Listen to the pronunciation
| What is this? | Bride’s headdress |
| isiZulu Name | Isicholo |
| isiZhosa Name | Not yet documented. |
| English Name | Bride’s headdress |
| Which cultural group created this? | Zulu |
| Who made this? | Not yet documented. |
| When was it made? | Not yet documented. |
| Where was it made? | Probably KwaZulu-Natal |
| Measurements | Not yet documented. |
| How was it made and what is it made of? | Human hair (?) and grass |
| What colour is it? | Red (ochre) |
| What sound does it make? | Not yet documented. |
| Physical description | Women headgear with a conical shape and made of human hair (?) and grass and coloured with red ochre. |
| Where is it now? | Iziko Museum, Cape Town, South Africa Museum ID: SAM 12019 Accessioned in April 1981 Store 986/6 |
| How did it get there? | Kingsley-Holgate Collection, Accession date April 1981 |
| Why is it important? | The Isicholo or Inhloko (woman’s headgear) is worn by married women only. It is how you identify a married woman in a crowd. It is made of grass, and it is not heavy. It is sewn onto a woman’s head on her wedding day, and she cannot remove it afterwards. From that day onward, the woman has to use a new pillow called Isigqiki. Men use the Isigqiki to sit during the day. Women do not sit on it, but they lay their heads on it at night, to support their neck and protect it from breaking. When the hair becomes dirty or grabby, the woman can either use an ihlokoloza (a sharp object, sometimes made from wood to scratch that itchy area and continue with her daily chores) or ask someone for help to undo the Isicholo. That way, she can wash her hair quickly, or cut it, and put it back on after the hair has completely dried out. Otherwise, she will be telling the world that she is free and available, and they might even end up paying a fine. The name is the same in all parts of KwaZulu Natal. But people from the Nazareth Church wear different types, shorter. And in Umsinga, they are much bigger. Other cultures across Africa also use them, but in South Africa is mainly Zulu. Nowadays, the Isicholo is available for everyone, and it is detachable. But this form of use does not follow the Zulu tradition. Unmarried women are not allowed or should not wear the Isicholo on their heads because it is specifically designed for married women. Nowadays, they make it a fashion, and they match it with the clothing that they wear. |
| Notes | N/A |
| References | Amagugu Ethu Workshop, Recording STE014: Thandi Nxumalo Amagugu Ethu Workshop, Recording STE015: Thandi Nxumalo Amagugu Ethu Workshop, Recording STE016: Thandi Nxumalo Amagugu Ethu Workshop, Recording STE021, min 31:46 to 34:29: Thandi Nxumalo Iziko Museum Catalogue Card SAM 12019 |
| Who described this? | Described during the Amagugu Ethu Workshop by Thandi Nxumalo. Described for the website by Clara Giménez-Delgado (August 21, 2020). |