It indicates HLONIPHA or respect for the man and his family. On one of the brides last visits to her in-laws, prior to settling at their home, the woman puts on the ISIYAYA before approaching her future father-in-law.
A traditional Ndebele wedding differs a great deal to the western one in that in Ndebele the groom never accompanies the bride on this day. He is not found anywhere near the bride. There is no holding of hands, no matrimonial vows and certainly no kissing. The bride is attended to by elderly women and other ladies of her age group. The groom if found around the kraal accompanied by his age group and elderly men who are there to give advice where necessary. The young bride, or umlobokazi wears the isiyaya to avoid eye contact with her in-laws and other people to whom she has to show respect. The custom of ukuhlonipha (respect) does not allow her to have eye-contact with these people.
From the forehead, strings of white beads hang downwards to cover the whole face. To make these strings the artist employs the free-running technique. Each string is finished with a bead slightly bigger than the rest of the beads used in the strings. Although the strings hang tightly together, there is however enough space for her to see where she is going.
Height: 30" x width: 18"