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ZCC Uniform: Male and Female Regalia
Members of the Zion Christian Church are easily recognised by their distinctive uniforms, which differ for men and women and signal a person's role and seniority within the church. The uniforms are worn at services and at the church's major gatherings, including the Easter pilgrimage to Moria.
Male uniform
Men wear different outfits for different occasions. A khaki uniform is associated with the church's vigorous dancing, while a dark bottle-green suit is the most formal attire worn for church services. Officials are distinguished by yellow braiding on the collar and by yellow stripes on the sleeves: accounts describe evangelists wearing one stripe, ministers two stripes and the bishop three. The male choir-dancers (sometimes called the mokhuku) are described as wearing khaki jackets and trousers with shirts, ties and a cap bearing the ZCC star. The military-style cut of the male uniform has been noted by observers and scholars.
Female uniform
Women's regalia also varies by age and role. Accounts describe younger women wearing blue for church services and khaki for choir practice, while older or senior women wear green-and-yellow regalia for services. A common description is a bottle-green skirt worn with a yellow blouse and headscarf, with blue trimmings or ribbons indicating particular status, such as the wives of ministers or women in supervisory roles.
The badge with the uniform
Both male and female members typically wear the church's metal star badge mounted on cloth and pinned over the chest, which identifies them as ZCC members alongside their uniform. The badge is described in more detail on the dedicated badge page.
Described factually and respectfully from documented sources. Corrections welcome.