The Pepetu is a small beaded apron worn by a young Ndebele maiden in South Africa after completing the period of seclusion which constitutes female initiation. It is rectangular shape, deftly beaded, and worn with a thimba, or backskirt. The design expresses the young girl's aspirations toward marriage and her home, and is traditionally made by her mother.The Ndebele are among the smallest tribes in South Africa, but one of the most colorful and distinctive tribes on the entire continent. The women are the practitioners of Ndebele art which represents a rich cultural hertiage. They paint their homes in bright geometric patterns and adorn themselves with intricate beadwork.
