Umqhele

A South African person wearing an umqhele
A Nazareth Baptist Church follower wearing an umqhele on a pilgrimage in 2009

An umqhele ([umǃʰɛle], plural imiqhele)[1] is a traditional Zulu circular headband made of fur.[2] Imiqhele were worn by Zulu men prior to colonization of South Africa, especially by soldiers and elites,[3] and are worn by male members of the Nazareth Baptist Church.[4] They are also worn by Ndebele people, who make them from the tails of cattle.[5] Nazareth Baptist Church imiqhele are frequently made from the fur of leopards, antelope, or serval.[6]

  1. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. xii.
  2. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. xiv.
  3. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. 115.
  4. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. 116.
  5. ^ "Shylet's umqhele (headband)". Galway City Museum. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  6. ^ Chakravarty 2014, p. 181.