Zulu beaded ornaments are perhaps the most visually striking beadwork produced in southern Africa.

Zulu beadwork is not only

beautiful, but is also rich in tradition and cultural meaning. Traditionally, beadwork was worn by women and men to indicate status
and the passing of rites of passage, and also beads were historically used as a language between men and women, to express their
feelings, relationship status, or to convey a message on the appropriate behaviour expected from the opposite sex.. Complex
meanings could be conveyed by the coding and juxtaposition of motifs and colours in bead fabrics or panels. Among Zulu people
beadwork was a visible means to indicate group values and identities.

What makes this intricate craft and art unique is the use of decorative geometrical designs, particularly the triangle, and colors to
convey a message. Each of the seven colors can be used to convey a negative or a positive meaning. For example, yellow means
wealth in a positive context, but badness in a negative one. Red means physical love and strong emotion, but negatively it depicts
anger and heartache. The craft itself forms a language devoted entirely to the expression of ideas and feelings related to relations
between the sexes.

Colour Positive Meaning Negative Meaning

Black Marriage Sadness, Loneliness

Blue Faithfulness, Hope Hostility

Green Contentment Jealousy

Pink High Status, Promise Poverty, Laziness

Red Stong emotions, Love Anger, Heartache

White Purity, Spirituality, True love None

These are, however, the broad meanings of what each colour represents and meaning can vary depending on the context,
connotation or shade of colour used.

Beadwork is practiced by Zulu women and is passed down through generations by the older women in the family. They become
communities of their own and are empowered by their skill and contributions to their communities.