History of Your Life in 4 Objects

Early Teenage: South African Ndebele Dolls

The Ndebele tribe of South Africa are known for there extraordinary vibrantly painted homes which dominate the vacant surrounding. The object shown on the left in an example of an Ndebele doll which despite being associated with children’s toys is in fact a tribal tool laden with ritual and religious associations within the community. They are used to teach, and entertain, they are supernatural intermediaries, and they are manipulated for ritual purposes. Traditionally during courtship a suitor will place a doll outside a young woman’s hut indicating his intention to propose marriage to her, if accepted the doll is then named and cared for, the name in which is later chosen for the first born child. However in today modern society in order to strength and maintain cultural identify the delicately beaded dolls are exported in order to provide a source of income for the Ndebele women. The Ndebele dolls range from various sizes and detail most of which have intricate beading symbolic of there native clothing.

Throughout my early teenage years we as a family frequently visited South Africa’s coastal town of Cape Town and surrounding areas which over time became a huge part of my childhood. This particular Ndebele doll was the first of many which I bought on my first visit in a small craft market situated a short walk away from Hout Bays Waterfront.