The Jocolo is a beaded apron worn on special ceremonial occasions, by a Ndebele woman in South Africa after she has born her first child. Either goatskin or canvas, with its five front panels, it is the most elaborately decorated and formal piece of women's beadwork.
The 5 beaded panels represent the deposit of 5 head of cattle toward the bride price, or lobola. Some have a miniature panel on either side of the 5 panels, which signifies that the wearer is not the grooms first wife.
