The kingdom of Bunjoka stretches from the shore-hugging village of Isiqalo, where fishermen cast lines against the break of dawn, to the inland settlement of Umfuzamo, where sun-dried fields of sorghum frame the thatched homes of farmers. At dawn, the air is earthy with Imphepho smoke, as locals scatter vanilla-scented herbs to welcome the day’s work and offer respect to the spirits of their ancestors.

In Izintaba, perched high among rocky ledges, clusters of grass-roofed huts nestle amid thickets of camphor trees and bush willow. Here, stories of the AmaUloyiko’s legendary hunters are passed down, and the spirits of warriors are said to linger in the scent of wild dreamroot that grows nearby. Amagqirha—the respected diviners—sway in their bead-draped regalia, chanting and swaying amageza veils to summon visions as they speak to those who came before. Each bead in their ornaments is a connection to memory, lineage, and belonging, with intricate colors and patterns revealing clan, age, and history at a glance.

Along the coastline in Lomhlaba, where baobabs twist their gnarled branches into the dry sky, the Amainciniba clan tend cattle in wide pastures. The baobabs are seen as the guardians of the land, their roots stretching deep into stories known only to the elders who gather to recount the feats of past chiefs and warriors.

And in the heart of Bunjoka’s verdant valleys, Mhlabeni lies nestled between rolling hills, its fields alive with the sound of children at play and women grinding maize for the evening’s meal. The people of Mhlabeni believe their valley’s soil holds the strength of a thousand generations, and they weave this pride into the red and white beads they wear.