Zulu History

Early History

The Zulu Nation of Southern Africa originally broke away from the Nguni group who had been moving south for thousands of years. The Chief of this break away group, Malandela, settled his clan in the heart of the area known today as KwaZulu-Natal.
They became the rulers of KwaZulu-Natal when Shaka was their chief. Shaka was assassinated in 1828 by his half-brothers Dingane, who then became the Zulu chief, and Mhlangana. As he was dying Shaka warned his brothers of the white men who would take away the Zulu land.

Recent History

The apartheid policy caused black nations to be divided into homelands. The Zulu people's homeland was KwaZulu.
After the first democratic elections in 1994 the homelands were dissolved and the province of Natal was renamed KwaZulu-Natal.

Family Structure

• The wife is totally subservient to her husband and has full responsibility for the raising of the children.

• The boys look after the cattle and play at stick fighting which prepares them for when they will enter military service..

• The girls learn household chores including carrying containers of water on their heads. They also work alonside the women in the fields.

• The man attends tribal meetings, makes all the decisions and owns all the family property. His cattle are often more important to him than his wife is.

Language

The Zulu language (isiZulu) is understood by people all over South Africa and even in other African countries such as Zimbabwe.
Approximately 22.4% of the South African population use it as their home language.

Some Vocabulary

• yes - yebo
• no - cha
• please - uxolo
• thank you - ngiyabonga
• excuse me - uxolo
• How are you?- Ninjani?
• Fine thank you.- Ngisaphila.
• good morning- sawubona
• goodbye- sala kahle

Zulu Etiquette

• The greeting: Sawubona (good morning/I see you), reply: Yebo, Sawubona.

• Eye contact is avoided as it is thought to be provocative.

• Walking: Wives always walk behind their husbands.

• Food: First the men are served, then the women followed by the boys and lastly the girls.

• Giving: Only the right hand is used to give something to another. The left hand supports the right elbow to show nothing is hidden.

Lobola

When a man chooses a woman to be his wife, he must pay the woman's father with cattle. This is to compensate the father for the loss of his daughter. Should the marriage not work the father must return some or all of the cattle.

Weddings

Zulu weddings have been well covered in Religious Ceremonies that Mark Rites of Passage

Some Zulu Superstitions

• Tokoloshe: The Tokoloshe is believed to be a very small and evil individual. The Zulu people will raise their beds from the floor using bricks so that the Tokoloshe cannot reach them. At night a knock on the door will not be answered for fear that it is the Tokoloshe.

• Witchcraft: The Zulu people believe that everything happens for a reason and bad happenings are caused by witches. Exposed witches will be put to death as well as their family. The chief will 'inherit' the belongings of the family.

Doctors and Witchdoctors

The Inyanga

The Inyanga is often mistaken for the witchdoctor. He is in fact the tribe's doctor and treats physical disease. The majority of the Zulu people will still travel as far as it is necessary to obtain remedies from an Inyanga.

The Sangoma

The Sangoma protects the tribe against evil spirits and is responsible for finding the cause of bad happenings. Training to become a Sangoma generally takes five to seven years, although in the city the training time is much less.

Conclusion - A Great Nation

Historians have traced the beginnings of the Zulu nation to the late 1600's. They have a rich and bloody history and have a tradition of being great warriors. Many battles were fought, many lives lost, but the Zulu nation has survived.