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TRIBES & PEOPLE GROUPS
ZULU
The Zulu are the largest ethnic group in
South Africa. They are well known for their beautiful brightly colored beads
and baskets as well as other small carvings.
The Zulu believe that they are
descendents from a chief from the Congo area, and in the 16th century migrated
south picking up many of the traditions and customs of the San who also
inhabited this South African area. During the 17th and 18th centuries many of
the most powerful chiefs made treaties and gave control of the Zulu villages to
the British. This caused much conflict because the Zulu had strong patriarchal
village government systems so they fought against the British but couldn't win
because of the small strength they possessed. Finally, after much of the Zulu
area had been given to the British the Zulu people decided as a whole that they
didn't want to be under British rule and in 1879 war erupted between the
British and the Zulu. Though the Zulu succeeded at first they were in 6 months
conquered by the British who exiled the Zulu Kings and divided up the Zulu
kingdom. In 1906 another Zulu uprising was lead and the Zulu continue to try to
gain back what they consider to be their ancient kingdom.
The Zulu
believe in a creator god known as Nkulunkulu, but this god does not interact
with humans and has no interest in everyday life. Therefore, most Zulus
interact on a day to day level with the spirits. In order to interact with the
spirits the Zulu must use divination to interact with the ancestors. All
misfortune is a result of a evil sorcery or offended spirits, nothing just
happens because of natural causes.
The Zulu are practically divided in
half with about 50% living in cities and engaging in domestic work and another
50% working on farms.
Information and images kindly provided by
Africa Imports
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