THE ABILEKO SERIES !!!

ABILEKO (SERIES)

   

 ABILEKO 2 | Carpet on canvas | 37" * 52" | 2020

"ABILEKO 2" : Just as we have it all over the globe, marriage rites are sacred with great respect given to the wife. In contemporary era , a wedding ring or wedding band is a finger ring that indicates that its wearer is married. It is usually forged from metal, and traditionally is forged of gold or another precious metal. 

The Himba tribe in Namibia continues to dwell in their sound traditional doctrines despite western influences in Namibia . 

This magnificent tribe inhabit the Kaokoland area of Namibia and are descendants of a group of Herero herders who fled into the remote north-west of Namibia after been displaced by the Nama. They still clutch their traditional beliefs today by breeding and herding their cattle and goats and living a semi nomadic lifestyle.

The different neck pieces and hair styles determines the importance and status of the individual person (man, woman or child). 

My favorite is the jewelry of married women. The main necklace has a shell or cone shell, which symbolizes marriage and is strung with iron and ostrich egg beads. On their head they wear an ornate headpiece called the Erembe, which resembles cattle horns. The presence of the erembe on the head of any himba female shows that they are married.

"ABILEKO 2" captures the mood and elegance of a married woman, showing her wealth of 'marital experience' through the thickness of her colourful hair, and the size of her erembe. Her facial expressions riddled with the challenges of marriage, yet shows the beauty that comes along with it.