Ndebele House Painting A Tribal Tradition

The wall paintings as we know them originated around the time of the Boer wars of South Africa, in the 1880’s. The Boers did not object to the paintings because they did not understand the significance of them. In reality they were commentaries of the Ndebele’s oppression by white farmers, and symbols of their defiance in the face of adversity.

Location - South African Provinces After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.

Ndebele houses are painted both on the inside and the outside. They are a means of communication, and a well painted house is an indication that a good mother and wife lives in there, since the wall paintings are all rendered by the women.

Originally they were in dull, earthen tones, but later on they turned to brighter colors. The bright colors have significance as well, they may indicate the wealth or stature of the occupants of the house.

The wall paintings are a reflection of the family’s status in society, and are messages to the community as to the accomplishments of the household members.

Ndebele art is very vividly colorful, and is very expressive Ndebele art is very vividly colorful, and is very expressive. Every design has a specific meaning, such as these dolls, wearing stylized women’s clothing, and given to women by men to indicate intentions of courtship.

The paintings are either done by the woman of the house, or by her teenage daughters under her direct supervision. This is part of their training in decorative art, because soon they would have to complete their marriage garments.

Although the young bride may choose to decorate her walls in whatever pattern she wishes, her first design seldom strays far from that which she learnt at home as a child and which she carried away with her in a shorthand form as part of her wedding dowry.

Video of the Ndebele People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q4U_TfTKh0

Project: Create your own design for a Ndebele house. On a piece of paper provided by your teacher Your design should be creative and colorful! Once you have finished your design you will take your paper and create a cylinder by taping the ends together. Add some paper to the top (provided by your teacher) and Voila! You have your own Ndebele tribal model house! On a separate sheet of paper you must explain the meaning of your design in 3-5 sentences. Have fun and be CREATIVE!

Your finished project should look something similar to this!