The Zulu People In South Africa
Zulu people (amaZulu) are a Nguni ethnic group in Southern Africa. The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group and nation in South Africa, with an estimated 10–12 million people, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.They originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu migrations over millennia. As the clans integrated together, the rulership of Shaka brought success to the Zulu nation due to his improved military tactics and organization.
Zulus take pride in their ceremonies such as the Umhlanga, or Reed Dance, and their various forms of beadwork.The art and skill of beadwork takes part in the identification of Zulu people and acts as a form of communication and dedication to the tribe and specific traditions. The men and women both serve different purposes in society in order to function as a whole. Today the Zulu people predominantly believe in Christianity, but have created a syncretic religion that is combined with the Zulu’s prior belief systems.
Origins Of Zulus
The Zulu were originally a major clan in what is today Northern KwaZulu-Natal, founded ca. 1574 by Zulu kaMalandela. In the Nguni languages, iZulu means heaven, or weather.At that time, the area was occupied by many large Nguni communities and clans (also called the isizwe people or nation, or called isibongo, referring to their clan or family name). Nguni communities had migrated down Africa’s east coast over millennia, as part of the Bantu migrations. As the nation began to develop, the rulership of Shaka brought the clans together to build a cohesive identity for the Zulu.
The Strength Of The Zulus
The Zulu nation’s growth and strength was based on its military organization and skills during Shaka’s reign and that of his successors. The military was organized around the ukubuthwa (‘to be enrolled’) system, which did away with initiation ceremonies for the most part. Each age-set, or group of young men of the same age, was assigned to the same regiment – ibutho singular, amabutho plural – according to the system. Girls were also subject to Ukubuthwa, but they were usually assigned to an age group rather than a regiment. The amabutho were housed in military barracks – ikhanda singular, amakhanda plural – located throughout the kingdom and under the command of a close relative or someone appointed by the king.
The barracks were designed and laid out similarly to an umuzi, but on a much larger scale. Aside from military duties, the izinsizwa ‘young men’ were also responsible for the repair and maintenance of their barracks.
The Language Of The Zulus
The language of the Zulu people is “isiZulu”, a Bantu language; more specifically, part of the Nguni subgroup. Zulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa, where it is an official language. More than half of the South African population are able to understand it, with over 9 million first-language and over 15 million second-language speakers.Many Zulu people also speak Xitsonga, Sesotho and others from among South Africa’s 11 official languages.
How Many Zulus In South Africa?
It is the dominant language of KwaZulu-Natal. Like isiNdebele, isiXhosa and siSwati, isiZulu is an Nguni language. The 11,587,374 South Africans who speak isiZulu as their home language make up 22.7% of the country’s total population.
