Zulu Africa, Wood

Gift of Catlin Collection

Ugqokos were used as trays for cooked meat in the Zulu culture. Zulus cooked their meat on fire embers and then would place it on the Ugqoko to be served. Meat was not an everyday staple of the Zulu diet, and was only served on special occasions or during especially plentiful times. Families would gather around the Ugqoko and be served from it by the head of the house. In Zulu society, the head of the house is usually male, as the Zulu society is patriarchal. The decoration on the bowl was to be seen when the bowl was hung on the wall for storage.