Traditional Markets Still Trump Formal Retail Outlets ~ Why I love Africa

Nothing beats going through a traditional street market with the array of goods on offer. On the outside it is normally packed with fruits and vegetables. Inside is varied depending on the store.

A glimpse across the main road in St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal at the street market, as we approach a bit closer you will see the fruit and veg. Avocado, Mango, Banana, Pineapple, potatoes, tomatoes, beans will all be found depending on the season.

I should really have gone in closer to the food section, however wished to gain the sizing of these little stores lining the road. Inside is where most venture when traveling up there to find a 'keepsake' to take home

Mind your head and watch where you stand, this is full from roof to floor. Many will do bead work whilst waiting for trade. When buying beads, be sure to ask what the design means, as explained in the content below.

How Zulu Bead Jewelry is Used For Communication Between Men and Women
Handmade Zulu bead work is a craft practiced by the women of the tribe. Usually older sisters pass down the tradition to their younger sisters. Men are not involved in the making of bead jewelry but they do wear bead work. Zulu beadwork almost always involves communication between the sexes in regards to relationships. The design and colors of the beadwork together convey a message. For example a particular beaded necklace worn by a women may inform men that she is unmarried. Communicating relationship status and sexual intentions in this subtle manner helps the Zulu people avoid awkward social situations such as an unmarried man approaching a married women.

Zulu Bead Jewelry - Designs and colors
The only shape used by the Zulu in their bead jewelry is the triangle. How the triangles are positioned within a particular beadwork signify different meanings. For example a triangle facing downwards signifies an unmarried women, a triangle facing upwards signifies an unmarried man. There are numerous variations of triangle positions and positions to other triangles each with a different meaning. The colors of the beads used also influenced the meaning of the message conveyed by the bead work. Unlike the shapes used in the bead work, which have set and constant meanings, the colors used can have positive or negative meanings. The seven main colors used by the Zulu craftswomen are green, blue, red, black, white, yellow, and pink. Each of these colors has a positive meaning, however the meaning can be altered by the context in which the beads are used within the jewelry piece. Below is a list of these seven colors along with the positive meanings associated with each followed by a list of each colors negative meaning.

Zulu Bead Jewelry Positive Meanings of Colors

green - contentment, bliss |
blue - faithfulness |
red - strong emotion |
black - marriage |
white - love |
yellow - wealth |
pink - adds emphasis to a promise |

Zulu Bead Jewelry Negative Meanings of Colors

green - illness |
blue - hostility, ill feelings |
red - anger, impatience |
black - death, sorrow, despair |
white - has no negative meaning |
yellow - badness |
pink - poverty |

Source

Trust You enjoyed a visit to an African Street Market with me, thanks to Denise @dswigle for invitation to share.

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