Zulu Maiden Long Hair Shield Dance Action Means Pride Power Grace #shorts #zuluculture #tradition

Zulu maiden at Umkhosi woMhlanga outdoor sandy grass field with buses and white tents and other maidens behind and trees and blue sky wearing traditional Zulu maiden attire with long brown and blonde wavy braided hair extensions isinene with cornrows on top meaning beauty patience and being raised well and neatness and discipline and yellow fringe mini skirt isigekle with white fur and colorful beaded waistband ibhande with red yellow blue white diamond pattern meaning pride wealth and family messages and beaded chest piece ibheqe with orange yellow blue and white beadwork covering chest and colorful beaded wrist bands izintsimbi with red yellow blue white pattern and brown sandals with bead anklets amashoba and holding white cowhide oval shield isihlangu with black geometric cross lines meaning family identity protection and virgin pride and holding long white umhlanga reed stick umkhuzane meaning journey and direction and sacred cutting of reed for Queen Mother, action teaching focus starts with walking away from camera back view showing long hair flowing down to waist meaning ukuphenduka turning to show full attire and hair to community and that long hair is celebrated as beauty and patience, then turning around to front and starting to dance with shield in left hand and stick in right hand raising stick high called ukuphakamisa umkhuzane showing direction and calling ancestors, then leg lifted high with knee bent and foot kicking called ukugiya showing strength balance fitness and pride and joy, then crouching low with knees bent called ukukotama showing respect before elders and readiness to listen, then spinning around called ukujikeleza showing skirt and hair swirling and that yellow fringe makes movement visible so ancestors see, then smiling and laughing while dancing shows confidence joy and pride and that holding shield low not high means protection not war and that dancing solo in field shows self expression and practice before royal arena and that buses behind mean maidens traveled far to attend Umkhosi.