The importance of identity has long been reflected in the beadwork of the Zulu-speaking people. The Zulu kingdom was formed from a number of independent clans during the reign of King Shaka Zulu (1817 ...

Illustrations, color plates, map, tables.

Diane Fitzgerald uses beads the way an artist uses color. She buys a palette of beads that she likes and begins to assemble them – incrementally, so the piece evolves as it’s designed. “Beading was a ...

Adorned in colourful beadwork, Nokwethemba Vilakazi stands out at first glance. Not because she’s differently-abled, but because of her traditional African jewellery. Historically, people used ...