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Zulu People Facts & Worksheets

The Zulu People refer to themselves as "the people of the skies," and are the majority ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated 10 million living in KwaZulu-Natal.

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The Zulu, who refer to themselves as “the people of the skies,” are the majority ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated 10 million living in KwaZulu-Natal. There are roughly 10 million native speakers of isiZulu, the language of the Zulu people, in South Africa. In the 19th century, they banded together to create a sizable empire under Shaka’s authority.

See the fact file below for more information on South African Zulu People, or you can download our 30-page South African Zulu People worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • The Zulu are a proud African people who have earned a reputation throughout history for their courage and tenacity in repelling invaders. According to archaeologists, they migrated from the vast lake regions in the north to the lush green lands of south-eastern Africa many years ago. Many versions of their origin story have been passed down orally from generation to generation.
  • The Zulu were a powerful clan that first emerged in what is now Northern KwaZulu-Natal. Zulu kaMalandela is the founder and chief of the Zulu clan. Izula, sometimes known as weather, is used in Nguni languages. The region was then inhabited by numerous sizable Nguni villages and clans (also called the isizwe people or nation, or called isibongo, referring to their clan or family name).
  • As part of the Bantu migrations, Nguni communities have moved down Africa’s east coast over the centuries. Shaka’s rule brought the clans together to forge a single Zulu identity as the country started to take shape.

ZULU KINGDOM

  • Senzangakhona, the chief of the Zulus, had an illegitimate son named Shaka. He was born in 1787. Senzangakhona deported him and his mother, Nandi, and they took sanctuary with the Mthethwa. Shaka served as a warrior for Jobe and afterwards for Dingiswayo, the Mthethwa Paramountcy’s commander.
  • Dingiswayo assisted Shaka in succeeding Senzangakona as Zulu king. Around 1818, when Zwide, king of the Ndwandwe, killed Dingiswayo, Shaka became the head of the entire Mthethwa alliance.
  • Shaka made several political, social, cultural, and military reforms that helped the Zulu state become more centralized and well-run. 
  • The army was transformed through novel strategies and weapons, and a confrontation with the witch doctors, who controlled the spiritual leadership, resulted in the “Zulu church” being firmly subordinated to the state.
  • Another significant change was the full equality on which conquered clans were assimilated into the Zulu, and the removal of birth circumstances as a factor in military and civil sector advancements.
  • At the Battle of Gqokli Hill, his leadership ensured that the coalition withstood Zwide’s initial assault (1818). The Ndwandwe alliance was split up after Shaka’s victory over Zwide at the Battle of Mhlatuze River (1820) and the subsequent murderous campaign by some of them against other Nguni tribes and clans, leading to the Difaqane or Mfecane mass migration of tribes away from the remaining Ndwandwe fleeing the Zulu.
  • Up into Tanzania and Malawi in the north, the Nguni people fled. The exact number of deaths that occurred is unknown, but the area was completely depopulated. Shaka had an 80,000-square-mile kingdom under his control by the year 1822. (210,000 km2).
  • Under their monarch, Mzilikazi, a Zulu offshoot known as the Amandebele, also known in history as the Matabele, built an even greater kingdom that included most of the highveld and contemporary Zimbabwe.

ANGLO-ZULU WAR

  • Border conflicts between the Boers and the Zulu leader Cetshwayo in the Transvaal territory served as the excuse for the war. Sir Henry Bartle Frere added a request to the commission conference in July 1878, much to the astonishment of the Zulu representatives, who subsequently transmitted it to Cetshwayo, following a commission probe into the border dispute that was found in favor of the Zulu nation.
  • By the end of the year, Cetshwayo had not responded, therefore Bartle Frere extended the deadline to January 11th, 1879. Bartle Frere’s demands went unanswered by Cetshwayo, and in January 1879, a British force led by Lieutenant General Frederic Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford, invaded Zululand without the British Government’s consent.
  • The invasion took place on January 11, 1879. At Rorke’s Drift, an old Irish trading post transformed into a mission station, Chelmsford crossed the Buffalo River in charge of 4,700 men, including 1,900 White troops and 2,400 African auxiliaries.
  • The Zulu Empire was split into 13 “kinglets” by the British after Cetshwayo was captured a month after his defeat. Up to Cetshwayo’s restoration as ruler of Zululand in 1883, the sub-kingdoms engaged in warfare with one another. Despite this, the struggle continued, and Zibhebhu, one of the 13 kinglets, forced the Zulu monarch to evacuate his land with the assistance of Boer mercenaries. 
  • Cetshwayo passed away from a heart attack in February 1884, leaving his son Dinuzulu, then 15 years old, to succeed him as king. Years of inter-Zulu violence culminated in Zululand’s incorporation into the British province of Natal in 1897.

