Zulu people (; zu, amaZulu) are a
Nguni Nguni may refer to:
*Nguni languages
*Nguni cattle
*Nguni people
*Nguni sheep, which divide into the Zulu sheep, Zulu, Pedi (sheep), Pedi, and Swazi sheep, Swazi types
*Nguni stick-fighting
* Nguni shield
* Nguni homestead
*Nguni (surname)
{{disam ...
ethnic group native to
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...
. The Zulu people are the largest
ethnic group and nation in South Africa, with an estimated 10–12 million people, living mainly in the province of
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
.
They originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu migrations over millennia. As the clans integrated together, the rulership of
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona ( – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that ...
brought success to the Zulu nation due to his improved military tactics and organization.
Zulus take pride in their ceremonies such as the Umhlanga, or Reed Dance, and their various forms of beadwork.
The art and skill of beadwork takes part in the identification of Zulu people and acts as a form of communication and dedication to the tribe and specific traditions. The men and women both serve different purposes in society in order to function as a whole. Today the Zulu people predominantly believe in Christianity, but have created a
syncretic religion that is combined with the Zulu's prior belief systems.
History
Origins
![Map-South Africa-KwaZulu Natal01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Map-South_Africa-KwaZulu_Natal01.png)
The Zulu were originally a major clan in what is today Northern
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
, founded ca. 1574 by
Zulu kaMalandela
Zulu kaMalandela (1627–1709), son of Malandela, was the founder and chief of the Zulu clan.
The Zulu and the Qwabe The Qwabe Kingdom ( zu, amaQwabe) is the senior branch of the House of Malandela, the royal pre-Zulu family, descendant from ...
. In the
Nguni languages
The Nguni languages are a group of closely related Bantu languages spoken in southern Africa by the Nguni peoples. Nguni languages include Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele (sometimes referred to as "Northern Ndebele"), and Swazi. The appellation "Nguni" d ...
, ''iZulu'' means ''heaven'', or weather''.'' At that time, the area was occupied by many large
Nguni Nguni may refer to:
*Nguni languages
*Nguni cattle
*Nguni people
*Nguni sheep, which divide into the Zulu sheep, Zulu, Pedi (sheep), Pedi, and Swazi sheep, Swazi types
*Nguni stick-fighting
* Nguni shield
* Nguni homestead
*Nguni (surname)
{{disam ...
communities and clans (also called the ''isizwe'' people or nation, or called ''isibongo'', referring to their clan or family name). Nguni communities had migrated down Africa's east coast over millennia, as part of the
Bantu migrations
The Bantu expansion is a hypothesis about the history of the major series of migrations of the original Proto-Bantu-speaking group, which spread from an original nucleus around Central Africa across much of sub-Saharan Africa. In the process, ...
. As the nation began to develop, the rulership of Shaka brought the clans together to build a cohesive identity for the Zulu.
Strength of the Zulu Nation
![Utimuni](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Utimuni.png)
The Zulu nation's growth and strength was based on its military organization and skills during Shaka's reign and that of his successors. The military was organized around the ukubuthwa ('to be enrolled') system, which did away with initiation ceremonies for the most part. Each age-set, or group of young men of the same age, was assigned to the same regiment - ibutho singular, amabutho plural - according to the system. Girls were also subject to Ukubuthwa, but they were usually assigned to an age group rather than a regiment. The amabutho were housed in military barracks - ikhanda singular, amakhanda plural - located throughout the kingdom and under the command of a close relative or someone appointed by the king.
The barracks were designed and laid out similarly to an umuzi, but on a much larger scale. Aside from military duties, the izinsizwa 'young men' were also responsible for the repair and maintenance of their barracks.
Kingdom
![KingShaka](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/KingShaka.jpg)
The Zulu formed a powerful state in 1816 under the leader
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona ( – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that ...
. Shaka, as the Zulu commander of the
Mthethwa Empire
The Mthethwa Paramountcy, sometimes referred to as the ''Mtetwa'' or Mthethwa Empire, was a Southern African state that arose in the 18th century south of Delagoa Bay and inland in eastern southern Africa. "Mthethwa" means "the one who rules".
...
and successor to
Dingiswayo
Dingiswayo () (c. 1780 – 1817) (born Godongwana) was a Mthethwa king, well known for his mentorship over a young Zulu general, Shaka Zulu, who rose to become the greatest of the Zulu Kings. His father was the Mthethwa king, Jobe kaKayi. I ...
