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Yellow panel with orange lettering; message: DELA NAZALA MAME. A mother gives this to her son to express her joy, translates to: "It is a good thing that your mother gave birth to you, I am glad of your existence."
Beaded Panel (ithemba)
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Beaded Panel (ithemba)

Artist Mrs. Kangezile MaMajoli Ndlovu (Zulu, South African)
Date1850-1968
Place of originSouth Africa
MediumGlass beads
ClassificationsClothing and accessories
Credit LineMuseum purchase, funds provided by Dr. Frank Jolles
Object number2007.27.7
Collections
Visual DescriptionYellow panel with orange lettering; message: DELA NAZALA MAME. A mother gives this to her son to express her joy, translates to: "It is a good thing that your mother gave birth to you, I am glad of your existence."
Orange panel with white letters, long chain-style necklace made of beads; message: "SIKHUZA USUTHU MAZULU"; not easily translated literally, expresses joy and love, "Hurrah, I like you".
Beaded Panel (ithemba)
Mrs. Kangezile MaMajoli Ndlovu
1850-1968
Dark blue panel with white letters; "blackboard" style beaded panel made by a fiancée to send messages to her future husband; message: Emhlabeni KUSO SIZINI MASINGABA Naki Abantu", translated means "on the earth, it is a place of sorrow don't pay attention to other people" See Jolles 2006, p. 129. for translation.
Beaded Panel (ithemba)
Mrs. Kangezile MaMajoli Ndlovu
1850-1968
Blue panel with white letters, white necklace, braided; message on panel: HAIAIA Shenge.
Beaded Panel (ithemba)
Mrs. Kangezile MaMajoli Ndlovu
1850-1968
Represents new use of dark background for traditional love letter theme; literacy is variable, based on blackboards used in schools but many dark colors used with white or other color lettering
Beaded panel (ithemba)
Mrs. Kangezile MaMajoli Ndlovu
1850-1968
Red panel with white letters (no necklace)
Beaded panel (ithemba)
Mrs. Kangezile MaMajoli Ndlovu
1850-1968
Black-and-white print of two faces with raised, expressive hands. Below the drawing, red text reads "FOR THE YEAR OF THE INSANE", followed by two columns of the poem by Anne Sexton: O Mary, fragile mother, hear me, hear me now although I do not know your words. The black rosary with its silver Christ lies unblessed in my hand for I am the unbeliever. Each bead is round and hard between my fingers, a small black angel. O Mary, permit me this grace, this crossing over, although I am ugly, submer…
For the Year of the Insane
Barbara Swan
1967
White panel with orange, blue, yellow and green and white braided necklace; text: AMAZOKI AZODELA - translates as "There are troublemakers, I am not saying anything, I love you more." This is an admonition to ignore gossip about people in a relationship.
Beaded panel (isibebe)
Zulu Artist
undated
White panel with orange, blue, green letters; green braided necklace; text reads "YAZI MINA", literally "Know me"; girl gives this to a boy to say "love me only." Knots at the end symbolize clasping hands
Beaded panel (isibebe)
Zandile Ma Ndlovu Dube
undated
A necklace featuring a twisted red and white strap. The rectangular white beaded panel displaying two rows of colorful, stylized letters and small brass cones at its top corners.
Beaded Panel (isebebe)
Zandile Ma Ndlovu Dube
1969
Mohammed Agha and Mohammad Zia Mama, November, 2011
Mohammed Agha and Mohammad Zia Mama, November, 2011
Gloriann Liu
2011; print 2016
image of a mermaid with dark hair, who is surrounded by fish, and holding a spoon over a bowl of food supported by fish; the background has gray columns on a field of light blue. Inscription in white on the black frame, bottom, is .. Mami Wata is a spirit who lives in the sea will ruin your Life and you will go to hell. Go to Jesus Christ..." Signature on lower right corner reads: Kwame Akoto, Almighty God Artworks, Kumasi.
Mami Wata is a Mermaid Spirit who Lives in the Sea
Kwame Akoto
2010
White rectangular panel with blue letters; braided necklace of white with blue flecked beads; message: Jabula Wethu, literal translation: "Be happy our", or "You are happy because I love you"
Beaded panel (isibebe)
Zandile Ma Ndlovu Dube
1969

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