Back Apron

This is an apron with a forked tail edged all round with two strings of beads. These were worn by little girls of about seven and ten years old. They wear no other garments. After circumcision at the age of ten they wear a long apron at the back to which are attached "Nthale" the long cylindrical metal which is usually of brass or copper beads. The mother makes the little apron for the girl. Once circumcised she makes her own, or the girl asks a young man to make it for her. The man who makes it is given ugali plus ghee as payment. The girl makes this secretly so that her mother doesn't know. If this is impossible she asks another girl to make it for her. The young man pierces the ugali with his finger to make the ghee sprout out. If it is a good make the boy tells the girl she will make the boy tell the girl she will make a good wife, but it was never never necessarily who would marry her.