, united what was once a confederation of tribes into an imposing empire under Zulu
hegemony
Hegemony (, , ) is the political, economic, and military predominance of one State (polity), state over other states. In Ancient Greece (8th BC – AD 6th ), hegemony denoted the politico-military dominance of the ''hegemon'' city-state over oth ...
. Shaka built a militarised system known as
Impi
is a Zulu word meaning war or combat and by association any body of men gathered for war, for example is a term denoting an army. were formed from regiments () from (large militarised homesteads). In English is often used to refer to a ...
featuring conscription, a standing army, new weaponry, regimentation, and encirclement battle tactics. Zulu expansion was a major factor of the
Mfecane
The Mfecane (isiZulu, Zulu pronunciation: ̩fɛˈkǀaːne, also known by the Sesotho names Difaqane or Lifaqane (all meaning "crushing, scattering, forced dispersal, forced migration") is a historical period of heightened military conflict a ...
("Crushing") that depopulated large areas of southern Africa. It is during this period when Shaka deployed an army regiment for raiding tribes on the North. The regiment which was under Mzilikazi disobeyed Shaka and crafted a plan to continue raiding up-North forming another dialect of Zulu language referred to as Northern Ndebele (Now in Zimbabwe).
Conflict with the British
In mid-December 1878, envoys of the British crown delivered an ultimatum to 11 chiefs representing the then-current king of the Zulu empire,
Cetshwayo
King Cetshwayo kaMpande (; ; 1826 – 8 February 1884) was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1873 to 1879 and its Commander in Chief during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. His name has been transliterated as Cetawayo, Cetewayo, Cetywajo and Ketchw ...
. Under the British terms delivered to the Zulu,
Cetshwayo
King Cetshwayo kaMpande (; ; 1826 – 8 February 1884) was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1873 to 1879 and its Commander in Chief during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. His name has been transliterated as Cetawayo, Cetewayo, Cetywajo and Ketchw ...
would have been required to disband his army and accept British sovereignty. Cetshwayo refused, and war between the Zulus and African contingents of the British crown began on January 12, 1879. Despite an early victory for the Zulus at the
Battle of Isandlwana
The Battle of Isandlwana (alternative spelling: Isandhlwana) on 22 January 1879 was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Eleven days after the British commenced their invasion of Zulul ...
on the 22nd of January, the British fought back and won the
Battle at Rorke's Drift
The Battle of Rorke's Drift (1879), also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission (station), mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants ...
, and decisively defeated the Zulu army by July at the
Battle of Ulundi.
Absorption into Natal
![ZuluWarriors adj](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/ZuluWarriors_adj.jpg)
After Cetshwayo's capture a month following his defeat, the British divided the Zulu Empire into 13 "kinglets". The sub-kingdoms fought amongst each other until 1883 when Cetshwayo was reinstated as king over
Zululand. This still did not stop the fighting and the Zulu monarch was forced to flee his realm by
Zibhebhu
Zibhebhu kaMaphitha Zulu (1841–1904) (also called Usibepu/Ziphewu) was a Zulu chief. After the defeat of the Zulu Kingdom by the British, he attempted to create his own independent kingdom. From 1883 to 1884, he fought the Zulu king Cetshwayo, ...
, one of the 13 kinglets, supported by Boer mercenaries. Cetshwayo died by heart attack in February 1884, leaving his son, the 15-year-old
Dinuzulu
Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo (1868 – 18 October 1913, commonly misspelled Dinizulu) was the king of the Zulu nation from 20 May 1884 until his death in 1913.
He succeeded his father Cetshwayo, who was the last king of the Zulus to be officially reco ...
, to inherit the throne. In-fighting between the Zulu continued for years, until in 1897 Zululand was absorbed fully into the British
colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on 4 May 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to ...
.
Apartheid years
KwaZulu homeland
![Zuludänzer](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Zulud%C3%A4nzer.jpg)
Under
apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...
, the
homeland
A homeland is a place where a cultural, national, or racial identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethni ...
of
KwaZulu
KwaZulu was a semi-independent bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government as a homeland for the Zulu people. The capital was moved from Nongoma to Ulundi in 1980.
It was led until its abolition in 1994 by Chief Mangosuth ...
