Like most African countries, South Africa is home to multiple cultures, traditions, food, and attires. From colorful beaded necklaces and bracelets to sparkling brightly colored fabrics to abstractly embroidered robes, South Africa has various dress styles representing people from different regions. Modern traditional dresses in South Africa are highly stylized and unique.<\/p>\n
As a matter of fact, each piece of cloth people wear has a long history and expresses pride in their identity. Most of these traditional attires also serve as an inspiration to regions outside the country and local and international elite brands. Many modern South African traditional dresses have also made it to the runway, where people with diverse cultural heritage distinctively dress themselves to show where they come from.<\/p>\n
In South Africa, the Ndebele people are mostly found in provinces such as Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and Limpopo. Also called Transvaal Ndebele, they are part of the main Nguni-speaking peoples of the olden days. They, however, began migrations to the Transvaal area in the 17th century and have now moved to other areas in the Southern region.<\/p>\n
The Ndebele tribe is well-known in the African continent and beyond for their incredible painting and beadwork. Their homes are usually painted with bright colors and geometric designs.\u00a0As for their traditional outfit, they look beautiful and colorful as well. The basic items that make up Ndebele women\u2019s wear are an apron and hoops.<\/p>\n
A lady’s age determines the kind of apron she wears. Older girls in Ndebele wear a beaded apron called isiphephetu (usually given to them by their mothers), while the younger ones put on small beaded aprons. The dressing is further enhanced by the thick beaded hoops they wear around their legs, waist, neck, and arms called isigolwani.<\/p>\n
Below are some Ndebele traditional attires:<\/p>\n
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