Ndebele: A People & Their Art

by Ivor Powell

Ndebele - A People & Their Art is a beautifully illustrated study of the Ndebele and their distinctive art culture. Exceptional photography and insightful text have combined to make this a fascinating and visually exciting work that will have great appeal for all those with an interest in the tribal cultures of southern Africa and of the Ndebele in particular.
Endowed with a rich creativity, Ndebele women have developed an art culture of remarkable ingenuity and vitality which has established their tribal grouping as Africa's artist nation. In their beadwork and in the large murals that cover the walls of their traditional mud dwellings - many of which are unusually innovative in their planning and construction - the Ndebele women have created bold, often symbolic, designs and images that are at one ancient and modern in their simplicity, colour and mode of representation. The traditional dress of Ndebele women is equally striking and dramatic, as are their beadwork and adornments.
But the artistic achievements of the Ndebele are not the sole focus of the work. Equal emphasis is placed on an understanding of the historical, social and political background against which Ndebele art emerged and has flourished.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995