(''Kwa'' meaning ''place of'') was created for Zulu people. In 1970, the Bantu Homeland Citizenship Act provided that all Zulus would become citizens of KwaZulu, losing their South African citizenship. KwaZulu consisted of many disconnected pieces of land, in what is now
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
. Hundreds of thousands of Zulu people living on privately owned "black spots" outside of KwaZulu were dispossessed and forcibly moved to
bantustan
A Bantustan (also known as Bantu homeland, black homeland, black state or simply homeland; ) was a territory that the National Party administration of South Africa set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa (now N ...
s – worse land previously reserved for whites contiguous to existing areas of KwaZulu. By 1993, approximately 5.2 million Zulu people lived in KwaZulu, and approximately 2 million lived in the rest of South Africa. The
Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...
of KwaZulu, from its creation in 1970 (as Zululand) was Chief
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi (born 27 August 1928) is a South African politician and Zulu traditional leader who is currently a Member of Parliament and the traditional prime minister to the Zulu royal family. He was Chief Minister of the ...
. In 1994, KwaZulu was joined with the province of Natal, to form the modern KwaZulu-Natal.
''Inkatha YeSizwe''
''Inkatha YeSizwe'' means "the crown of the nation". In 1975, Buthelezi revived the Inkatha YaKwaZulu, predecessor of the
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party ( zu, IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko, IFP) is a right-wing political party in South Africa. The party has been led by Velenkosini Hlabisa since the party's 2019 National General Conference. Mangosuthu Buthelezi founded t ...
. This organization was nominally a protest movement against Apartheid, but held more conservative views than the
ANC
The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...
. For example, Inkatha was opposed to the armed struggle, and to sanctions against South Africa. Inkatha was initially on good terms with the ANC, but the two organizations came into increasing conflict beginning in 1976 in the aftermath of the
Soweto Uprising.
Language
![South Africa 2011 Zulu speakers proportion map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/South_Africa_2011_Zulu_speakers_proportion_map.svg)
The language of the Zulu people is "isiZulu", a
Bantu language
The Bantu languages (English: , Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀) are a large family of languages spoken by the Bantu people of Central, Southern, Eastern africa and Southeast Africa. They form the largest branch of the Southern Bantoid languages.
The t ...
; more specifically, part of the
Nguni Nguni may refer to:
*Nguni languages
*Nguni cattle
*Nguni people
*Nguni sheep, which divide into the Zulu sheep, Zulu, Pedi (sheep), Pedi, and Swazi sheep, Swazi types
*Nguni stick-fighting
* Nguni shield
* Nguni homestead
*Nguni (surname)
{{disam ...
subgroup. Zulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa, where it is an
official language
An official language is a language given supreme status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically the term "official language" does not refer to the language used by a people or country, but by its government (e.g. judiciary, ...
. More than half of the South African population are able to understand it, with over 9 million first-language and over 15 million second-language speakers. Many Zulu people also speak
Xitsonga
Tsonga () or Xitsonga ( ''Xitsonga'') as an endonym, is a Bantu language spoken by the Tsonga people of southern Africa. It is mutually intelligible with Tswa and Ronga and the name "Tsonga" is often used as a cover term for all three, als ...
,
Sesotho
Sotho () or Sesotho () or Southern Sotho is a Southern Bantu language of the Sotho–Tswana ("S.30") group, spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, where it is the national and official language; South Africa (particularly the Free Sta ...
and others from among
South Africa's 11 official languages.
Ceremony
Umhlanga
The Zulu people celebrate an annual event that was established in 1984 called the Umhlanga or Reed Dance. This event takes place at the royal capital near Nongoma.
This traditional ceremony is performed by young women from all parts of the kingdom to perform in front of the monarch and his guests.
The purpose of this event is to promote pride in virginity and to restrain sexual relationships.
Beadwork is a prominent attire that is worn at the Umhlanga. The beadwork is not only worn by the dancers, but by the guests as well. The Umhlanga is not purely for a time of dance. The King also uses this time to speak to the young men and women of the nation. The King discusses current political issues.
Beadwork
History
The creation of beadwork dates back to the times of war for the Zulu people. This particular form of beadwork were known as ''iziqu'', medallions of war.
Often worn as a necklace, the beads were displayed in a criss-cross formation across the shoulders. This assemblage of beads by the warriors represented a symbol of bravery.
Before the use of glass was apparent to the Zulu, beadwork derived from wood, seeds and berries.
It was not until the arrival of Europeans that glass became a trade material with the Portuguese, which soon became abundantly available to the Zulu.
Purpose
Beadwork is a form of communication for the Zulu people. Typically when one is wearing multiple beads, it is a sign of wealth. The more beads one is wearing, the wealthier they are perceived.
