Remote Tribes

Zulu

The Zulu are considered the biggest tribe in South Africa. The Zulu are really famous for their splendid colourful baskets, beads and tiny carvings.

The ancestor of the Zulu according to their belief is a chief, who in the 16^th century moved to south and gained a number of customs and traditions of the San who dwelled in South Africa, from the Congo area. During the 17^th and 18h centuries, several influential chiefs offered the power to control the Zulu to the British. This result in a severe conflict as the Zulu was a strong group with their own government systems. Consequently, they fought against the British but they couldn’t beat them due to their small strength. Later much of the land possessed by the Zulu was given to the British and caused the Zulu to be more against the British plus they didn’t want to be controlled. In 1879, the war between the Zulu and the British started! At first the Zulu succeeded but they were ruled by the British for 6 months when the Zulu kings were exiled and then the kingdom of Zulu is divided. In 1906, there was an uprising of the Zulu and they again fought for what belong to them.

The Zulu have their faith in god named Nkulunkulu who does not communicate with humankind and pays no attention to everyday life. Consequently, the Zulu interact with the spirits so they have to use divination in the interaction with the ancestors. They believe that misfortune occurs due to an offended spirits or evil sorcery, there is nothing to do with the nature.

Around 50% of the Zulu population live and work in the cities while the rest work on farms

The Zulu speak Zulu or isiZulu, Bantu language. However, Zulu is the most common spoken language in South Africa. However, some Zulu people can speak English, Sesotho, Shangaan, Portuguese and others South Africa’s 11 official languages.