Last Saturday I had a few new additions to the range - Ndebele dolls! They are so striking & add a bit of quirkiness to any home! I have 2 types: Ceremonial (the tallest of the dolls pictured) & fertility dolls (the little dolls at the front of the photo)There is a little story that goes with them & makes them even more special. Ndebele is the name of a small tribe in KwaNdebele. The dolls are handmade by Ndebele women who come from poor backgrounds & live in remote areas where there is little work. They work from their homes thus allowing them to care for their families & maintain traditional lifestlyes.
The tradition goes that during courtship a suitor would place a ceremonial doll outside a young woman's hut, indicating his intention to propose marriage to her.
The fertility dolls are made in secret for the bride by the maternal grandmother & the doll is ritually presented to her when she enters her new hut after the wedding ceromony.
Ah! Just lovely to have a little piece of African culture & tradition in your home!
No comments:
Post a Comment