Bhaca Headdress South Africa Sidley Collection

Special thanks to Hlengiwe Dube the author of our 'Zulu Beadwork' book for sharing her knowledge on this piece.

The Bhaca people, or amaBhaca, represent a distinct ethnic group in South Africa, predominantly found in the former Transkei homeland, specifically in the towns of Mount Frere, Umzimkhulu, and their surrounding regions. The area in which they reside is referred to as kwaBhaca, or "place of the Bhaca," by the people themselves. They speak isiBhaca, a dialect closely related to Xhosa, and their culture aligns with the broader Southern Nguni traditions. The Bhaca, although a relatively small community, occupy an area that extends roughly around the district of Mount Frere, with significant populations in areas such as Mount Ayliff. While the Bhaca share linguistic and cultural ties to the Xhosa, they stand out in their unique historical trajectory.

The history of the Bhaca people is particularly fascinating, as they embody the experience of those groups displaced by the turbulent political landscape in Zululand, following the rise to power of King Shaka Zulu. Unlike other Southern Nguni groups such as the Mpondo, Thembu, and Xhosa, the Bhaca were relatively recent immigrants into the Cape region, having been forced to flee from Natal during this era of upheaval. Their migration and settlement in the Cape was a significant chapter in the complex history of ethnic and cultural displacement in southern Africa.

The Bhaca were historically known as the Zelemus or AbakwaZelemu between the 1700s and 1830. This designation linked them to Chief Zelemu, a prominent leader of the abaMbo people who ruled over the Pongola area. Chief Zelemu and Chief Wushe shared a common ancestor named Lufulelwenja. The two chiefs parted ways in the early 1700s, resulting in the emergence of two distinct groups: the AmaWushe and the AbakwaZelemu. In the 1730s, the grandsons of Zelemu and Wushe, Khalimeshe and Mjoli, reunited to form a single tribe. Under the leadership of Madzikane ka Khalimeshe, they migrated south, eventually settling in the present-day areas where the Bhaca are found today. Thus, the Bhaca people’s origins are rooted in both their historical leadership and their role in the broader narrative of Nguni migrations during the 18th century.

Provenance: Niña Sidley Collection

After a long career in publishing, Niña Sidley returned to her first love: collecting the art, artifacts, and textiles of the world’s indigenous peoples. Part of her mission has been to educate others and to honor the extraordinary creativity, ingenuity, and heartfelt messages these handmade works send from their makers. Niña believes this deep respect for tradition and beauty inspires and ties all of us together as one world.

The stand is not included.

Height (In): 32.0
Width (In): 8.0
Depth (In): 8.0

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