. If you wish to ensure the Zulu bracelet you receive, we are at your disposal to send you a photo before its shipment!

Additional information

Modèle

N°1, N°2, N°3, N°4, N°5