culture
tradition
For long time the Zulu has told each other poems, proverbs and stories to pass their traditions to the next generation. So their oral traditions are very rich but the modern literature is still developing. Likely the first book in isiZulu was the bible, which translation was finished in 1983. The first Zulu writer was J.L. Dube. His first novel "Insila kaShaka" was published in 1930. Since then more and more books were published.
dances
The Zulu often dance. To different occasions like a birth, a wedding or a burial they perform different dances. The dancers were accompanyed by drums and singing. This ritual demands the unity and every dance has a different meanings or massages.
watch a video of the Zulu people dancing :
family and society
In general the family is important to the Zulu. To a family belong all people who are related by blood, by marriage
or live together in a ouse.
Nevertheless this ethical group often is called a patriarchy. Paternal authorityis very strong and Polygyny is usual. Polygyny means, a man have several women, who were strikt ranked by seniority under the “great wife”. This is
the mother of the heir.
clothing
In Zulu orgin the clothing is an important way to deliver massages. Mostly unmarried women wear revealing, pearl-covered cloth, while wifes cover their bodies and wear a hat.
In case of beeing a man you wear cloth that show your status.
The bead pattern show more exact information for example about the marital status or who died at last time.
family and society
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religion
Initial the Zulu people believed in magic and witchcraft. They practised ancestor worship and made sacrifices to thank them or ask for help and improvement. While colonization many of them converted to the Christain faith. Believing in both most Zulu practise a mixture today.