This week on #tribetuesdays
THE ZULU:
Zulu are a nation of Nguni-speaking people in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. They are a branch of the southern Bantu and have close ethnic linguistic and cultural ties with the Swazi and Xhosa. The Zulu are the single largest ethnic group in South Africa. They originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu migrations over millenia. As the clans integrated together, the rulership of Shaka brought success to the Zulu nation due to his improved military tactics and organisation.
Zulu take pride in their ceremonies such as the Umhlanga/Reed dance and their various forms of beadwork. The art and skill of beadwork takes part in the identification of the Zulu people and acts as a form of communication. 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 belief systems.
