They measure approximately 9.5"
x 1.5".
As AIDS has so severely struck Africans, the symbol
for AIDS has
become
integrated into the culture and traditional handicrafts.
The Zulus are the largest
tribe in Southern Africa, renowned for their artistry and
craftsmanship.
Many women make beautiful baskets and beadwork using traditional art
forms
in order to supplement their incomes.
We work with several collectives that
use these traditional art forms to help women and HIV positive
individuals
financially independent.
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 the young 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.
Purchase
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known for your great gifts, shop with us and earn
a fabulous reputation. We work hard to find unusual, affordable and
enduring
gifts for our customers to order from home! You'll be amazed by the
variety
of very special gift items we have collected from all over the world.
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Check out
our ebay
store for other wonderful Zulu and African crafts.
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