Imbeleko, bracelet for Izibulo.

This is a bracelet made out of silver incorporating Amaso beads. The bracelet is manufactured with the use of chainmail technique. This is a design that originates from the ceremony (Imbeleko). The ceremony is performed for a young child on the milestone (Izibulo). I wanted to create a bracelet that address the aspects of that ceremony, the chainmail represent the community on the notion of a child is raised by a village and the beads represent the belief in spirituality.

Mdi is my nephew, his mother decided to do Imbeleko for him. Therefore, I decided to manufacture a bracelet for him (see fig 1). In this bracelet (fig 1) the emphasis was on the significance of the (Amaso) beads. After many explorations and learning about the first milestone of a Xhosa man, I found this stage as the fundamental that captures the spiritual in the form of these beads. At that point in my design process, it was clear to me as to why I felt compelled to keep them in their truest form. The intimate contact between him and the beads becomes a constant reminder of his protection. In spite of all technical sophistication, According to Metcalf, (1998) "jewellery is still used for much same reason as the most primitive African communities".

 

Figure 1 - Young Mdi wearing Xhosa bling.

Figure 2- Mdi’s mother preparing the gall bladder to make a ring for her baby.

 

Figure 3 - Mdi and his mother after the Imbeleko ceremony wearing a piece of jewellery that created.