A crown is a stunning statement piece, it’s an ornament that most times represents class and hierarchy.
For centuries many women across the world have secretly wished to be honour with this elegant piece of jewellery as a representation of love, honour and status. And for those fortunate to receive a crown have treasured its existence. Crowns are also a beautiful symbol of artistry and to some a cultural statement. These headgears have adorned the heads of many, some were woven with hair to create beautiful pieces of art.
Diversity of crowns
Crowns are so diverse and unique and in most cases aren’t decorated with diamonds and gold. It can also represent the ethnicity of a person from the Himba women’s elaborate hair smeared with red clay which represents the cycle of life and connection to the environment. The hair is styled differently, from those who are maidens and adorned with an Erembe, which is made from animal skin and braided on her hair and she’s also given a corn shaped necklace which together Erembe is a symbol of her marital status.
Ischolo( The Zulu crown)
Every queen deserves her crown and Zulu women certainly have practice this for many years. sicholo is the Zulu crown or headdress traditional worn by married women, as a sign of respect to her husband and in-laws and a way of letting the world know she’s already taken. Just like a ring on the left ring finger is considered a sign of marriage, Isicholo was traditional considered to be a symbol of marriage, maidens didn’t wear it. However, times have changed some women wear isicholo as a fashion statement that’s good because it’s an appreciation of our culture yet it’s bad because it loses its cultural significance or meaning.
In a polygamous marriage ischolo belonging to the first wife is usually the biggest this is to show that she is the first person to be welcomed into this family and the matriarch, some of her roles included nurturing, holding legacies and in most cases, she chose the women to be married to her husband.
In a polygamous marriage ischolo belonging to the first wife is usually the biggest this is to show that she is the first person to be welcomed into this family and the matriarch, some of her roles included nurturing, holding legacies and in most cases, she chose the women to be married to her husband.
Origins of Isicholo
In a polygamous marriage ischolo belonging to the first wife is usually the biggest this is to show that she is the first person to be welcomed into this family and the matriarch, some of her roles included nurturing, holding legacies and in most cases, she chose the women to be married to her husband.
In a polygamous marriage ischolo belonging to the first wife is usually the biggest this is to show that she is the first person to be welcomed into this family and the matriarch, some of her roles included nurturing, holding legacies and in most cases, she chose the women to be married to her husband.
In olden days isicholo was woven with one’s natural hair and it resembled the pharaoh headdress and it looked similar to the head binding of the Mangbetu people of Congo.
A women’s natural hair was grown than moisturized with Ibomvu ( red oxide mixture made of a certain type of soil or clay) this was mixed with essential oils to protect, strengthen and soften the hair this mixture is still used by sangoma initiates to dye the hair red during intwaso and also to connect them to the spirit of the ancestors. The hair was styled in an elongated style this officially replaced her hairstyle and show her newfound social status.
Isicholo Reimagined
Conclusion
Ischolo is the ultimate crown fit for a queen and a beautiful symbol of the Zulu culture.