History and cultural significance of Zulu basket making

Zulu Baskets

The History of Zulu Baskets

The Creation of Zulu Baskets

Materials

Price of Baskets

Space Needed

There are many traditional crafts in Africa, drawing on the rich heritage, and skills passed down through the generations (Gleimius, Mthimunye, and Subanyoni, 2003). One of the traditional crafts has included basket making, with Zulu Baskets benefiting from a revival with and production increasing due to the tourist market and fashion for local craftwork (Nettleton, 2010; Gleimius et al., 2003). This paper looks at the tradition, starting with the history of Zulu baskets, looking at how they are made, the materials used, the prices, sizes and designs.

The History of Zulu Baskets

Basketry is an indigenous craft across much of Africa, with the Zulu people, the largest ethnic group in South Africa creating baskets from times before written histories were present in the area (African Crafts Market, 2015; Meskel, 2008, Krige, 1950). Nettleton (2010) argues that it is a craft utilised as a vector for African identity as a result of its long tradition of inherited skills, being passed from generation to generation, using local materials.

The history of baskets appears to start as a practical tool, to provide pots to carry food such as grain and vegetables, as well as special watertight parts created to carry liquids, such as beer, with fines of historical baskets dating back centuries (Nettleton, 2010; Jolles, 2005).

With colonialism, records of baskets start to emerge, such as in the record of Holden (1866, quoted Nettleton, 2010), in which three ilala palm basket styles were recorded, which are still made today. The historical texts indicate that different types of baskets were made for different occasions. For example, box kits made in a pear shape with lids were recorded as woven for new brides, to hold her belongings when moving to the Homestead of her new husband's father (van Heerden, 1996). The small beer basket, known as an isichumo, is also recorded, as a small watertight globular beer basket (Nettleton, 2010; Jolles, 2005). While the basket making has continued, during the 20th century much of the beer basket making a shifty, with increased use of clay pots to replace the beer baskets.

The traditional baskets varied greatly in size, but over time the style has changed. Holden (1866 quoted Nettleton, 2010), noted that although there were large baskets in the past, especially for chief and Kings, however they would usually be relatively plain, without complex designs. Baskets were usually made as part of the daily chores, made by both men and women, with the purpose of using the baskets they made, or selling them locally for others to use (Terry and Cunningham, 1993).

The increased interest in baskets appears to have started in the 1970s, when commercial purchase of baskets for export started. For example, in one of the first transactions in the Ngamiland district of Botswana, approximately £300 worth of baskets were bought from a few female basket weavers in early 1970 (Terry and Cunningham, 1993). Two decades later the trade from that area equated to £60,000 across 2,000 women (Terry and Cunningham, 1993). The trade group, by 1983 it was estimated that 7500 people were involved in commercial Zulu basket making in the KwaZulu/Natal area (Terry and Cunningham, 1993).

With the increased demand for baskets, there have also been changes in production methods and styles to accommodate a greater level of productivity, and create commercially attractive products (Nettleton, 2010; Terry and Cunningham, 1993). Furthermore, the availability of different types of materials has also extended the craft, whereas once the baskets were found made only of materials available locally, they are now made of many different materials, such as wire (Nettleton, 2010; Klopper, 2008). The production methods have also changed over time.

4. Materials

Baskets were made of a wide variety of resources, and could incorporate any locally available suitable materials, such as reads, palms, grasses and rushes (Nettleton, 2010; Meskell, 2008). The most common found material in Zulu baskets were the ilala palms, which could be the dyed using local flowers, barks, charcoal, or naturally coloured mad (Baskets of Africa, 2015; Nettleton, 2010). The ilala palm was practical, not only because of its ease of access, but the waxy coating which made it easy for weaving, was lightweight, and water resistant (The baskets of Africa, 2015). In total, more than 45 different types of reeds, grasses and rushes et cetera have been recorded in the creation of Zulu baskets (Nettleton, 2010; Meskell, 2008).

As seen in the evolution of the baskets as a result of impacts of the modern world, the materials utilised have increased, and products such as wire and metals have now found their way into basket weaving (. Furthermore, the types of designs have become more complex, more colourful, indicating increased use of both natural and commercial dies (Nettleton, 2010; Klooper, 2003).

5. Price of Baskets

The price of baskets varies greatly, many basket makers are now aiming for the tourist market, creating high-quality pieces which will sell for $60-$100 in the mass market, and even higher prices to collectors (African Crafts Market, 2015). However, prices are much lower in local craft markets, where starting price for smaller baskets may be found from approximately $5 to $10 (African Crafts Market, 2015).

6. Space Needed

The space needed fro the weaving of baskets is relatively constrained when made in a traditional manner using rational materials. However, the storage of the baskets can require significant space, due to the size and shape they are not easily stored efficiently as they are conical and do not fit together although they may be stacked (Meskell, 2008).

7 Designs

The size and shape of the baskets vary, usually being conical and height greater than the width, often with lids. Large baskets were made to carry large amounts of goods, or measure them, with one of the most ritualistic baskets being a marriage basket which also marked the right of passage for a woman in the Zulu community (Nettleton, 2010). The designs on the baskets all had different meanings. Checkerboards, the presence of circles or whirls indicated good news, good rains, or a new baby. Triangles were a masculine symbol, and often incorporated into designs if the basket was made by a man. By comparison the feminine symbol was a diamond was zigzag, which was weaved to represent Shaka's spear, with a series of diamonds representing Shaka's Shields. Wedding baskets would often have diamonds with triangle points (Baskets of Africa, 2015).

Designs of the past tended to be relatively simplistic and angular, but the movement towards modern materials has facilitated increased complexity of design, and more complex and colourful patterns are incorporated to appeal to the commercial market, including tourists.