Zulu Isicholo Married Woman Headdress South Africa Dori Collection

Married Zulu women always keep their heads covered in public. For ceremonial occasions, they wear elaborately woven red hats with beadwork attached. It is then sewn into the hair of the wearer. Red powder is periodically reapplied. If the dried plant happens to have tiny yellow flowers in amongst the leaves then it's impepho (Helichrysum odoratissimum) which is used primarily as a ritual incense by Zulu diviners but is also used as a perfume and insect repellent: often found in bedding and pillows as well.

Provenance: These are from the collection of Dori Angus Verhoeg from Mbabane, Eswatini. Dori was a beloved friend of ours. We met her in 1994 when we lived in Southern Africa, driving around with our three youngest children in a used camper van. We met Dori at the wonderful gallery she ran, Indiglizi. She died several years ago, and her children, Anthony and Sonia Angus made her collection available to us when they closed the gallery this year due to COVID. Dori had an infallible eye.

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