African Languages

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Browsing African Languages by Subject "Art, Zulu"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    Colour coding and its meaning in Zulu women's beadwork in fashion design and decoration
    (2002) Xulu, Clerah Buyisiwe Simangele; Mathenjwa, L.F.
    The topic of this thesis is informed by the writer's observation of the trend wherein modemist and traditionalist Zulu women tend to wear. as style, colourfully beaded outfits to decorate their fashion and wear. The colourful regalia is found in ceremonial dress, like isidwaba (cow-hide skirt) and other forms of dress made of cloth and textile. and decorated in beads. The decoration. as observed, is often designed to fit in a particular mode of interpretation, thus promoting the notion of fashion as form of communication interaction and definition of status. It is the hypothesis of the present writer that beads. designed and patterned in a specific way tend not only to communicate certain literal and figurative or poetic meanings, but also to declare fashion as a medium of communication, very much like ordinary speech does. In the context of this thesis Zulu womens' beadwork is a form of colour coding, literary and poetic speech communication and a declaration of fashion as a medium of social interaction, status, and social display. Thus, wearing their colourfully designed beadwork and fashion, Zulu women are always highly visible and recognisable. The thesis is thus confined to introducing the angle of fashion as statement and medium of literary and poetic communication in the creation of the modem and traditional status of a Zulu woman through beadwork. Colourcoding is key because the power of beadwork to communicateThe focus on Zulu Women is for the sake of creating a focus group of study and more so due to the observation by the present writer that in the context of modemist and traditionalist Zulu society, real or imaginary, it is women who wear more beads compared, to any other social group. meaningfully very much depends on the design and patteming of colours.
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    Gender, tradition and change : the role of rural women in the commoditization of Zulu culture at selected tourist attractions in Zululand
    (2005) Xulu, Smangele Clerah Buyisiwe; Mathenjwa, L.F.
    The commoditization of Zulu culture has become commonplace in the tourism industry in South Africa. Zulu culture and cultural products like music; dance, crafts, landscapes and others are often packaged and consumed in the tourism attractions in Zululand and elsewhere. This thesis examines culture and gender issues related to the commoditization process of Zulu culture and cultural products. Focusing on specific case studies in selected tourist attractions in Zululand, the thesis concludes that rural Zulu women play minor roles as dancers, crafters, cooks, and waiters in the tourist attractions in Zululand. Their junior roles make them to play no role in decision making, neither do they own any assets in their work places, and may not, therefore, influence the commoditization and product authentication process of their own culture.
University of Zululand