Today we will present you one of the most famous African geometric styles that inspired a lot of interior designers to create exquisite colorful interiors to show the tribal mood. This style is called Ndebele, named after the original tribe where it was once created.
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Ndebele style : The origins
The Ndebele tribe, located in South Africa, is renowned for the vibrant and intricate geometric designs that adorn their homes, clothing, and other artefacts. These designs are a significant aspect of Ndebele culture and are passed down through generations, with each pattern holding symbolic meaning and cultural significance.
The origins of Ndebele geometric designs can be traced back to the early 19th century when the tribe’s women began painting their homes with colourful patterns as a form of artistic expression and communication. Over time, these designs evolved into a distinctive art form that is now synonymous with the Ndebele people.
Patterns and colours :
The geometric patterns found in Ndebele designs are a form of visual language that conveys messages and communicates cultural identity. These intricate patterns often represent concepts such as unity, strength, fertility, and spirituality. The repetition of certain shapes and motifs in Ndebele’s art symbolizes continuity, tradition, and the interconnectedness of the tribe’s community.
The colours used in Ndebele’s geometric designs also hold symbolic meanings. For example, red is often associated with passion, energy, and power, while black symbolizes unity, solidarity, and strength. White is linked to purity, spirituality and new beginnings, and yellow represents wealth, prosperity and fertility. Each colour combination in Ndebele’s artwork tells a unique story and reflects the values and beliefs of the tribe.
The application of these colours can be on a white or black base. The white one symbolises the good side of the energies of each colour while the black represents the darkness of the energy of the used colour, which is the total opposite of the positive meaning.
Here we have different photos that represent this distinctively colourful style :
