African Iraqw People's Young Woman's Initiation Skirt, Tanzania, Early 20th C. Beaded leather adorned with red, white, and yellow beads. Size: 40'' x 35'' (102 x 89 cm). The borders of the skirt are meticulously decorated using a variety of beadwork techniques, including zig-zag, scallop, and lazy bead stitch. In the context of Iraqw culture, the colors and arrangement of the glass beads convey important information about the wearer's rank, worth, or convey coded messages. The use of beads in their attire serves as a symbol of affluence and social status within the community.The Iraqw people, who engage in farming and cattle herding, share both cultural and economic similarities with the Maasai, who also inhabit the same territories. While weaving is not a significant tradition in these cultures, the addition of decorative beadwork to clothing and jewelry has become a distinctive feature. Traditional garments among the Iraqw often include thin, ochre-dyed leather skirts and capes for warmth and comfort. The practice of decorating leather with sewn glass beads is a more recent development, emerging in the late 19th century, often attributed to the influence of missionaries who encouraged beadwork as a form of decoration. Beads in African societies have held monetary and cultural significance, making the incorporation of beadwork into attire readily accepted and embraced.

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