#Ndebele Tribe

[de-prototype]

Traveling my country is always an eye opener 😌

[jahbillah]

Fearless & Far - Asking Tribal Elders Life's Big Questions

Jah Billah says: tek a listen.

[blackhistorystoryteller]

Black history is not all about slave trade

Slave trade is not just black history it’s just 10% of the history africa holds

This is a message to my black brothers and sisters in America

Today I will be talking about the Zulu tribe

The ancestors of the Zulu migrated from west Africa into southeastern Africa during the Bantu migrations from 2000 BC until the 15th century. The Zulu tribe expanded into a powerful kingdom, subdued surrounding groups, and settled in the region known as KwaZulu-Natal in present day South Africa. After enduring colonialism and overcoming apartheid, they have emerged as the dominant ethnic group in South Africa todayAccording to Zulu ancestral belief, the first Zulu patriarch was the son of a Nguni chief who lived in the Congo Basin of Central Africa. By the early 1800s, the Zulu had migrated to Natal, where they lived among other Nguni-speaking chiefdoms. There were ongoing power struggles among these chiefdoms.Around 1808, Chief Dingiswayo of the Nguni-speaking Mthethwa people led wars of conquest to end the power struggles among the chiefs in the communities surrounding his chiefdom.Chief Dingiswayo centralized power by organizing the military into age-based groups, rather than lineage-based regimens. This weakened kinship ties of the conquered communities. Chief Dingiswayo left the conquered chiefdoms relatively intact after they accepted his dominion.The Zulu developed into a distinct cultural group by the time they were conquered by Chief Dingiswayo and his Mthethwa people in the early 1800s. At that time, the Zulu were a small lineage numbering around 2,000 people led by Chief Senzangakhona.Shaka, the future founder of the Zulu Kingdom, was the illegitimate son of the Chief Senzangakhona. Shaka was drafted into the Mthethwa and became one of Chief Dingiswayo's bravest warriors. When Chief Senzangakhona died, Shaka seized the Zulu throne.Using Dingiswayo's military style of weakening kinship ties amongst warriors, Shaka controlled the Zulu community. After Dingiswayo's death, he killed the legitimate heir and installed a puppet as Chief of the Mthethwa.Before long, Shaka seized control over Mthethwa's regiments and assumed power of the newly formed Zulu Kingdom in 1818.

Shaka, Zulu King 1818 to 1828.

Zulu tribe facts include the following:

Shaka Day is celebrated in September by slaughtering cattle, wearing traditional clothing, and wielding traditional weapons. Dignitaries from other tribes and nations attend.

Traditionally a senior male is the head of the clan. Young men train from childhood to fight and defend the clan. Members of the clan have kinship ties based on blood or marriage.

To show respect, the Zulu do not refer to elders by their first name; they use "Baba" meaning father, and "Mama" meaning mother.

Patrilineal inheritance and polygamy are practiced in Zulu culture; having more than one wife is acceptable if one can afford it.

In Zulu culture, bride wealth must traditionally be paid in cattle. Most native groups in South Africa, including Nguni-speaking Xhosa, Ndebele, and Swazi pay bride wealth.

[readyforevolution]

Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 is a country of about 16 million people and 14 tribes with 16 official languages like Kalanga, Sotho, Xhosa, Shangaan, Venda, Ndebele, Ndau, English, Sign Language, Shona, Nambya, Tonga, Chewa, Barwe, Koisan and Tswana.

The country's main languages are Shona, spoken by over 70% of the Population and Ndebele spoken by roughly 20%.

[madamlaydebug]

SUNDUST: Summer Soulstice Collection.

"Nomalanga" 🎨Artist Credit: by Sara Golish

👑Nomalanga - The "Sun" or "Mother of the Sunshine", hails from the Ndebele tribe of Zimbabwe in southern Africa. Her neck rings and rounded beaded necklaces mimic a solar essence, advancing to the heavens.

[rasdivine]

fyeahafrica:

A woman painting an Ndebele home.

Alternatively known as the Matabele, the Ndebele are a Southern African ethnic group that are said to have branched off from the larger Zulu tribe after Mzililikazi, a former general in King Shaka’s army, split from the Zulu Kingdom around the early 1820s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ndebele_people

[rabama]

Tribal vs Modern Clothing!

