This the last in my series on southern Africa’s traditional baskets. This lidded basket is from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. I had done some reading, and wanted a ‘women’s’ basket.
The shape indicates an ukhamba basket and usually holds home-brewed sorghum beer. Its coil-weave is watertight. When the basket is filled, the ilala palm fibers swell and the outer surface of the basket sweats. These baskets are used for special ceremonies (like weddings).
The double diamond pattern signifies a married woman.
The colors start with the ilala palm (Hyphaene Coriacea), harvested from the North-Eastern Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Its natural color is cream. Every other color is naturally obtained from roots, berries, bark and leaves. Black and brown are provided by the roots of the isizimane tree, which are crushed and boiled for many days. The orange comes from the roots of the xomisane plant. The ijuba plant is soaked in black mud for up to 1 week to produce the grey color.
Basket-making used to be exclusively a male occupation, but now the Zulu women create them. Today’s baskets can be used to store food or liquids, and master weavers make beautiful items of contemporary (and classic!) art.
The basket I purchased was woven by artist Zamama Khumahi.
NOTES: For more examples of Kwa Zulu-Natal basketry, go to these websites: Ilala Company South Africa, Naturesways.tripod.com , African Craft Market ©2025 Jadi Campbell. Uwe’s photos of our trips and his photography may be viewed at viewpics.de.
I am a Best American Essays-nominated writer. My books are Broken In: A Novel in Stories, Tsunami Cowboys, Grounded, The Trail Back Out, and The Taste of Your Name. Recent awards include F
Follow these links for Amazon.com or Amazon.de.
this basket is beautiful !