Zulu
South AfricanSpoon, n.d.
On view
Wood
Dimensions17 1/8 in. (43.5 cm)
Gift of Dr. Robert Horn, 2019.7
Made by the Zulu peoples of South Africa, this spoon’s handle is carved to depict a female body without arms. By crafting it this way, the object takes on the shape of a standing woman, with the head being the bowl shape of the spoon. By merging a female figure with an implement of serving food to others, this spoon taps into such feminine associations such as care-giving, nurturing, and being well fed.
The Zulu believe that they are the direct descendants of the patriarch Zulu, who was born to a Nguni chief in the Congo Basin area. In the 16th century the Zulu migrated southward to their present location, incorporating many of the customs of the San, including the well-known linguistic clicking sounds of the region. During the reign of King Shaka (1816–28), the Zulu became the mightiest military force in southern Africa, increasing their land holdings from 100 square miles to 11,500. Shaka was followed by Dingaan, who tentatively entered into treaties with English colonizers. Mpande was the next king. He allowed the British extensive control over his peoples. By the time he died in 1872, the Zulu had had enough of the English invasion. Cetewayo, Mpande’s replacement, tried vainly for six years to avoid a confrontation with the British, yet in 1879 war erupted. Although the Zulu initially experienced some success, the British army eventually prevailed.
