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The string of beads, the blazon of beads,
told a story in which the single bead was
the necessary link to all the others.
One and many. the meaning of the tribe,
together there is strength and unity.
The tribal man or woman was as strong
as the tribe from which he or she came
and the tribe naturally got its strength
from the single bead, the pearl, the
individual man or woman.
Tied into the hair, worn singly on strings
dangling from a wrist, waist or lower limb,
the bead made the wearer proud.
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| The central tag on this necklace
represents the senior wife. "We are three wives.
This is our husband. Keep away from him you other women.
We love him".
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It celebrated heraldic animals, it told
stories and prophesied power.
It carried for the wearer an order of
symmetry suggesting family, tribe and
culture.
Tied into the hair, worn singly on strings
dangling from a wrist, waist or lower limb,
the bead made the wearer proud.
It celebrated heraldic animals, it told
stories and prophesied power.
It carried for the wearer an order of
symmetry suggesting family, tribe and
culture.
Attractive and precious, sacred and
ornamental, the bead was a wealth of
things, all of them symbolising the power
of good health and excellent living.
Messages were in beads, were stored in
memory, were passed, spoken, person to
person or called, hilltop to hilltop,
drifting on the wind and swifter than flight.
History was stored in memory by chosen
historians and elaborate praises developed.
Speech was eloquent. No reading except
for the beads and other tokens.
Talk and memory.
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