South Africa 4 Dolls KwaZulu-Natal Zulu People

Group of four female cloth dolls, all representing the Zulu people who mainly live in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The typical hat is called isicholo and is traditionally worn only by married women. The style of the headdress is usually determined by the clan to which the woman belongs. All dolls carry a baby on the back, except for the one wearing the beaded cape. The one with the beaded cape was kindly donated see here.

Folklore is in the air… uhm… ear!

Details

Object Dolls wearing traditional costume
Origin South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal
Culture Zulu people
Medium Fabric, felt, beads
Mark or Tag None
Made by Unknown
Size H 35, 32, 25 & 24 cm
Dated Not dated
Acquired Online, Fleamarket & Donation 2018

Postcard

Here’s a postcard that matches these dolls. It shows how the people living in South Africa are dressed in their traditional costume.

Text on the back of the postcard: ‘Tribal life South Africa. Zulu women in colourful dress outside a traditional round reed hut in their native village. Stamlewe Suid-Afrika. Zoeloe-vrouens in hulle kleredrag voor ‘n tradisionele ronde riethut in hulle stat.’ Postmark 1980.

Happy collecting,