We also have Zulu love
letter AIDS ribbons which are white with a bold red ribbon (all in
beads - see picture at the bottom of this listing). As AIDS has so
severely struck Africans, the symbol for AIDS has become integrated in
the culture and handicrafts of the Zulus.
The
Zulu Love Letter Story
To
anyone acquainted with African Handicrafts, mention of Zulu beadwork
conjures
up visions of colorful and decorative ornaments, the most fascinating
being
the Zulu Love Letter ("iNcwadi Kuthanda").
Glass
beads originally found their way into Zululand form the Portuguese
Trading
Station at Delaggoa Bay, and then later through European traders who
settled
in Zululand. When theyoung Zulu men left home to work on farms or
distant
towns, they had no knowledge of writing by which messages could be
recorded,
and so developed a form of symbolism, whereby messages were conveyed
between
lovers in "the language of beads". Thus was born the Zulu love letter.
The Zulu maidens would "write letters" in beads to convey messages from
the heart, or gentle reminders to their distant loves.
The
first, and most simple "letter" was made by threading different
coloured
beads onto a single strand, and "reading" the colours form end to end.
Later, the love letter took on the form of an ornamental square and the
"message" is read form the outer edge towards the center.
They
developed a simplified "dictionary" of colours, the meanings of which
were
derived from nature. It is impossible to give an exact interpretation
of
these colors, as they vary form area to area, but a general guideline
of
the most commonly used colors are as follows:
| White
(iThambo/Bone): |
Represents
purity, cleanliness, true love and hope |
|
(iSitimane/Shadow): |
Grief,
loneliness, disappointment ("My heart has become as black as the
rafters
of the roof, as I hear you have another maiden"). |
| Red
(iGazi/Blood): |
Indicates
intense love, longing ("My heart bleeds for you"). |
| Ruby
(uMliliwane/Flamess): |
She
burns with love, as the flames of a grass fire. |
| Yellow
(iNcombo/Young Corn): |
Represents
wealth (or lack of it). |
| Green
(uKuhlaza/New Grass): |
Implies
love-sickness, jealousy ("I have become as thin as a blade of new grass
from pining for you"). |
| Blue
(iJuba/Dove): |
Symbolizes
faithfulness. Also calmness/cleanliness, as in the clear blue sky ("If
I were a dove, I would fly the endless skies to you"). |
| Light
Turquoise
(iFefe/Pigeon): |
He
talks to much (fefeza), and cannot keep a secret. |
| Dark
Turquoise
(iJubatondo/Pigeon): |
Impatience
("I am losing hope that you will ever marry me".) |
| Pink
(iSiphofu/Poor One): |
Signifies
abject poverty. She doubts he will ever afford to pay her
ìLoboloî
(Bride price, paid in cattle). |
| Purple
(obu-Khwebezane): |
New
friendship |
| Brown
(Nhiabathi/Soil):
|
My
love is like the earth which gives rise to new life. |
| Striped
Beads
(Ntothoviyane/Striped Grasshopper): |
Implies
doubt, or accusations of fickleness, or two-timing. ("You are like the
ntothoviyane, sprining from bush to bush"). |
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Worldesigns
Check our our ebay store
for other Zulu Love Letters, Baskets and Crafts.
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