Amashuqu shuquka married women’s headdress

Documented in Zulu communities as early as the beginning of the 20th century, amashuqu shuquka (bifurcated horns) or amaphomu (from the English, "pom-pom") refer to a double-lobed headdress worn by married women. Less common than the conical isicholo, also worn by married Zulu women, amaphomu became popular in the Msinga region and adjacent towns in the 1950s and 60s. Like the isicholo, they are made from a basketweave framework covered in cloth and then overlaid with wool fibers (or occasionally human hair). When worn, women might further elaborate the headdress by covering it with a brightly colored cloth and beadwork. This example is notable for the pristine condition of the brushed fibers, and the evenness of their red dye.