By Thomas Sibanda – Mzala Tom
In pre-colonial Ndebele society, senior married men were distinguished by head rings known as isidlodlo or isicoco.
These men derived this privilege from the king as a recognition of their marital status, life experience, wisdom and seniority in society.
During those days, men had to serve in the military from their youth on a full-time basis until they were given permission to marry and establish families, by the king.
This important head ring was made from beeswax. It was either to wear or was sewn into the hair to make it secure. Those who were still active in battle preferred to have it sworn to their hair to avoid losing it . In the process of making the head ring special medicines and plants were also mixed with the bee wax, for protection and strength.
It was also an advantage to have it sewn to the hair to avoid it being stolen and tampered with for witchcraft purposes.
Other Nguni groups like the Zulu made their head rings using a circular framework of leaves from specific plants, clay and black/red orche, and then plastered onto the hair with inomfi (toad tree – sticky and milky latex).This practice was later abandoned during the colonial era.