Dubbed the Rainbow Nation, South Africa has a wide range of beliefs, faiths and traditions, which are reflected in an array of lifestyles led by the many tribes that constitute this nation. Almost every tribe has jealously guarded their age-old traditions and their practices remain untainted by the tumultuous political, social and economic changes of our past.

Ndebele design is strikingly South African

Bright colours and linear, geometric designs are the hallmarks of Ndebele design. The "look" is perhaps most visible in the painted exterior walls of Ndebele homes, but it extends also to the striking beadwork and unique clothing styles and ornamentation which have made their way to international fashion catwalks, and even aircraft: the work of Esther Mahlangu adorns a British Airways plane!

Many visitors to South Africa leave with something in the Ndebele design, be it a bright coiled necklace or a beaded apron to serve as a wallhanging. Few realise, however, that these items are not just about adornment and aesthetics: they have strong cultural significance and express the history, culture and identity of the Ndebele people.

Almost all Ndebele art is produced by people - usually women - who have no formal art or design training. Nor do they use rulers and other instruments to achieve the symmetry, proportion and edges of their perfectly straight-edged paintwork.

Ndebele beadwork can be bought at curio shops and galleries across South Africa, but there are also Ndebele villages open to visitors. One of these is the Botshabelo historical town, 12km west of Middelburg in Mpumalanga province, which was established as a "typical" Ndebele village. Another is the Mapoch Ndebele Village near Pretoria, where the painted homes and magnificent beadwork are major drawcards. The Lesedi Cultural Village near Johannesburg provides a multi-tribe experience, including an Ndebele village.