Free African Stencil Collection: Nguni Stencils

Nguni is a term used by historians to refer to speakers of a cluster of languages, which includes the Swazi, Zulu, Ndebele, and Xhosa. The Ndebele, in particular, are well known for their decorative homes, their art, and beautiful beadwork. Geometric shapes and symbolized objects from nature are common to their designs.

"The Bantu symbol-language is not taught to the common people and is mostly reserved for recoding things of a secret, private, or very personal nature. … Apart from witchdoctors and the Elders and the Wise Ones of the tribes, it is mostly women who still employ it.

"The various symbols do not represent single characters; each expresses a whole word or, more often, a complete idea.

"The Ndebele of the Transvaal decorate their dwellings most elaborately with all kinds of prayers, proverbs and occult sayings."

Quote: Zulu sangoma and writer, Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa © 1964.

(Note: These printable stencils are free for personal, non-commercial use only.)