[resmarted]

good morning to the ndebele tribe only ☀️

[keepreclaiming]

The intricacies of Ndebele art, despite its seemingly straightforward geometric patterns, make it a challenging subject for generative AI. The Ndebele people, one of the smallest tribes in South Africa, are known for their vibrant and distinctive art forms that reflect their rich heritage and culture. Their artwork predominantly consists of geometric patterns painted with vivid colors intended to convey various messages and stories. At first glance, these patterns appear uncomplicated and systematic - traits that would seemingly lend themselves well to replication by an algorithm-driven process. However, there is a nuanced complexity within these patterns which makes it difficult for artificial intelligence to perfectly replicate them.

Generative AI systems work on pre-existing data sets fed into them; they learn from this data and generate new output based on what they've learned. For instance, if you feed an AI system numerous images of cats, it can eventually generate a new image that closely resembles a cat. While the geometric shapes in Ndebele art may seem like an easy task for AI due to their consistent nature, the challenge arises when considering the cultural nuance and symbolic meaning behind each pattern. Each shape or color used in Ndebele art carries particular significance related to the tribe’s history, customs, beliefs and more. Without understanding these implicit meanings or the context in which they're used, generative AI can only produce superficial replicas devoid of the inherent symbolism.

Another aspect that adds difficulty is the unique spontaneity seen in Ndebele art. Even though certain basic shapes and colors recur across different pieces, each artist adds their personal touch making every creation unique. This unpredictability eludes rigid programmatic rules followed by AI models and consequently hinders perfect replication. Moreover, Ndebele artists often transform simple geometric designs through subtle variations – slight shifts in angles or gradations in color intensity – which may go unnoticed by an untrained eye but contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic appeal of an artwork.

Furthermore, while replicating visual aspects might be achievable up to some extent with advanced machine learning algorithms, capturing emotional resonance remains beyond the scope of current technology. Art is not merely a display of skillful arrangement of shapes and colors but also embodies emotions conveyed through those arrangements. Generative AI lacks human sensibility and cannot comprehend or recreate emotional nuances inherently present in artworks like those created by Ndebele people.

Lastly, generative AI faces another significant limitation: creativity born out of cultural immersion. Artists belonging to the Ndebele tribe don't create art solely based on learned techniques; instead they draw inspiration from their surroundings which encompasses everything from historical events and societal changes to individual experiences and interpretations thereof. Unless such diverse influences are incorporated into datasets (which seems impractical), generative AI will continue producing works limited in depth compared to original Ndebele creations.

In essence though generative AI has made strides forward in many areas including creating convincing replicas of existing styles; replicating something as culturally dense as Ndebele art poses challenges beyond technical know-how. It's not just about reproducing identical geometrical patterns; it's about understanding complex interplay between those patterns & cultural narratives surrounding them – something only humans have so far been able to masterfully execute.

[reclaiming-spaces]

While it is challenging to provide an exhaustive list, here are ten notable exhibitions that included Ndebele mural paintings, showcasing the vibrant and culturally significant art form:

"Magical Symbols: The Art of the Ndebele" - This exhibition took place at the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., in 1985. It focused on the art and culture of the Ndebele people, prominently featuring their mural paintings.

"Indigenous Voices: Ndebele Art and Culture" - Held at the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1992, this exhibition celebrated Ndebele art forms, including their renowned mural paintings.

"The Ndebele: Art and Culture of a South African People" - This exhibition was hosted by the Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2001. It presented an extensive collection of Ndebele artworks, including their distinctive mural paintings.

"Transcape: The Cultural Legacy of Ndebele Women" - Taking place at the Newark Museum in Newark, New Jersey, in 2001, this exhibition explored the rich cultural heritage of Ndebele women, featuring their mural paintings as a significant aspect of their artistic expression.

"Celebrating Ndebele Art" - Held at the British Museum in London, United Kingdom, in 2005, this exhibition showcased Ndebele art in various forms, including mural paintings, as a testament to their cultural identity and artistic prowess.

"Ndebele: The Art of Southern Africa" - This exhibition, organized by the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, Australia, in 2009, highlighted the striking visual language and techniques used in Ndebele mural paintings.

"Ndebele: Art of an African Tribe" - Taking place at the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 2013, this exhibition focused on the artistry and symbolism present in Ndebele mural paintings, capturing their cultural significance.

"Ndebele: The Art of Southern Africa's Largest Ethnic Group" - This exhibition was held at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, in 2016. It showcased the diversity and intricacy of Ndebele art, including their renowned mural paintings.