The beads have the potential to convey information about a person's age, gender and marital status. The design of the beads often conveys a particular message. However, one must know the context of their use in order to read the message correctly.
Depending on the area in which the beadwork was made, some designs can depict different messages compared to other areas. A message could be embedded into the colors and structure of the beads or could be strictly for decorative purposes.
Beadwork can be worn in everyday use, but is often worn during important occasions such as weddings, or ceremonies. For example, beadwork is featured during the coming of age for a young girl or worn during dances.
The beaded elements complement the costumes worn by the Zulu people to bring out a sense of finery or prestige.
Apparel
Beadwork is worn by all men, women, and children at any age. Depending on which stage of life an individual is in, the beadwork indicates different meanings. Beadwork is dominantly worn when young Zulu people are courting or in search for love affairs.
The wearing of decorative beadwork can act as an attempt to grab the attention of someone of the opposite sex.
Also, the gifting of beadwork is a way of communicating interest with lovers.
During the transition from single to married women, beadwork is shown through a beaded cloth apron worn over a pleated leather skirt.
As for older or mature women, beadwork is displayed in detailed headdresses and cowhide skirts that extend past the knee. These long skirts are also seen on unmarried women and young marriageable-age girls.
Men are more conservative when wearing beadwork.
However, when a young boy is seen wearing multiple necklaces, it is a sign that he is highly interested by these gifts from various girls. The more gifts he is wearing, the higher prestige he obtains.
Colors of beads
Various forms of beadwork are found in different color schemes. Typically, there are four different types of color schemes:
* ''Isisshunka'' – white, light blue, dark green, pale yellow, pink, red, black. This color scheme is believed to have no specific meaning.
[Preston-Whyte, Eleanor (1994). ''Speaking with Beads''. New York, New York: Thames and Hudson. pp. 1–96. ]
* ''Isithembu'' – light blue, grass green, bright yellow, red, black. This color scheme derives from clans or clan areas.
* ''Umzansi'' – white, dark blue, grass green, red. This color scheme also derives from clans or clan areas.
* ''Isinyolovane'' – combination of any colors not consistent with other color schemes. This color scheme is often related to connotations of perfection and charm.
The colors of beads might hold different meanings based on the area that they originated from. It is often at times that this can lead to misrepresentation or confusion when attempting to understand what the beadwork is communicating. One cannot assume that the color system is standard across South Africa. In some areas, the color green symbolizes jealousy in a certain area, but in another area it symbolizes grass.
One must know the origin of the beadwork in order to interpret the message correctly.
Clothing
![iQhugwane-binneruimte in die Mtonjaneni-museum](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/IQhugwane-binneruimte_in_die_Mtonjaneni-museum.jpg)
Zulus wear a variety of attire, both traditional for ceremonial or culturally celebratory occasions, and modern westernized clothing for everyday use. The women dress differently depending on whether they are single, engaged, or married.
The men wore a leather belt with two strips of hide hanging down front and back.
In South Africa, the miniskirt has existed since pre-colonial times. In the African cultures, such as the Basotho, the Batswana, the Bapedi, the Amaswati and the AmaZulu, women wore traditional miniskirts as cultural attire.
These skirts are not seen as shameless but used to cover the women's genitals. The skirts are called isigcebhezana and are essential in Zulu ceremonies. For example,
Umemulo
''Umemulo'' is a traditional Zulu people, Zulu coming of age ceremony for women. This ritual is usually done for females at the age of 21, but it can be done at any stage of a woman’s life, it varies and depends on circumstances. The rituals invo ...
is a ceremony for women who turn 21 years of age.
It represents a huge transition in the woman's life because it is a symbol of her being ready to accept a boyfriend and even get married. Additionally, each stage of a Zulu's life is determined by a specific type of clothing. For an unmarried woman, she wears the skirt and nothing on the top, but as she grows up, the woman starts to cover up her body because a time will come in which she will be a married woman and an old woman. Nonetheless, a special type of clothing is reserved to pregnant women. When a woman is pregnant she wears a
‘isibamba, a thick belt made from dried grass, covered with glass or plastic beadwork, to support her swelling stomach and its additional weight.
Societal roles
Men
The Zulu people govern under a patriarchal society.
Men are perceived as the head of the household and seen as authoritative figures. Zulu men identify themselves with great pride and dignity. They also compare themselves to qualities of powerful wild animals such as bulls, lions and elephants.
The men contribute to society by acting as defenders, hunters, and lovers.
