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Lobolile Ximba
South Africa
Year(s) attended: 2004, 2007, 2010
The BAT Shop
Bead Work
Lobolile is a master craftswoman representing the Siyazama Project in Umsinga, South Africa, which creates beaded dolls to promote HIV/AIDS awareness in rural communities.
Zulu women have little formal education, and these make beaded dolls that represent traditional Zulu women’s dress. Their black-and-white beaded angel dolls are inspired by their Nazareth Ushembe religion.
White beads symbolize purity, chastity, peace, truth, honesty, and innocence, while colored beads represent such emotions as strength, love, and jealousy. Meaning is also found in how the beads are arranged.