"Ndlela Ntombi: Ndebele Art and Culture" - Organized by the Johannesburg Art Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2018, this exhibition provided an immersive experience into Ndebele art and culture, featuring their mural paintings as central elements.

"Ndebele: Art of a Resilient People" - This exhibition took place at the Museum of African Art in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2020. It highlighted the resilience and creativity of the Ndebele people, showcasing their mural paintings as powerful expressions of cultural identity.

These exhibitions served to promote and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Ndebele people, specifically showcasing the beauty and significance of their mural paintings as important contributions to the world of art.

[legalupanishad]

Delhi High Court declares the "H" mark of Hermes International as a well-known trademark

This article on 'Delhi High Court declares the "H" mark of Hermes International as a well-known trademark' was written by an intern at Legal Upanishad.

Introduction

To understand the decision and the case well we need to grasp the fundamentals and basics of the trademark. So according to the WIPO trademark is a sign which is capable of distinguishing the products and services in a relevant market for the consumers and it is protected by Intellectual property rights. In India, trademarks are governed and regulated by the Trade Marks Act, of 1999 this act was specially introduced to comply with the TRIPS agreement and provisions laid down there forth. A recent Delhi High Court decision on the issue of trademark attracted a vast amount of people on the issue, and therefore for this, it is very crucial for us to understand Hermes International & ANR. V. Crimzon Fashion Accessories Private Limited case to understand the recent development that took place in the trademark law.

What is a Trademark?

In layman’s language, a trademark can be termed as a source identifier as it helps in identifying the source of goods and services as well as distinguishes the goods of one seller from that of another. A mark can be Generic, descriptive, suggestive, arbitrary, or fanciful. The first two are said to be while the other three are termed as inherently distinctive and have high chances of getting registered. The attribute of being able to identify the source of products or services is known as "distinctiveness," and a mark must be distinctive in order to be used as a trademark.

Well-Known Trademark

The Trademarks Act, 1999, defines a well-known trademark as, "a mark which has become so to the substantial segment of the public which uses such goods or receives such services that the use of such mark in relation to other goods or services would be likely to be taken as indicating a connection in the course of trade or rendering of services between those goods or services and a person using the mark in relation to the first-mentioned goods or services”.

Hermes International & ANR. V. Crimzon Fashion Accessories Private Limited: Case Analysis

In this case, the plaintiff Hermes International filed a suit against Crimzon Fashion Accessories Private Limited for violation of the mark which is of Hermes and the defendant Crimzon is using it for its luxury footwear. The argument put forth by the plaintiff Hermes was that trademark of the plaintiff Hermes is well recognized by the relevant section of the public as they have stores in Mumbai and Delhi displaying the trademark H. and also several well-known magazines such as vogue have reviewed and recognized the plaintiff’s sandals with H trademark.  The plaintiffs also contended and argued that they coined the trademark H in the year 1997 by Mr. Pierre Hardy who is the creative director of the plaintiff company and he is also a well-known French designer. The plaintiff company used the trademark H in their Oran sandals and this was inspired by the house decoration of Africa’s Ndebele tribe and the sandals which were characterized by the leather band with the iconic H cut-out representing the plaintiff’s fashion house. The plaintiff also argued that they have this trademark on several products and their trademark H is there since 1997 in the market. And plaintiff advertises this trademark through their stores displaying its trademark H. The plaintiff further argued that they have registered the trademark H in 2015 in France and subsequent to that the trademark was granted international registration in 2016. The plaintiff put forth that all abovementioned clearly indicates that the trademark H was well-known in the fashion industry and also among the relevant section of the public and satisfies the conditions specified in Section 11(6) read with Section 11(7) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Delhi High court held that the trademark of Hermes is a well-known trademark under Section 2(z)(g) under the Trade Marks Act 1999 and it also satisfies the conditions mention in Section 11(6) and 11(7) of the Trade Marks Act 1999.