The Zulu men are also in charge of herding the cattle, educating themselves on the lives of disciplined warriors, creating weapons, and learning the art of stick fighting.
Stick fighting
The art of stick fighting is a celebration of manhood for Zulu men. These men can begin to learn this fighting art form as young as the age of five years old.
There are multiple reasons why men learn how to stick fight. For example, men may want to learn so that they can set right any wrongs or insults made towards them.
Other reasons some men choose to learn are for sporting purposes, proving skills or manliness, and self-defense.
The goal of stick fighting is to injure the opponent and sometimes even kill.
There are rules of etiquette that must be abided by when stick fighting. The men can only fight a man the same age as them. One cannot hit the opponent when they lose their stick. Only sticks are allowed when fighting.
Women
The women in Zulu society often perform domestic chores such as cleaning, raising children, collecting water and firewood, laundry, tending to crops, cooking, and making clothes.
Women can be considered as the sole income-earner of the household. A woman's stages of life lead up to the goal of marriage. As a woman approaches puberty, she is known as a ''tshitshi''. A ''tshitshi'' reveals her singleness by wearing less clothing. Single women typically do not wear clothing to cover their head, breasts, legs and shoulders.
Engaged women wear hairnets to show their marital status to society and married women cover themselves in clothing and headdresses.
Also, women are taught to defer to men and treat them with great respect. The women are always bound by a male figure.
Religion and beliefs
![AAC Worshippers](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/AAC_Worshippers.jpg)
Most Zulu people state their beliefs to be
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
. Some of the most common churches to which they belong are
African Initiated Church
An African-initiated church (AIC) is a Christian church independently started in Africa by Africans rather than chiefly by missionaries from another continent.
Nomenclature
A variety of overlapping terms exist for these forms of Christianity: Af ...
es, especially the
Zion Christian Church
The Zion Christian Church (ZCC) is one of the largest African-initiated churches operating across Southern Africa, and is part of the African Zionism movement. The church's headquarters are at Zion City Moria in Limpopo Province (old Northern ...
,
Nazareth Baptist Church
The Nazareth Baptist Church (Alternatively called "The Nazarite Church" "iBandla lamaNazaretha") is the second largest, African initiated church based in South Africa, founded in 1910.
It reveres Shembe as a prophet sent by God to restore the t ...
and
United African Apostolic Church
The United African Apostolic Church is a South African church. Its headquarters is situated in Ha-Mavhunga, a village in the Nzhelele Valley in the province of Limpopo. It is a Pentecostal church that has developed from Pentecostal missionary orig ...
, although membership of major European Churches, such as the
Dutch Reformed
The Dutch Reformed Church (, abbreviated NHK) was the largest Christian denomination in the Netherlands from the onset of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century until 1930. It was the original denomination of the Dutch Royal Family an ...
,
Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
and
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
Churches are also common. Nevertheless, many Zulus retain their traditional pre-Christian belief system of ancestor worship in parallel with their Christianity.
Traditional Zulu religion includes belief in a creator God (''uNkulunkulu'') who is above interacting in day-to-day human life, although this belief appears to have originated from efforts by early Christian missionaries to frame the idea of the Christian God in Zulu terms. Traditionally, the more strongly held Zulu belief was in ancestor spirits (''amaThongo'' or ''amaDlozi''), who had the power to intervene in people's lives, for good or ill. This belief continues to be widespread among the modern Zulu population.
Traditionally, the Zulu recognize several elements to be present in a human being: the physical body (''inyama yomzimba'' or ''umzimba''); the breath or life force (''umoya womphefumulo'' or ''umoya''); and the "shadow," prestige, or personality (''isithunzi''). Once the ''umoya'' leaves the body, the ''isithunzi'' may live on as an ancestral spirit (''idlozi'') only if certain conditions were met in life.
Behaving with
ubuntu
Ubuntu ( ) is a Linux distribution based on Debian and composed mostly of free and open-source software. Ubuntu is officially released in three editions: ''Desktop'', ''Server'', and ''Core'' for Internet of things devices and robots. All the ...
, or showing respect and generosity towards others, enhances one's moral standing or prestige in the community, one's ''isithunzi''.
By contrast, acting in a negative way towards others can reduce the ''isithunzi'', and it is possible for the ''isithunzi'' to fade away completely.
