Material: Goatskin, grass and beads
Description: The Ndebele are one of the most colorful people
in all of Africa. They adorn themselves with intricate beaded
clothing and adornments including the 'thimba' (isithimba), or back-skirt.
Worn by young unmarried Ndebele women, the thimba is made of goatskin
and is traditionally decorated in colorful beaded patterns. The
back-skirt would have been worn around the waist, suspended
from a beaded grass-cored hoop and was traditionally worn as
an indicator of the woman being of an marriageable age.
An item of our collection, this skirt predates the 1950's.
Dimensions: 23" height x 26" width x 1/2" depth