Delhi High Court declares the "H" mark of Hermes International as a well-known trademark For our further understanding, we need to look at Section 2(z)(g) of the Trade Marks Act 1999 and what it means by the term well-known. In contrast to all other trademarks, which have their goodwill and reputation confined to a certain specified geographic region and to a specific range of commodities, well-known trademarks have both of these protected across the nation and across categories of goods and services. By law, the Trade Mark Registry is not allowed to register any mark as a trademark if it is confusingly similar to another well-known brand. For instance, only Alphabet Inc. is permitted to register the name "Google" for any kind of good or service since it has registered Google as a famous trademark. Even though the service is unrelated to the Internet sector, only Alphabet Inc. is permitted to register "Google" as a trademark. Any trademark that lacks distinctive characteristics or that only consists of signs or identification that may be used in commerce to assign some kind, quality, volume, intended use, value, place of origin, or time of manufacturing of goods, or that has developed a custom in the current lingo or in the genuine and established practices of the trade, may be disqualified from serving as a trademark. This case clearly lay downs the importance of Section 11(6) and Section 11(7) while determining the well-known trademark of the product or service. Section 11(6) is especially important as it lays down the factors and conditions while determining the well-known trademark as gives five sub-clauses that would be helpful while determining the trademark. In this case, the counsel for the plaintiff mainly relied on Section 11(6) read with Section 11(7) of the Trade Marks Act 1999 while establishing that the Hermes trademark H is well-known in a relevant Section of the public.

Conclusion

Due to globalization, there has been an increase in trade and commerce throughout the world and this has led to growth in various industries due to an increase in consumption. The goods and services of one region is been consumed throughout the world and all these goods and service have distinguishable signs through which the consumer and public at large recognizes the product or service. The trademark is an exclusive right means everyone is excluded from using that except the holder of that right. In the recent case, Hermes International & ANR. V. Crimzon Fashion Accessories Private Limited clearly illustrates the importance of a trademark and its effective implementation of it. This case tells us the relevance and the conditions put forward by the Trade Marks Act and how can a product be recognized as a well-known product under Section 2(z)(g) and also explains the conditions laid down in Section 11(6) and 11(7) of the Trade Marks Act 1999.

References:

- Delhi High Court Declares Hermes International’s ‘H’ Mark As Well-Known Trademark; available at: https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/delhi-high-court-hermes-international-well-known-trademark-221628, (last visited on 20 February 2023). - Section 2 (1) (zg), The Trademarks Act, 1999. - India: Trademarks Comparative Guide; available at: https://www.mondaq.com/india/intellectual-property/788896/trademarks-comparative-guide, (last visited on 20 February 2023). - The Trade Marks Act, 1999. - Well-Known Trademarks; available at: https://ssrana.in/ip-laws/trademarks-in-india/well-known-trademarks-india/, (last visited on 20 February 2023). Read the full article

[rohitgurumith]

SOURCES AND SIGNIFICANCE : BLOG POST #6

During the session that took place on 15th November, We learned about Visual Culture and Identity and were then asked to group up and analyse how important and relevant identity to representing people is.

I will be using the movie Black Panther (2018) as an example for this since it made its mark on the world by becoming the first ever hollywood movie to have an African-American director and a predominantly black cast.

SYNOPSIS :

T'Challa returns to Wakanda, an African country, after the passing of his father to claim the throne in his due place. T'Challa's mettle as king and as Black Panther is put to the test when he is lured into a struggle that threatens the future of Wakanda and the entire globe when a formidable foe reappears out of nowhere. The young king must gather his supporters and unleash Black Panther's full strength to fight his enemies and ensure the safety of his people when faced with treachery and peril.

CULTURE AND RACE REPRESENTATION :

This movie suprised me for so many reasons. one of the major reasons being the way it represented african culture. though im not an african myself, i did my research after the movie and learnt alot about the cultural references in the movie and appreciated the movie even more. that was when i understood why this movie was being celebrated worldwide. i've analysed some of those references and listed them below

Ndebele :

A portion of the Wakandan kingdom's architectural style is depicted in the screenshot above. The graphic artwork on the wall is reminiscent of the geometric designs found frequently in Ndebele homes in South Africa. An illustration of this distinctive artwork may be found on the book's cover, Ndebele Beadwork: African Artistry.

Maasai and Samburu :

The Dora Milaje are the Black Panther's private royal bodyguards (see above image). Their vibrant uniforms are a combination of several different styles. Ruth Carter, the head costume designer for the Black Panther, claims that the front tabard was particularly designed in the manner of Yoruba Diviner's belts. The Maasai, a nomadic tribe that travels between Kenya and Tanzania, are another significant influence on the uniforms' design. As documented in Mirella Ricciardi's photography book Vanishing Africa, the Maasai are well known for their beaded jewellery.

These images from the photographic book African Warriors: The Samburu by Thomasin Magor show that although the Samburu tribe is a different subgroup of the Maasai, their traditional clothing retains many of the same aesthetics.

