Page 16 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 1

ISSUE ONE | JULY/AUG
subjects. Zulu chiefs demanded
sought, to communicate with the steadily increasing tribute or taxes
ancestors and to also use natural from their vassals, acquired great
he word iZulu means herbs and prayers to resolve the wealth, commanded large armies,
‘Heaven’ and the problem. Ancestors are implored and, in many cases, subjugated
amaZulu, the people, through offerings and sacrifices neighboring chiefdoms. Military
are known as the at key times such as birth, puberty, conquest was the tool of growth
T‘people of heaven’ marriage and death using home- and military prowess, the tool of
and where they live KwaZulu brewed beer and slaughtered self-promotion. These changes
‘the place of Heaven’. That’s the animals. Contact with ancestors is set the stage for the warrior-king,
kind of naming that invites the for blessings, good luck, guidance Shaka, to conquer all the disparate
imagination to soar. The Zulu and assistance. groups and unite them as one. A
people do not disappoint. Known Zulu nation with broad regional
for their rich culture, powerful The Zulu people were not always influence that weakened after his
expressive dance, beautiful and one nation, before the time of death.
intricate beadwork with hidden Shaka kaSenzangakhona or Shaka
messages, strong fighting spirit, The Zulu, they lived in isolated The British invasion brought
among others, they played a key family groups and partly nomadic division into the Zulu nation, which
role in the history of South Africa northern Nguni groups which was further impaired by a spate
and continue to do so today. moved around loosely defined of natural disasters in the late
territories in search of game and 1800s forcing the men to seek
The Zulu are a Bantu people and grazing for their cattle. The men employment in the railway and the
their language group, isiZulu, a were traditionally the warriors mines. Harsh terms of colonial
part of the Nguni language group, and protectors of their homes rule and a failed uprising forced
the largest of the four major and the women were involved in many more Zulu, men and women,
language groups in South Africa, farming and domestic activities. into the workforce. Later, the
the other three are the Sotho, the Their homesteads consisted of apartheid government introduced
Shangaan-Tsonga and the Venda. an extended family and others homelands, which eventually
Of the Nguni, there are four distinct attached to the household through led to the establishment of the
groupings: the Southern Nguni, social obligations. But this began Zulu homeland of KwaZulu, later
who speak Xhosa, the Swazi, the to change by the late 18th century, merged with Natal province to
Ndebele and the Northern and with the emergence of chiefdoms become KwaZulu-Natal. Which is
Central Nguni who speak Zulu. and a shift away from pastoralism interesting because, Natal means
The Bantu speaking groups, to more organized statehood, ‘the place or time of one’s birth’...
from whom the Nguni were with compelled allegiance from so KwaZulu-Natal could be taken
birthed, migrated from East conquered chiefdoms. These to mean the place of Heaven:
Africa recently, in about the chiefs demanded tribute from their the place or time of one’s birth.
11th Century - similarities in subjects and began to acquire Interesting.
language today confirm this. The wealth, command armies and
interconnectedness of Africa is subjugate neighboring chiefdoms Dance has been a major feature
powerfully evident. to their rule. in Zulu culture and is usually
performed during traditional
Although many of the Zulu By the late eighteenth century, a ceremonies, accompanied by
converted to Christianity during the process of political consolidation singing and sometimes drumming.
colonial period, it is said that some among the groups was beginning Traditionally these dances were
still hold to their traditional belief to take place. A number of performed before a hunt or before
systems, resulting in a mixture powerful chiefdoms began to battle, to showcase one’s role
between the two. Ancestral emerge and a transformation and position in society and for
spirits are regarded as important from a pastoral society to a more weddings.
in traditional Zulu religious life, organized nationhood occurred.
who they believe mediate on their This enabled leaders to wield Zulu beadwork is a beautiful
behalf with UMveliqangi (the one more authority over their own illustration of the cultural dynamic
who came first) on behalf of those supporters and to force loyalty of this African tribe. The Zulu
still alive. It is also said that bad from conquered chiefs. Changes use their colorful beadwork
luck and illness are considered to took place in the nature of to communicate with one
have been sent by an angry spirit political, social, and economic another. The white beads only
and when this happens, the help of links between chiefs of these communicate spiritual purity and
a sangoma (traditional healer) is emerging power blocs and their love, while all the other colors have

16 HEALING - RESTORING - REBIRTHING - AFRICA