South Africa is a land filled with mesmerizing landscapes and romantic tourist destinations. The country has been a welcoming host to foreigners coming from different parts of the world. In the midst of these beautiful and attracting scenes reside the Zulu people. The Zulu people have a rich culture and tradition that endears them to tourists.
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You can enrich your vacation to South Africa with an immersive experience if you learn about the culture of this people. Knowing about the culture of the people of any country one is visiting always helps before arriving in the country. We have listed some of the things that make the Zulu people famous. They are called the “People of the Heavens” and that is also for a reason.
The Warrior Tribe of Kwa-Zulu Natal
In the 19th century, the warrior tribe of Kwa-Zulu Natal were legendary for their military exploits. They had a long drawn-out war against the Britain, and became the soul of the people of South Africa.
They merged with the Bantus to become a large ethnic group in the country. The Zulu people changed the culture and history of South Africa. Today, the people live in the Kwa-Zulu Natal, and parts of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania.
Culture of the Zulu people
The Zulu people exercise authority within their homes. The men are dominant and take care of the family, cattle, and wives. The women take care of their kids, beer making, and the hearth.
The beadwork is an important part of the Zulu’s cultural fabric that is used as a form of symbolism and communication. The people wear beads according to marital status. The Zulu dance signifies the warrior traditions and societal beliefs.
The ingungu drums are an important item of their celebration that is accompanied by chanting and dancing. You find this drum in every traditional celebration and ritual like marriage or womanhood ceremony.
The dance of the Zulu celebrates special moments of the people. Every important event comes with a special dance. The Indlamu is a traditional war dance of two dancers carried out at weddings.
Zulu Traditions
The tradition of the people is an integral fabric of their society. The culture of the people is based on the power of ancestors and spirituality. The Zulus are celebrated throughout the passage of life; from birth, puberty, marriage, and even death.
They have numerous rituals they carry out to pay homage to the soul of their departed. They also do this by invoking the departed’s blessings.
The Zulu Attire
An expression of sustainability and traditionalism of the people can be seen in their attire. The people dress minimally and live a simple lifestyle. The attire of their women signifies their age, eligibility as a girl, and marital status.
For the men, they make use of accessories on their attire to show off their military prowess. Only men who have married wear the warrior headband thereby signifying the importance of marriage.
Zulu Cuisine
The Zulu people mirror their culture and history when you taste their local cuisine. The people have vegetarian food that consists of vegetables and grains, even though they live among wildlife and wilderness.
If you are thinking about coming to South Africa, this information may be important to assist in your movement around the country. With the information provided, you should be ready to have a rich experience in South Africa and of the Zulu people of South Africa.
