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A South African person wearing an umqhele
A Nazareth Baptist Church follower wearing an umqhele on a pilgrimage in 2009

An umqhele ([umǃʰɛle], plural imiqhele) [1] is a traditional Zulu circular headband made of fur. [2] Imiqhele were worn by Zulu men prior to colonization of South Africa, especially by soldiers and elites, [3] and are worn by male members of the Nazareth Baptist Church. [4] They are also worn by Ndebele people, who make them from the tails of cattle. [5] Nazareth Baptist Church imiqhele are frequently made from the fur of leopards, antelope, or serval. [6]

References

  1. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. xii.
  2. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. xiv.
  3. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. 115.
  4. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. 116.
  5. ^ "Shylet's umqhele (headband)". Galway City Museum. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  6. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. 181.

Bibliography