APARTHEID YEARS OF THE ZULU PEOPLE

  • Prior to the last period of apartheid in 1994, the Zulu people were denied South African citizenship and forced to live in the ostensibly self-governing homeland of KwaZulu, which is now a part of the KwaZulu-Natal Province. More than 45 million South Africans are thought to exist today, with the Zulu ethnic group accounting for about 22% of this total. 
  • At the time that the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, the colonies were liberated from direct Imperial rule, and the new national state’s administration was handed to local whites. There were swift changes in favor of tighter control of African presence in the cities. 
  • Several pass regulations were put in place by the 1911 Native Regulation Act, further strengthening the system that required single male laborers to dwell in hostels for their employment contracts before returning to their rural villages.
  • The mass enclosure of land to establish an entirely commercial white agriculture was made legal by the 1913 Land Act. As a result, the rural crisis spiraled downward into mass poverty, which is still reflected in the suffering and difficulties of today.

CULTURE OF ZULU PEOPLE

LANGUAGE

  • Isizulu, a Bantu language that belongs to the Nguni subgroup more precisely, is the language of the Zulu people. In South Africa, where it is an official language, Zulu is the most extensively used language. 
  • With over 15 million second-language speakers and over 9 million first-language speakers, it is understood by more than half of the South African population. 
  • Aside from the 11 official languages of South Africa, many Zulu people also speak Xitsonga, Sesotho, and other languages.

CEREMONY

  • The Umhlanga or Reed Dance is a yearly celebration among the Zulu people that dates back to 1984. 
  • The royal capital close to Nongoma is where this event is held. Young women from all over the kingdom take part in this traditional rite to perform in front of the King and his guests.
  • This celebration’s goals are to encourage virgin pride and limit romantic connections. At the Umhlanga, beadwork is an effective form of clothing. The guests also wear the beading in addition to the dancers. 
  • The Umhlanga is not only a dancing party. The King often takes this opportunity to address the nation’s youth. The King talks about the day’s political topics.

BEADWORK

  • Beadwork was first made at a time of struggle for the Zulu people. Iziqu, or medallions of war, were the name given to this particular type of beading. 
  • The beads, which were frequently worn as a necklace, were laid out across the shoulders in a crisscross pattern. The warriors’ collection of beads served as a representation of bravery.
  • Before the Zulu realized the use of glass, beadwork was made from wood, seeds, and berries. Glass wasn’t traded with the Portuguese until after European settlers arrived, at which point the Zulu had easy access to a plentiful supply.

PURPOSE OF BEADWORK

  • The Zulu people use beadwork as a means of communication. Usually, wearing several beads is an indication of prosperity. One is seen as wealthy the more beads they wear. 
  • The beads could reveal details about a person’s age, gender, and marital situation. A specific message is frequently communicated through the beads’ pattern. To read the statement accurately, one needs to understand the context of its use.
  • Some designs can convey various messages depending on the region of the beading. The beads’ patterns and colors might include a message, or they might only be used for ornamentation. 
  • Although it can be worn daily, beadwork is frequently worn on special occasions like weddings and rituals. For instance, beading is displayed during a young girl’s coming of age or is worn at dances. Beaded accents complement the Zulu people’s clothes to exude a feeling of refinement or prestige.

COLORS OF BEADS

  • Beadwork comes in a variety of styles and color palettes. There are typically four types of color schemes:
    • Isisshunka – White, light blue, dark green, pale yellow, pink, red, and black make-up Isisshunka. It is considered that there is no particular meaning to this color scheme.
    • Isithembu – light blue, grass green, vivid yellow, crimson, black. The color scheme is inspired by clans or clan regions.
    • White, dark blue, grass green, and crimson make up Umzansi. This color palette is also inspired by clans or clan regions.
    • Isinyolovane is a color combination that deviates from other color schemes. This color combination frequently evokes feelings of perfection and attractiveness.
  • Different hues may have distinct connotations depending on where the beads were made. This can occasionally lead to misinterpretation or confusion when attempting to grasp what the beading is communicating. 
  • You can’t just assume that South Africa uses the same color scheme everywhere. Green can represent either grass or jealousy, depending on the context. In certain places, green is said to represent envy. One needs to be aware of the beadwork’s historical context to decipher the message correctly.

