|
Zulu Imbenge Pot Lids - Pot Covers
Couvercles de
Marmites Zoulou - Zulu Topfabdeckung
WIRED: CONTEMPORARY ZULU TELEPHONE WIRE BASKETS
Traditionally Nguni peoples made mbenge or izimbenge, as cover to close
the Ukamba beer pots. The lids protected this sacred substance from dust
and flies. When beer was taken or removed from the pot, etiquette
required that the lid be used to hold a spoon shaped beer skimmer. The
lids themselves were made from a combination of grass and Ilala palm
fibre. A major aesthetic revolution occurred when small, brightly
coloured glass beads were introduced by European traders and
missionaries. These beads inevitably found their way onto the
traditional izimbenge. In time, telephone wire was also used and in some
cases, replaced the Ilala palm.
|
and
through 