toy in the spotlight

The history of four African dolls

In 1997, the Toy Museum bought a series of four little dolls, coming from Zulus of South-Africa. The Zulus are an ethnic group, residing in the west of South-Africa, with an approximate 5 million people. On account of their conflicts with the Dutch setlers (‘Boeren’) and the British, their reputation grew notorious.

Today the Zulus are known for the objects they create with little pearls. An example are these dolls. They also have an important meaning for their culture.

The dolls were owned by a migrant from South-Africa. Presumably, they date back to the sixties. The man himself told us the story and the background of the dolls. They are far more than just the toys of a Zulu girl. The four dolls are in fact the image of women in the different phases of their life. They’re made of fabric, pearls and shells. Remarkable is the excessive use of red, the color of fertility.

The first and smallest doll represents a girl of marriageable age. She is exquisitely embellished in order to attract a future husband. Typical are the white beads around the eyes. The age to marry was very young for Zulu girls, just like the Greek tradition of the 5th and 4th century B.C. and that of the Late Middle Ages. Princesses marrying at 14 or younger, were absolutely no exception.

The second doll is a girl who’s engaged. Because of the fact that Zulus are warriors, they only get married after they furfilled their duties as a warrior. In the meantime, the girl is actually engaged, and therefore has to avoid the attention of other men. That’s why she’s not dressed up too nicely and her eyes are encircled by black beads.

The third doll impersonates the married wife, who above all has to be fertile. The red fabric embodies that idea. Of course, the wife is allowed to embellish herself for her husband. The doll receives white beads around the eyes.

The fourth doll is a widow. The woman is available again on the ‘wedding market’ and can embellish herself again.
In this way, the Zulu girl learned by playing the traditions of her tribe.

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