Listen to the pronunciation
| What is this? | Sea bangle |
| isiZulu Name | Izinhlola |
| isiXhosa Name | Not yet documented. |
| English Name | Sea bangle or healer’s bracelet |
| Which cultural group created this? | Zulu |
| Who made this? | Not yet documented. |
| When was it made? | Not yet documented. |
| Where was it made? | Probably Basutoland (currently Lesotho) |
| Measurements | Not yet documented. |
| How was it made and what is it made of? | String (vegetal?) and seashells. |
| What colour is it? | String: dark brown Seashells: black, white and dark brown |
| What sound does it make? | Not yet documented. |
| Physical description | Bracelet made of string (vegetal?) and seashells (22 in total). String joins 20 seashells together in line thought holes only visible from one side and fastens them together with three knots. After knots, two ends of string hang with one seashell at each end. |
| Where is it now? | Iziko Museum, Cape Town, South Africa Museum ID: SAM 6751 Accessioned in September 1948 (donation) Store B17/0 |
| How did it get there? | Donated to Iziko Museum as part of the Dunn Collection in September 1948. Dunn Collection: 74 (1871-1886) |
| Why is it important? | Sea bangle made with seashells and string. Used by traditional healers and worn on the wrist. When training to become a traditional healer, the student spends one year learning the role. After that year has passed, and after burning the incense, the student goes to the sea (or other body of water) with his training master to connect with the ancestors. During the process of connecting with the ancestors, the student looks for sea beads that would give him spiritual balance. The beads can be found on the same day or different days, but once the student finds one, he has to start wearing it so that the ancestors can find him. The beads are arranged in the form of a wristband with a cord, to form the sea bangle. The sea bangle is a symbol that the student has succeeded in his training. |
| Notes | Not yet. |
| References | Amagugu Ethu Workshop, Recording STE028: Skhumbuzo Miya and Boyzie Myeni Iziko Museum Catalogue Card SAM 6751 |
| Who described this? | Described during the Amagugu Ethu Workshop by Skhumbuzo Miya and Boyzie Myeni. Described for the website by Clara Giménez-Delgado (August 20, 2020). |