User:Tshabangu.nokuthula

Umgwalo(beauty of Ndebele Art )
Introduction

Ndebele people are located in Southern Africa at Mpumalanga province, they are also known as Amandebele or Ndundza Nbebele. Ndebele people they have their own art that they design and been recognize over the different countries. They are using Umgwalo design for painting their houses and clothes for showing their culture / tradition so that can be easily represented.

History

Ndebele Art design (umgwalo) was introduced in 18 century where they were using painting the mud houses. During broer war they were forced into oppression and slavery to communicate with each other using patterns and colors for varied meaning. It have helped them in apartheid era because they were not recognize as that there were communicating to each other, instead they were thinking it represent their culture or decorating their houses. With this design Ndebele people culture were recognize with these beauty of art that they were doing. This it has passes from parents to generations. In the olden days even for wedding they were using this design for decorating and also for boys and girl that were from initiating school. They were painting their houses, walls, clothes using different colors.

Colours and Patterns

Colors and patterns they were very important in communications, they were using fingers in the olden days but now they are using bunch of feathers to paint. They have five main colours for representing red and dark red, yellow to gold, sky blue, green, Pink. This colours give symbolic Ndebele. Patterns are usually repeated in only one design. Mostly they are using geometry shapes for designing, shapes have its own colours that they are using for umgwalo.

Generation-Generation

Since this it has passed from parents to generation-generation in 2018 gogo Esther Mahlanga have recognised as Doctor at University of Johannesburg due to the beauty of Ndebele Art (Umgwalo) were she have learned this from her mother who passed away  long time. She have been represent the design in different countries by painting the car In America. We have also different art school that is located in Gauteng at Bronkhonspruit which name of Osizweni, were they also taught new generation with the beauty of Ndebele Art(Umgwalo).

Business and Fashion

Ndebele art is now recognize by their fashion stars that they use umgwalo as business purposes and fashion. We have fashion designer that they have learned umgwalo as an Ndebele tradition, Nomthandazo Zulu she have designed a dress that have umgwalo for well-know Thembisa Mdoda .Ntombi  Mtau she also have a business called Ntombsta design where she design bags,t-shirts,caps,shoes and other clothing.

Conclusion

The Art of umgwalo is well-known in South African due of representing it even though in apartheid era were they have been avoided. As Ndebele people their creativity is more than what they people think with them especial in making money with art of them.