Zulu Attire

The three old women had at last completed their task - the beading of the sacred nciyo apron had been finished well ahead of schedule and the Queen Mother was truly pleased. She rewarded the three elderly ladies with a pipe, tobacco-bag and two fat chickens each, and sent them on their way after a large dinner of goat's meat and boiled yams.

"I thank you wise mothers - you have done well" the Queen Mother said softly to the three as they did obeisance to her before leaving.

A Xhosa princess of the early 18th century. She wears a 'nciyo' swallow tailed beaded apron, a sacred and very important item of a woman's attire.

When night fell and the moon was high in the heavens the Queen Mother was led out of her hut by servants who had first put all her most precious ornaments and other regalia on her. Totally blind, her eyes milky with cataracts, she could not appreciate the beauty of the night; she heard but could not see the huge crowd of women assembled in front of the great hut - she could smell the herbal perfumes that some of them wore - she could smell the tobacco on the breath of some as well as the sour smell of corn- beer on many. She hear the soft murmur of many voices slowly dying away as she emerged from the hut.

"Bring the Princess to me," she said softly. "I kneel at your feet Great Mother" said a gentle voice.

The Queen Mother felt but could not see the plump, beautiful girl Nomatokazi, and a deep feeling of love and pride filled her gentle heart as, assisted by chosen attendants she tied the sacred nciyo around the princess' waist.

She spoke thus: "Today you are a woman, Nomatokazi, today you are worthy to wear this sacred thing and to stand tall among the women of the Xhosa nation. May you be blessed, may you be strong and enjoy a long and healthy life!"