The Zulu Culture

The Zulu is one of the ethnic groups in the country of South Africa. They are the largest ethnic group in the country with an estimation population of about three million people only in South Africa. The ethnic group is also found in other southern African countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia. In South Africa, the Zulu people are mostly located in the Natal Province, though, currently they are also found in urban cities, in the country. The Zulu ethnic or tribal group has developed an ancient history, which dates back to the 16th century. It is believed that this ethnic group migrated from the Congo Basin to their current location in the 16th century. Since then, they have incorporated diverse customs of the San, who are their neighbors.

The Zulu adapted the linguistic clicking sounds they found in the region; thus they are known to speak the Kwazulu, which is also known as the Nguni language. The Zulu is an ethnic group that is unique in regard to their cultural activities; their mode of living; their type of art, which is their beadwork and basketry; their beliefs and values; economy system; gender relations and family; political systems; social organization; kinship and social change. All these aspects make the tribal group of South Africa different and unique from the other South African ethnic groups.

During the 17th and 18th centuries many of the most powerful chiefs made treaties and gave control of the Zulu villages to the British. This caused much conflict because the Zulu had strong patriarchal village government systems so they fought against the British but could not win because of the small strength they possessed. Finally, after much of the Zulu area had been given to the British the Zulu people decided as a whole that they didn't want to be under British rule and in 1879 war break out between the British and the Zulu. Though the Zulu succeeded at first they were in 6 months conquered by the British who exiled the Zulu Kings and divided up the Zulu kingdom. In 1906 another Zulu uprising was lead and the Zulu continue to try to gain back what they consider to be their ancient kingdom.

Zulu religion includes belief in a creator God who is above interacting in day-to-day human affairs, 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, 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; the breath or life force; and the "shadow," prestige, or personality. Once the umoya leaves the body, the isithunzi may live on as an ancestral spirit only if certain conditions were met in life. Showing respect and generosity towards others, enhances one's moral standing or prestige in the community. By contrast, acting in a negative way towards others can reduce the isithunzi, and it is possible for the isithunzi to fade away completely. In order to appeal to the spirit world, a diviner must summon the ancestors through divination processes to determine the problem. Then, an herbalist prepares a mixture 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 mixture, which has positive effects, such as healing or the prevention or reversal of misfortune, and black mixture, which can bring illness or death to others, or ill-gotten wealth to the user. Users of the black mixture are considered witches, and shunned by society.

Zulu dancing has a big force on South African dancing. There are also many types of Zulu dancing. The Bull Dance, a dance that imitates a bull by having your arms held high and your legs making a thump on the ground. The girls have their own version of this dance .The Hunting Dance, which imitates hunting and the strength you need for it and use sticks instead of real hinting objects so they don't hurt them-selves. They used to dance this dance before they went out hunting. Women have their own form of the dance and usually do it to welcome the men for coming back from hunting. The Dance of Small Shield is a rhythmic dance to help encourage the military to come together and unite. UmQhogoyo is a dance that moves the upper body. UmBhekuzo represents the retreat of the seas tide. In UmChwayothe dancers also involve singing.

UmGhebulo is a dance that the dancers are pulling down the sky or climbing an imaginary ladder. IliKhomba is an elegant dance that involves a long stick and the movement of the upper body. Isicathamiya which is a style of unaccompanied singing in close harmony performed most by the Zulu group Ladysmith Black Mambazo was developed in the mines. Zulu dance called the indlamu dance is accompanied by drumming and whistiling the men are dressed in full battle regalia of animal skins, head rings, ceremonial belts and ankle rattles, and armed with spears and animal-hide shields. Drums are used for the most festivals. They are made out of stretched skin and earthwaren pots.

Kinship, or blood relation, was an important part in Zulu life. A Zulu father's standing in the society effected his offspring's social, religious, and political life. The only way to inherit property or rank was through your father; also you got relatives who had ties to you mainly through your father. Using extended