People of South Africa: The Zulu nation

The Zulu tribal group or nation is the largest group of people in South Arica. They are native to the province of Kwazulu-Natal, which lies on the eastern side of the country along the Indian ocean. The Zulu nation is believed to be descendants of the Nguni group that were originally based in the Congo, central Africa. They started migrating south in the 16^th century.

Traditionally they were a nation of warriors and highpoint of their status was during the rain of King Shaka. The ruled from around 1816 to 1828 and he managed to combine several smaller groups into the most feared war machine of the time. He pioneered new tactics and weaponry that made the nation invincible in African tribal terms. He demanded strict discipline from his warriors and was ruthless in punishment if that was not adhered to. At the highpoint of his reign, he managed to have 50000 warriors ready for war at any time.

Shaka and the Zulus were constantly at war against British forces who wanted to occupy their ancestral land. His brother Dingaan became king after having him murdered, but he also had to deal with the Boer people who started to enter the Zulu areas, looking for good farmland. After Shaka’s death, the Zulu nation started to decline in power.

The Zulus were constantly at odds with the Boer farmers, but after the second Boer/Zulu war, they came under strict control from whites. In 1910, the union of South Africa was formed, after the British defeat of the Boers. In 1948 The Boer/Afrikaner nationalist party came to power and the Zulu’s were effectively disenfranchised, together with most other people of color. This was the policy known as apartheid. Like other black nations, the Zulu were forced into a homeland system

In 1994, after the first elections along the “One man one vote” system, the homeland of Kwazulu was integrated into South Africa and the whole province was renamed Kwazulu-Natal.

In Zulu culture a younger person never looks an older person in the eyes when speaking to him. This is considered disrespectful.

Men always remove the hats or headgear when entering any house.

It is custom for anyone who wishes to enter a Zulu homestead to first call out and ask for permission to do so.

In a Zulu household, the husband and father has the final say in all decisions.

Traditional beliefs

The Zulu’s believe in the worship of ancestors. The ancestors are normally contacted by a traditional doctor (Sangoma), who would then get information from the ancestors.

Sick people, even is this modern times, will still see a Sangoma who uses dry bones to check the causes of sickness. He will prepare a traditional medicine (Muthi) for the sickness. These muthi’s are normally made from herbs and animal parts.

If things go wrong in a Zulu’s life, he might also ask a Sangoma to find out the reason for this from his ancestors. Normally, this might then be corrected via a sacrifice of a goat.