Ndebele Women & The Rituals of Rebellion (1995)

• 84%
• 1995
• Documentary
• Richard Beynon
• Kelly Lilienfeld

The Ndebele women are known throughout the world for their vivid and multi faceted art forms, especially the colorful embellishment of their houses. Their arid land is pierced with blocks of color, each dwelling singular in a stylized way. Their resplendent clothing also boldly proclaims their identity. This unique film also explores Ndebele rituals never shown on film before. We see their fertility rites, a celebration that bonds them to their ancestral tradition. Ndebele performance art shows how traditional forms of expression can become a vehicle for political empowerment today. Nelson Mandela referred to the Ndebele as a 'Rainbow People.' Despite a history of racial oppression, forced removal from their ancestral land and economic privation, their pride and sense of joy has endured.