Beer pot covers, Zulu people. S.A.
An amusing name termed “flies in the milk “ describes the Nguni cattle hide that is predominantly white with black specs. But flies in milk or beer, are no laughing matter.
With the climate and torrid humidity of Natal, annoying insects tend to propagate rapidly. To counter this, the Zulu people of KwaZulu-Natal developed a functional item to cover the mouth of beer and water pots to protect the contents within.
Woven from grass or ilala palm the mbenge resembles a shallow bowl, that is custom made and varies in size from 20-30 cm in diameter as a closure for the mouth of a pot. Historic skills for producing this item would be a knowledge of basketry and weaving.
When in use, the mbenge was inverted over the mouth of the pot. However as the beverage generally needed periodic stirring, the mbenge also served another function: it was turned upside down and placed on the floor as a receptacle for spoons or scoops. Many older mbenge have a prominent flat section or raised lip at the apex, simplifying this process.
Mbenge are also an integral component in the art of hospitality, where the best or most aesthetically beautiful, would be placed on the beer pot brought out for guests. Therefore over time, with competition, embellishment became increasingly important, developing from designs of coloured grass woven into the item, to being partially or totally covered with glass beads.
Detail of Mbenge
In early examples found in museums, beads were strung on muscle fibre but later craftspeople reverted to cotton or fishing gut, that was more permanent when wet.
As most crafters work is undocumented, the visual language, colour and bead design preferences of clans and particular Zulu families identify the area of origin.
Decoration is varied, ranging from monochrome white covers to stripes, geometric shapes, chevrons and in some cases lettering. Plastic bangles and found objects are also sometimes added.
Detail of beading and edge
Over time, mbenge designs were subject to the same change, innovation and fashion driving beading fashions. Bead sizes became larger and in some instances glass was superseded by plastic. In many instances however both were used simultaneously.
Grass used for weaving, was a seasonal crop, subject to various taboos and restrictions but they continue to be made of this material till present time.
However after the 1940s, the gender of those making these items changed from women to men when telephone wire substituted grass for crafting this work. Wire work was an attractive, colourful, inexpensive, practical-to-clean substitute.
detail of wire work.
The advantages and visual possibilities of wirework bowls caught on, and changed their form increasing in scale, to become a commercially viable commodity with an alternate function in the interior decorating and tourist industry.
