Pubic Apron

Item number K5.54 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Small apron, or pubic cover. Band is beaded with a red and white lozenge pattern on a blue background. Long fringe, mainly of white and black beads, with one blue and three red beads on each strand.

History Of Use

South Nguni style pubic cover (inkciyo); worn by females, and infants. As children gain status throughout their life, more types of beadwork adornment become acceptable to wear. Infants wear inkciyo as they are modest and relatively simple. They are slightly different depending on the sex of the wearer, and their age; male covers only have beads on the front, female covers have fringe on the front and back. The fringe also lengthens as the child matures. Traditional threading for these covers are made almost exclusively by young women during the winter months, when domestic and agricultural duties are lessened; the beading process is called ukuhlahla.