Lip Plates :

With a brief scene from the Black Panther teaser, a man in a stylish suit and a big green lip-disc are seen. Lip-plating is a practise that several African tribes (including the Mokolo, Mursi, Sara, Surma, Lobi, and Djinja) engage in for a number of reasons, however it is not exclusive to the African continent. The black-and-white image seen above is from Margo DeMello's ebook Encyclopedia of Body Adornment, which also provides background information on various body modification customs from throughout the globe.

REFERENCES :

Coogler, R. (2018). Black Panther. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. United States [Accessed 8 Jan. 2023].

Stalcup, A. (1999) Ndebele beadwork : african artistry. 1st edn. New York: PowerKids Press (Crafts of the world). Available at: https://hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org/oclc/44963250 (Accessed: January 8, 2023).

Ricciardi, M. (1977) Vanishing africa. Rev. edn. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.(Accessed: January 8, 2023).

Magor, T. (1994) African warriors. New York: H.N. Abrams.(Accessed: January 8, 2023).

DeMello, M. (2007) Encyclopedia of body adornment. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press (Gale virtual reference library). Available at: https://hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org/oclc/181159689 (Accessed: January 8, 2023).

[diamond-nexus]

Mesmerizing Facts About kid’s jewelry

Children’s jewelry fascinates and beacons parents over every culture, and parents just can’t stay put from not buying jewelry for their little ones.

Jewelry is mostly made out of everything people found in their surroundings. Shells, beads, metal, threads, wool, corals, and even bones and teeth of animals.  

Children’s jewelry was also carved out of the same materials for ages.

In this article, we suggest some of the stimulating facts and details that will help you know why people started wearing jewelry and why they made their kids wear jewelry.  

Interesting Facts about children’s jewelry

Ideally, customary traditions, beliefs, and scientific reasons are three separate influences on children’s jewelry designs but more in girls and lesser in boys.

Customary traditions

Let’s see what jewelry is given to children as part of some customary tradition.

The Ndebele tribe of Africa, Karen, and Padaung tribes of Myanmar wear neck rings prominently. Some say the neck rings were meant for protection against tiger attacks, others claim long necks to be symbols of beauty while many feel these are marks to protect women of a tribe from being taken away by other men. The custom starts early and almost every year one brass or copper ring is added to the girl’s neck.

The Māori tribes wear tattoos on their faces, a special kind of tattoo, as jewelry, as part of their customary traditions.

The African cultures also incorporate the culture of children’s jewelry. Especially yellow and orange colored jewelry is gifted to the children as a belief that they will protect them since they are believed to represent the spirit of Orula (Orishi’s spirit).

Beliefs

In Mexico, people gift their newborns with children jewelry like a rosary, necklace, and even guardian angel necklaces.

Latin Americans and Turkish cultures believe in gifting evil eye jewelry to the children for protection against evil omens.

Even Spanish people gift their children with asmal de Ojo that is said to ward off the evil spirits.

Baby piercings are also essential to the beliefs that show pierced ears will keep the bad spirits away from children.

Scientific reasons  Children’s jewelry made of gold and silver is mostly gifted by loved ones. Gold is known to make a strong body and silver influences the development of the mind.

Jewelry is born only at certain pressure points in the body and is considered to be those points whose regular stimulation does good to the body.

The necklace or stone pendant either sits on the throat (above the thyroid gland) or above the heart and helps to stimulate them.

The finger rings and the toe rings stimulate important nerves and nerve endings that work well for kids.

Children’s jewelry in the form of toe rings sits on areas where there are nerves which when properly stimulated can prevent headaches and eye pain or eye disorders.

The virgin ring is a tradition where a woman wears a ring on her left ring finger as long as she does not take the marriage vows. Children’s jewelry is specifically made for this occasion in Mexico known as purity balls. The ring connects to an essential nerve in the ring finger.

Which reason will you choose for your children’s jewelry? Pick anyone and go ahead, gift your little ones with ornate or simple children’s jewelry alongwith your heart.

[madamlaydebug]

SUNDUST: Summer Soulstice Collection.

"Nomalanga" 🎨Artist Credit: by Sara Golish

👑Nomalanga - The "Sun" or "Mother of the Sunshine", hails from the Ndebele tribe of Zimbabwe in southern Africa. Her neck rings and rounded beaded necklaces mimic a solar essence, advancing to the heavens.

[chic-african-culture]

Married South African Ndebele tribes’ women saw wearing heavy rings around their neck as an honored status symbol. Neck rings are made of copper or brass.

[just-q]

Handmade. Zulu.