![Sangomas-greeting](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Sangomas-greeting.jpg)
In order to appeal to the spirit world, a diviner (''
sangoma'') must
invoke the ancestors through divination processes to determine the problem. Then, a herbalist (''
inyanga
Traditional healers of Southern Africa are practitioners of traditional African medicine in Southern Africa. They fulfill different social and political roles in the community, including divination, healing physical, emotional and spiritual ...
'') prepares a mixture (''
muthi
Muthi is a traditional medicine practice in Southern Africa as far north as Lake Tanganyika.
Name
In South African English, the word ''muti'' is derived from the Zulu/Xhosa/ Northern Ndebele ''umuthi'', meaning 'tree', whose root is ''-thi' ...
'') to be consumed in order to influence the ancestors. As such, diviners and herbalists play an important part in the daily lives of the Zulu people. However, a distinction is made between white ''muthi'' (''umuthi omhlope''), which has positive effects, such as healing or the prevention or reversal of misfortune, and black ''muthi'' (''umuthi omnyama''), which can bring illness or death to others, or ill-gotten wealth to the user.
Users of black ''muthi'' are considered witches, and shunned by the society.
Christianity had difficulty gaining a foothold among the Zulu people, and when it did it was in a
syncretic
Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thu ...
fashion.
Isaiah Shembe
Isaiah Mloyiswa Mdliwamafa Shembe (c. 1865John Langalibalele Dube (1936) ''uShembe'' (Pietermaritzburg: Shuter & Shooter Publishers Pty Ltd) – 2 May 1935), was the founder of the Ibandla lamaNazaretha, South Africa, which was the largest Af ...
, considered the Zulu
Messiah
In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; ,
; ,
; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...
, presented a form of Christianity (the
Nazareth Baptist Church
The Nazareth Baptist Church (Alternatively called "The Nazarite Church" "iBandla lamaNazaretha") is the second largest, African initiated church based in South Africa, founded in 1910.
It reveres Shembe as a prophet sent by God to restore the t ...
) which incorporated traditional customs.
Furthermore, Zulu people also practice a ceremony called
Ukweshwama. The killing of the bull is part of Ukweshwama, an annual ceremony that celebrates a new harvest. It is a day of prayer when Zulus thank their creator and their ancestors. By tradition, a new regiment of young warriors is asked to confront a bull to prove its courage, inheriting the beast's strength as it expires. It is believed this power then transfers to the Zulu king.
Bride wealth
Zulu people have a system called '. This term is particularly used by Zulu people when it comes to bride wealth. Every African ethnic group has different requirements when it comes to
bride wealth
Bride price, bride-dowry (Mahr in Islam), bride-wealth, or bride token, is money, property, or other form of wealth paid by a groom or his family to the woman or the family of the woman he will be married to or is just about to marry. Bride dow ...
. In pre-capitalist Zulu society, ilobolo was inextricably linked to the ownership of cattle.
During that time, there was not a fixed number of cattle required for the wedding to happen; it could be paid before the marriage or during the marriage. The groom takes the cattle from his father's herd in order to perpetuate the family heritage. Nonetheless, this ritual has changed during colonization because in 1869,
Theophilus Shepstone
Theophilus Shepstone
Sir Theophilus Shepstone (8 January 181723 June 1893) was a British South African statesman who was responsible for the annexation of the Transvaal to Britain in 1877.
Early life
Theophilus Shepstone was born at Westbury-o ...
, then
Natal Secretary for Native Affairs, formalized the ilobolo payment to 10 cattle for commoners (plus the ingquthu cow for the mother), 15 for hereditary chief siblings and 20-plus for the daughters of a chief.
They found it too lenient to let the groom give whatever amount he wants, so they decided to establish a specific number of cattle that would be needed before or at the start of the marriage. This has been accepted by Zulu men who were educated in mission schools, but according to more ritual people this became “untraditional”. Additionally, with the instauration of the Natal Code, some Zulu men decided to settle another way in which they could decrease the ilobo: offer a token payment or bring a present for the father of the prospective bride in order to decrease the ''ilobolo'' amount to be paid.
The payment of ''ilobolo'' can be difficult for some families, but as it is often considered a symbol of pride and respect, many are willing to maintain this tradition as long as possible.
![Zulu Dance-S](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Zulu_Dance-S._Africa.jpg)
Notable Zulus
In popular culture
;Films
* ''
Zulu'',
Cy Endfield
Cyril Raker Endfield (November 10, 1914 – April 16, 1995) was an American screenwriter, director, author, magician and inventor. Having been named as a Communist at a House Un-American Activities Committee hearing and subsequently blacklisted ...