CLOTHING

  • Zulus dress in various ways, including traditional garb for ceremonial or culturally significant occasions and contemporary western style for their everyday wear. 
  • The Zulu women dress differently depending on whether they are single, engaged, or married. The males wear two strips of hide hung down the front and back of their leather belt.
  • The mini skirt has been worn in South Africa since before colonization. Women used traditional miniskirts as part of their traditional dress in African civilizations such as the Basotho, the Batswana, the Bapedi, the Amaswati, and the Amazulu. 
  • These skirts are designed to conceal the female genitalia rather than being considered shameless. The isigcebhezana skirts, a requirement for Zulu rites, go by this name. For instance, the Umemulo ritual is held for ladies who turn 21.
  • It signals that she is ready to accept a lover and even get married, which signifies a significant change in her life. A Zulu’s stage of life is also characterized by the style of attire they wear. 
  • When a woman is single, she typically only wears a skirt and nothing on top, but as she gets older, she begins to cover up her body in preparation for the day when she will be married and more aged.
  • Nevertheless, pregnant women are only allowed to wear specific apparel. 
  • Pregnant women wear “isibamba,” a thick belt woven from dried grass and embellished with glass or plastic beads to support their swollen stomach and the extra weight it adds.

SOCIETAL ROLES

MEN

  • Patriarchy is the system of government used by the Zulu people. Men are viewed as the heads of the family and as having authority. Zulu males take enormous pride and respect for their identity. 
  • Additionally, they contrast their characteristics with those of wild animals like bulls, lions, and elephants. 
  • The men serve as protectors, hunters, and lovers for the benefit of society.

WOMEN

  • In Zulu culture, women are frequently responsible for household duties like cleaning, caring for children, gathering water and firewood, laundry, tending to crops, cooking, and creating garments. 
  • One may say that women are the only household wage earners. 
  • A woman is referred to as a tshitshi as she gets closer to puberty.

RELIGIONS AND BELIEFS

  • The majority of Zulu people claim to be Christians. They frequently attend African Initiated Churches, like the Zion Christian Church, Nazareth Baptist Church, and United African Apostolic Church. They also often participate in major European churches like the Dutch Reformed, Anglican, and Catholic Churches.
  • However, many Zulus continue to practice ancestor worship in addition to their Christian faith.
  • Although this belief appears to have come from early Christian missionaries’ attempts to define the concept of the Christian God in Zulu terms, traditional Zulu theology does include belief in a creator God (uNkulunkulu) who is above interfering in daily human existence.
  • Ancestor spirits (amathongo or amadlozi), which possessed the potential to intervene in people’s lives for good or ill, were historically the Zulu belief maintained with the most incredible enthusiasm. The Zulu people of today still hold a firm conviction in this.
  • The physical body (inyama yomzimba or umzimba), the breath or life energy (umoya womphefumulo or umoya), and the “shadow,” prestige, or personality are all recognized by the Zulu as existing in a person (isithunzi). If specific criteria were met during life, the isithunzi might continue to exist after the umoya departs as an ancestral spirit (idlozi).
  • One’s isithunzi, or moral standing or reputation in the community, is raised through acting with ubuntu, defined as displaying respect for and kindness toward others. On the other hand, being unkind to others can lessen the isithunzi, and the isithunzi might even vanish entirely.
  • A diviner (sangoma) must invoke the ancestors through divination procedures to appeal to the spirit world to identify the issue. A herbalist (inyanga) then creates a concoction (muthi)that is consumed to have an effect on the ancestors. As a result, herbalists and diviners have a significant influence on Zulu culture. 
  • A contrast is established between black muthi (umuthi omnyama), which can harm others or bring them unjust prosperity, and white muthi (umuthi omhlope), which has the potential to heal or avoid or reverse disaster.
  • Black muthi users are stigmatized by society as witches and shunned. Christianity struggled to spread among the Zulu people, and when it did, it did so in a syncretic way.

Zulu People Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about South Africa’s Zulu People across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the Zulu People, who refer to themselves as “the people of the skies” and are the majority ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated 10 million living in KwaZulu-Natal.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Zulu People Facts
  2. Building Vocabulary
  3. Zulu People
  4. Zulu Proverb
  5. Famous Zulu People
  6. Zulu Warriors
  7. Beadwork
  8. What is Your Opinion?
  9. Short Video Analysis
  10. Share your Thoughts
  11. A Letter

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zulu known for?

Zulus are good at weaving, making pottery, and beadwork. The term “family” according to the Zulu culture includes all people living in a homestead that share some form of relationship with one another – for example, people who are related by blood or marriage/adoption.

What makes Zulu unique?

Zulu culture, like many other ancient cultures, highly values spirituality and the power of ancestors. Births, puberty rites, marriages, and deaths all present opportunities to remember and honor those who have died. There are various rituals that help people ask for the blessings of departed souls.

What rules does the Zulu follow?

Zulu culture is mainly based on customs and values like Ubuntu, respect for elders, love for community and solidarity, parents – child relationships, fellowship, hospitality, and a sense of the sacred.

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Link will appear as Zulu People Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 10, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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