Click for image (88K)
The following beadwork items are worn on the head. These items are notmally garments that are attached to women's headdress or are worn strap on.
Isipenethu
The graphics below shows 4 different items. At top centre and at the bottom of the picture are izipenethu (singular isipenethu), a Zulu word derived from the English "pin". This is because these garments are pinned as ornaments to the tall traditional headdress (isicholo) of the married woman.
At the extreme left is an ubekelawini, also pinned to the headdress of a married woman. This applies likewise to the umayibunjane (extreme right) and to the cloverleaf-shaped object, isiphaphalazi (Zulu for "butterfly"), which has a spike to insert into the headdress.
All these objects are parts of festive adornment for married women.