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Glam Journal

How do the Zulu wives dress?

Author

Emily Wilson

Updated on March 18, 2026

How do the Zulu wives dress?

She will wear a thick, cowhide skirt which has been softened with animal fat and charcoal. Traditionally, a woman’s breasts would be covered with a cloth, but nowadays a cotton vest or beaded bra is worn with beaded necklaces. One of the most iconic pieces of Zulu clothing is the circular-shaped hats called izicolo.

What traditional clothes do Zulus wear?

Zulu men traditionally wear animal skins and feathers. Because the Zulu revere leopards as the king of all predators, only royalty are allowed to wear leopard skin. A front apron (isinene) and a rear apron (ibheshu) are worn to cover the genitals and buttocks.

What are Zulu skirts called?

isidwaba
The isidwaba, which is also known as isikhakha, is a traditional Zulu leather skirt worn by a betrothed and married woman. It is made of cowhide or goatskin, as depicted on the South African Heritage Resource Agency website.

What do African females wear?

Women wear the kanga and the gomesi. In Southern Africa, distinctive shirts are worn, like the long dresses they wear. For instance, South Africa is known for the Madiba shirt, whereas Zimbabwe is known for the safari shirt. In the Horn of Africa, the attire varies by country.

What is Zulu food?

Since the Zulu people originally relied on the land for sustenance, their diet was made up mainly of the grain and vegetables that they farmed and the meat that their own animals provided. Today, sorghum and maize starches remain the staple food of the Zulu folk.

What are Zulu houses called?

Zulu housing was centred around the imizi (kraal), which consisted of a fence that enclosed a number of beehive-shaped one-room houses. Ndebele house with traditional artwork, South Africa.

What do Zulu females wear?

Zulu women and girls Women who had a traditional Zulu wedding may wear a special wide hat called “isicholo” as a status symbol. “Ibhayi” is the cloak or shawl worn around the shoulders as a sign of respect to the in-laws. Married women also wear necklaces called “ureyisi” and cow-hide skirts called “isidwaba.”

What are the attires made of?

Traditional materials such as cotton, linen and leather are still sourced from plants and animals. But most clothes are more likely to be made of materials and chemicals derived from fossil fuel-based crude oil. There are nine major types of raw materials commonly used in clothing today.

How do Zulu celebrate heritage?

The History of Heritage Day in South Africa Shaka Zulu played an important role in uniting different Zulu clans into one cohesive Zulu nation in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Each year, thousands of people gather at King Shaka’s grave to pay tribute to him and to honour his memory.

What are Headwraps called in Africa?

gele
In Nigeria a head tie is called a gele — that’s the word used by the Yoruba, one of the country’s many ethnic groups. But the wearing of head wraps is traditional for all Nigerians and indeed for most African cultures. An artfully folded gele is part of everyday wear and de rigueur for special occasions like weddings.

What is the African head dress called?

The dhuku represents far more than a piece of fabric wound around the head. This distinct cloth head covering has been called variously ‘head rag’, ‘head-tie’, ‘head handkerchief’, ‘turban’, or ‘head-wrap’.

What do Zulus drink?

The Zulus, like many other cultures, consume amasi (sour milk), which is usually prepared by storing unpasteurised cow’s milk in an igula (calabash container) to allow it to ferment.