By: Sheena Horace

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THE CULTURE OF THE ZULU

• By Sheena Horace

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Who are the Zulu??

• The Zulu are south Africa's largest ethnic group
  with the approximate population of 10 to 11
  million people.

• A group of South Africans most famous for their
  superiority and elegance in exotic beadwork and
  tapestry.

• A people once considered third class citizens
  during the years when apartheid ruled South
  Africa.

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Women of Zulu Society
Women of the Zulu society are considered inferior
in contrast to the men. The women are expected to
be respectful, while also taking on the roles
both homemaker and mother. While these are a few
roles the women in the Zulu society assume, their
list of roles for which they play is endless.
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Men of the Zulu
Abantu(men)

• Also the men of the zulu society are sole
  possession owners of their families goods and
  property the women own absolutely nothing.

• Men in the Zulu society assume the roles of
  carpenters, craftsmen, protectors and providers

• Men act as host for visiting guest and they are
  the enforcers of new rules and regulations.

• Men of the zulu tribe are also seen as great
  warriors

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Economy, whats it like for people of the Zulu?
Because they are people of the land an average
Zulu man would be a cattle farmer. Women are
usually foragers they fetch the water for the
tribe and they cultivate the land and they brew
the beer as well.
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Attire and Marriage

• Men

• Women

• An engaged woman would allow her hair to grow
  long and cover her bosom area with a decorative
  cloth signaling respect for her future family.
  While a married woman covers her whole body
  signaling to others that she off limits or that
  is has already been taken.
• When a young woman is single she displays this by
  wearing only a short skirt made of grass or
  beaded cotton strings, she wears nothing on top
  regardless of her size, weight, small or large
  bosom. An unmarried woman also tends to keep her
  hair short. There is no sexual connection with
  the openly displaying of the bosom area, but
  instead with the back of the upper thigh.

• The apron worn by men to cover their buttocks is
  called ibheshu, Young men wear one that is knee
  length as it is more practical for fighting,
  hunting and dancing.
• a symbol that a man of the Zulu tribe is married
  is, he wears a decorative headband.
•  

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Children of the Zulu society

• The mother teaches the daughters various chores
  including how to cultivate the land and the
  proper way of fetching water. By the age of
  eleven a young girl knows all the basics of
  running a household.
• Young men of the Zulu tribe are given the task of
  looking after their fathers herd around the age
  of 6.

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Political Aspect of the Zulu Culture

• Since ancient times the political aspect of the
  Zulu culture
• rested in the hands of a chief. The chief who is
  always determined by his genealogy has had the
  power of the Zulu people. The chief governs the
  internal affairs of the people, and as well is
  the voice of the people on international levels.
  Even though the Zulu are officially ruled by
  South Africa, they are seen as separate when
  viewed nationally.

9
Entertainment???
Dancing and singing is an activity that consumes
much time in the Zulu culture, starting from
early childhood up until old age. Traditionally,
young and unmarried men dance alternating in
groups. Married women and men occasionally join
in and enjoy the dances as well. When the young
women dance, the young men play the drums and
clap and vice versa.
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Beadwork
Art is synonymous with the Zulu culture. Since
ancient times beadworks has been described as a
"love" for the Zulu culture. Each bead in the
Zulu culture represents different meanings white
means love, black means mourning, loneliness, or
disappointment, pink means poverty, green means
lovesickness or jealousy, blue means loyalty, red
means tears and desire, yellow means wealth and
striped beads represent doubt.
In the Zulu culture the use of the beads can be
used to convey alove letter or "izintombi" as it
is called.
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Religions and Beliefs of the Zulu Nation
The Zulu are by nature people of many
superstitions.
Examples of these superstitions lightning is a
sign of good luck when one wishes to find a job
or, medicine made solely for the purpose of
warding of any type of misfortune.
Divination is a process is which their god
Nkulunkulu is allowed to interact in their day to
day affairs. This process is a ritual which uses
the spirit of ones dead ancestor.
Any type of misfortune including death is seen as
a result of an offended spirit or as a result of
evil sorcery.