(1964)
* ''
Zulu Dawn
''Zulu Dawn'' is a 1979 American adventure war film about the historical Battle of Isandlwana between British and Zulu forces in 1879 in South Africa. The screenplay was by Cy Endfield, from his book, and Anthony Storey. The film was directed ...
'',
Douglas Hickox
Douglas Arthur Hickox (10 January 1929 – 25 July 1988) was an English film director, film and television director. Biography
Hickox was born in London, where he was educated at Emanuel School. He started in the film industry at age 17, working ...
(1979)
* ''Ubuhle Bembali'', Emmanuelle Bidou, Centre national de la cinématographie, Paris, 2002
* ''Amours zoulous'', Emmanuelle Bidou, 2004
* ''
Shaka Zulu
Shaka kaSenzangakhona ( – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that ...
'',
Joshua Sinclair
Joshua Sinclair (born May 7, 1953) is an American writer, producer, actor and director born in New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populou ...
,
South African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations ( AM/ FM) as well as six television broadcasts to the general public. It is one of the largest of South Africa's state ...
, SABC, 1986
* A Zulu Christmas, (2020)
;Novels
*''
When the Lion Feeds
''When the Lion Feeds'' (1964) is the debut novel of Rhodesian writer Wilbur Smith. It introduces the Courtney family, whose adventures Smith would tell in many subsequent novels. In 2012, Smith said the novel remained his favourite because i ...
'',
Wilbur Smith
Wilbur Addison Smith (9 January 1933 – 13 November 2021) was a Zambian-born British-South African novelist specialising in historical fiction about international involvement in Southern Africa across four centuries, seen from the viewpoints ...
, 1964
*''
The Covenant'',
James A. Michener, 1980
*''Zulu'', Caryl Férey,
Gallimard, 2008
;Video games
*''
Sid Meier's Civilization
''Sid Meier's Civilization'' is a 1991 turn-based strategy 4X video game developed and published by MicroProse. The game was originally developed for MS-DOS running on a PC, and has undergone numerous revisions for various platforms. The pl ...
''
See also
*
Battle of Blood River
The Battle of Blood River (16 December 1838) was fought on the bank of the Ncome River, in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between 464 Voortrekkers ("Pioneers"), led by Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Zulu. Est ...
*
Gumboot dance
The gumboot dance (or Isicathulo) is a South African dance that is performed by dancers wearing wellington boots. In South Africa these are more commonly called ''gumboots''.
The boots may be embellished with bells, so that they ring as the dance ...
*
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party ( zu, IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko, IFP) is a right-wing political party in South Africa. The party has been led by Velenkosini Hlabisa since the party's 2019 National General Conference. Mangosuthu Buthelezi founded t ...
*
List of Zulu kings
This article lists the Zulu monarchs, including chieftains and kings of the Zulu royal family from their earliest known history up to the present time.
Pre-Zulu
The Zulu King lineage stretches to as far as Luzumana, who is believed to have l ...
*
Nguni Nguni may refer to:
*Nguni languages
*Nguni cattle
*Nguni people
*Nguni sheep, which divide into the Zulu sheep, Zulu, Pedi (sheep), Pedi, and Swazi sheep, Swazi types
*Nguni stick-fighting
* Nguni shield
* Nguni homestead
*Nguni (surname)
{{disam ...
*
Shaka Zulu
Shaka kaSenzangakhona ( – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that ...
*
Ukusoma
Ukusoma is the Zulu people, Zulu term for monoamorous simulated intercourse (outercourse). It is a common practise amongst the Zulu for preparation for future adulthood sexual practises.
External linksZulu - Growing up sexually
Zulu culture
Z ...
*
Zulu language
Zulu (), or isiZulu as an endonym, is a Southern Bantu language of the Nguni branch spoken in Southern Africa. It is the language of the Zulu people, with about 12 million native speakers, who primarily inhabit the province of KwaZulu-Natal o ...
References
Further reading
* Nathaniel Isaacs, ''Travels and adventures in eastern Africa, descriptive of the Zoolus, their manners, customs, etc. etc. : with a sketch of Natal'', Edward Churton, Londres, 1836, 2 vol.
* Adulphe Delegorgue, ''Voyage dans l'Afrique Australe : notamment dans le territoire de Natal dans celui des Cafres Amazoulous et Makatisses et jusqu'au tropique du Capricorne, exécuté durant les années 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843 & 1844'', A. René, 1847, 2 vol.
