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SPHAMANDLA BLOSE
CELEBRATING the importance of the Heritage month, Xhosa traditional clothing is one of the most recognised attire that symbolizes the rich culture which brings its own vibrancy to our diversity.
The hang of the hat, colour of the dress, the bids, bracelets and beads suspended from their bodies few words need to be spoken to convey the tradition and ritual of Xhosa people as they all about what they are wearing.
Xhosa traditional dress comes in various shades, shapes, sizes and hues – each with its own particular message.
Young maidens wear ochre-coloured blankets, a married woman will linger at the stall, carrying a large beaded bag and puffing on a long-stemmed wooden pipe.
With the unique style of clothing you can see that a lady is married by her head covered, if her turban is below the eyes it means she has just married. Only the young girls go around bare-breasted.
In Xhosa communities, it the headpiece that determine the seniority of the wearer- the more elaborate the hat, the more senior the woman.
A new Xhosa male initiate wears a cloth cap and red ochre on his face, a tribal elder will walk past wrapped in his blanket, with his face covered in white clay.
