Zulu Culture and Heritage
The word zulu means ‘heaven’ or ‘sky’. The Zulu people, amaZulu, are ‘the people of heaven’ and their home, KwaZulu, nestled within the forests of tall euphorbia trees that represent their worthy chieftaincy, is ‘the place of heaven’.
Part of the ancient Nguni people, the amaZulu are descendants of Iron Age farmers who left the great lakes region of Central Africa and migrated down Africa’s east coast to make a home in what is now South Africa – where they gathered into small tribes and clans called imzi.
Within the Nguni nations, the clan – based on male ancestry – forms the highest social unit. Each clan is led by a chieftain, the power of whom often depends on how well he can hold his clan together.
Shaka
Shaka Zulu – warrior, statesman and king – is widely credited with transforming the Zulu tribe from a small clan into the beginnings of a nation that held sway over that portion of Southern Africa between the Phongolo and Mzimkhulu rivers.
Shaka’s military prowess has been widely credited. With hegemony primarily based on military might, innovation, smashing rivals and incorporating scattered remnants into his own army, Shaka also demonstrated diplomacy and patronage.
The Battle
Shaka’s government depended on his ability to maintain control of the amabutho (‘age group’ regiments), each of which numbered a few hundred to a few thousand men and was commanded by a respected induna, or royal official.
His strategies were so refined and Zulu military ability so impressive that, only 63 years later, the Zulu army was able to hold off the might of the British Empire for a full six months and then defeat it soundly at the Battle of Isandlwana.
Weapons
Shaka is often credited with introducing a new variant of the hunting spear, the iklwa – a short stabbing spear with a long, sword-like spearhead. It was named, allegedly, for the sound made as it entered and exited the body.
Shaka is also said to have introduced a larger, heavier shield made of cowhide and to have taught each warrior how to use the shield's left side to hook the enemy's shield to the right, exposing his ribs for a fatal spear stab.
The Formation
Most historians credit Shaka with the development of the famous ‘buffalo horns’ military formation, composed of three elements:
- The ‘horns’ or flanking right and left wing elements, made up of younger, quicker-moving troops who encircle and pin the enemy;
- The ‘chest’ or central main force of prime fighters, who collectively deliver the military coup de grace; and
- The ‘loins’ or reserves, made up of war veterans who are used to exploit success or reinforce elsewhere.
Coordination is supplied by regimental indunas using hand signals and messengers. This scheme is elegant in its simplicity and well understood by the warriors assigned to each echelon.
The Hunt
Traditional Zulus are primarily cattle-keepers and farmers, but they also hunt and gather wild foods – using animal skins for clothing and utensils, sinews for thread, ivory for trade and organs for magic.
Hunts are treated like military expeditions in which lion and elephant, as well as other big game, are hunted with spears, shields and knobkerries and trapped with snares, deep straight-sided pits and fences.
Later, the hearts and eyes of lion and elephant are eaten to overcome fear or nervousness.
The Village
The Zulu village is a great circle, made up of a spherical homestead, umuzi, which is a cluster of beehive-shaped huts arranged around a cattle kraal, isibaya. Each homestead is a self-contained economic and legal unit with its own cattle and crops, ruled by the umnumzana or homestead head.
Cattle are an integral part of the spiritual, social and aesthetic lives of the Zulu people, and are named accordingly – after birds, animals, plants, fruit, stones, sand, food or natural phenomena. What is fascinating is that cattle are killed for food only with great reluctance.
Zulu Music
Among the Zulu people music is highly regarded, enabling the communication of emotions and situations which cannot be explained by talking.
Zulu music incorporates rhythm, melody and harmony. The latter is usually dominant and is known as isigubudu (converging horns on a beast, with tips touching the animal), a ‘spiralling inward’ that reflects inner feelings.
Zulu Mythology
Zulu mythology contains numerous deities, all of whom are commonly associated with animals or general classes of natural phenomena.
Unkulunkulu is the highest god; the creator of humanity. He was created in Uhlanga, a huge swamp of reeds, before he came to earth, and is also called the Sky Father, Umvelinqangi, or ‘He who was in the very beginning’.
Other deities include Mamlambo, goddess of rivers, and Nokhubulwane, sometimes called the Zulu Demeter, who is the goddess of the rainbow, agriculture, rain and beer (which she invented).
Uhlakanyana is an evil, dwarf-like being; Intulo is a lizard. Unwabu was a chameleon sent to humanity to grant it immortality, but he was too slow – which is why human beings are mortal and the chameleon changes from green to brown as a sign of regret.
The Family
In Zulu culture, no marriage is considered complete until a child is born. It is also widely believed that a family does not raise a child; an entire village raises a child. For this reason, every child grows up with a free life and few restrictions, but begins contributing to the community, the greater family, at an early age.
Today, if you ask a Zulu what it means to be Zulu, they will reply that they have a strong sense of coming from something; of belonging; of understanding their origins. They will express an abiding connection to and respect for their elders and ancestors – nourished by a clear identity, fervent pride and African passion.
