A few kilometres north of the small town of Middelburg lies the museum village of Botshabelo. It preserves the culture of the Ndebele, who belong to the large group of Nguni peoples. They presumably came around the 15th and 16th century from Natal to live here in a quasi-peaceful co-existence with other Nguni groups. When the Boers settled in the 18th century north of the Vaal River, many Ndebele were employed as farm workers. The cultural heritage became marginalised. Only the communities in the south managed to preserve their traditional ceremonies and still show their identity through the unique colourful decoration of their houses. In their wall painting they abstractly depict items they saw when they first came into contact with white people. For example, they imitate the geometrical shapes of a razor blade or letters of the alphabet. Just as colourful as the wall paintings are the clothes and beaded jewellery of the women. They are a reflection of the family´s social status.