* Henry Callaway (R. P.), ''The religious system of the Amazulu : izinyanga zokubula, or, divination, as existing among the Amazulu, in their own words'', J.A. Blair, Springvale (Natal), 1870, 448 p. (rééd. ultérieures)
* Canonici, Noverino Noemio. ''Tricksters and trickery in Zulu folktales.'' Kwazulu-Natal University: PhD diss., 1995.
* Canonici, Noverino. "The trickster in Zulu folktales." ''Alternation'' 1, no. 1 (1994): 43–56.
* David Leslie, ''Among the Zulus and Amatongas : with sketches of the natives, their language and customs; and the country, products, climate, wild animals, &c. being principally contributions to magazines and newspapers'', Wm. Gilchrist, Glasgow, 1875, 436 p.
* James Anson Farrer, ''Zululand and the Zulus : their history, beliefs, customs, military system, home life, legends, etc., etc., and missions to them'', Kerby & Endean, Londres, 1879, 151 p.
* Paul Deléage, ''Trois mois chez les Zoulous et les derniers jours du Prince impérial'', E. Dentu, 1879, 370 p.
* Bénédict Henry Révoil, ''Les zoulous et les cafres : mœurs, coutumes, guerre avec les Anglais, etc.'', Librairie de J. Lefort, Lille, 1880, 196 p.
* Walter Robert Ludlow, ''Zululand and Cetewayo : containing an account of Zulu customs, manners, and habits, after a short residence in their kraals, with portrait of Cetewayo, and 28 illustrations from original drawings'', Simpkin, Marshall, and Co, Londres, 1882, 219 p.
* Émile de La Bédollière, ''Au pays des Zoulous et des cafres'', Barbou, Limoges, 1882, 88 p.
* Josiah Tyler (Rev.), ''Forty years among the Zulus'', Congregational Sunday-school and publishing society, Boston, Chicago, 1891, 300 p.
* Donald R. Morris, ''The washing of the spears : a history of the rise of the Zulu nation under Shaka and its fall in the Zulu War of 1879'', Simon & Schuster, New York, 1971, 1965, 655 p.
*
Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa
Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa (21 July 1921 – 25 March 2020) was a Zulu sangoma (traditional healer) from South Africa. He was known as an author of books that draw upon African mythology, traditional Zulu folklore, extraterrestrial encounters ...
, ''Zulu shaman : dreams, prophecies, and mysteries'', Destiny Books, Rochester (Vt), 2003 (éd. 1996 : ''Song of the Stars''), 224 p.
* Jonathan Sutherland et Diane Canwell, ''The Zulu kings and their armies'', Pen & Sword Military, Barnsley (South Yorkshire, England), 2004, 198 p.
* Alex Zaloumis, ''Zulu tribal art'', AmaZulu Publishers, Le Cap, 2000, 301 p.
* Véronique Faure, ''Ethnicité et stratégies nationalistes : les Zoulous et l'Inkatha'', Université de Bordeaux 4, 1996, 2 vol., 712 p.
* Philippe Gervais-Lambony, ''L'Afrique du Sud et les États voisins'', Paris, Masson & Armand Colin Éditeurs, 1997, 253 p.
* François Lafargue, ''Les Zoulous en Afrique du Sud : Éveil d'un pays, réveil d'une ethnie'', Centre de recherches et d'analyses géopolitiques, 1996, 708 p.
*
Tidiane N'Diaye, ''L'Empire de Chaka Zoulou'', L'Harmattan, Paris (Collection Études africaines) 2002, 250 p.
* Tidiane N'Diaye, ''L'Éclipse des Dieux'', Éditions du Rocher, Paris 2004, 317 p.
* Sylvain Guyot, ''Rivages zoulous : l'environnement au service du politique en Afrique du Sud'', Karthala, 2006, 250 p.
* John Mack, ''Les Zoulous'', Granger frères, 1981, 48 p.
* Jean Sévry, ''Chaka, empereur des Zoulous : histoire, mythes et légendes'', L'Harmattan, 1991, 251 p.
*
Ian Knight, ''Zulu Rising: The Epic Story of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift'', Macmillan Edition, 2010
Novels
* Walton Golightly, ''The People of the Sky'', Quercus, 2013
* Philippe Morvan, ''Les fils du ciel'' (''The sons of the sky''),
Calmann-Lévy, 2021
External links
*
History section of the official page for the Zululand region Zululand.kzn.org
Izithakazelo wakahina.co.za
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zulu people
Ethnic groups in South Africa