I wanted a maternity outfit that celebrates my culture and tells the authentic story of my roots, as should African Fashion. Pregnancy is a spiritual journey; for me, it was an important time to reflect on my identity, who I am, who I am becoming, where I am coming from, and where I am headed. I made my maternity apron, Ingcayo, predominantly from goat and cow hides. In my culture, the in-laws gift a goat to a pregnant woman, makoti, to honor the pregnancy and the child.
So naturally, the goat hide was the canvas on which I wanted to tell my story.
In old custom, the goat was slaughtered, and the skin was used to make a maternity dress, "ingcayo," an apron to cover the pregnant woman's belly.
After the baby was born, the Ingcayo was repurposed as a baby carrier or a warm blanket. In my case, the same cowhide I used for the maternity outfit was also used to make the baby carrier which I will show soon.
![A maternity outfit that celebrates Zana 'Kay's Zimbabwean Culture](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2716/5502/files/Zana_Kay_maternity_outfit2_600x600.jpg?v=1699641686)
The intricate gold, blue, brown, and black beading tells my story. In Nguni culture, the diamond shape symbolises my marital status (married). The upward-pointing triangle represents masculine elements, revealing I am carrying a male child. The two other cowhide triangles represent the other 2 important male figures in my life. These are also connected with a chain of beads to symbolise their strong relationship.
![A maternity outfit that celebrates Zana 'Kay's Zimbabwean Culture](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2716/5502/files/Zana_Kay_maternity_outfit_600x600.jpg?v=1699640035)
The circle represents Sunrise (to shine). A new beginning. A shining bright light piercing through the dark sky and a bright future. Every mother's vision is for her child to bring light, ukukhanya lezibusiso.
The gold
represents abundance, wealth, and royalty.
![💛](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t6e/1.5/16/1f49b.png)
Black
denotes strength, power, and spirituality.
![🖤](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t59/1.5/16/1f5a4.png)
The blue
represents peace, faithfulness, and fidelity. I have used it to also represent the 'Water Tribe' ... the Lozi people of Barotseland, where my husband , Lewanika, comes from. The Lozi, or Barotse, are a Southern African ethnic group who speak Lozi or Silozi, a Sotho–Tswana language, who settled along the Zambezi flood plains.
![💙](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tc5/1.5/16/1f499.png)
I intricately hand-beaded the goat hide, cowhide, and leather to tell my story as a modern Ndebele woman and honour the beautiful journey of my pregnancy.
Yet still words or symbols cannot fully express this amazing journey and my gratitude to God
All I can sing is... "see what the Lord has done"
![🙏🏽](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t96/1.5/16/1f64f_1f3fd.png)
![✨](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t7b/1.5/16/2728.png)