Africa Zulus. Population peoples and tribes of Africa

The Zulus are an African people of about 10 million people, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the Republic of South Africa. Small groups of Zulus also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. The Zulu language belongs to the Nguni group of the Bantu family. The Zulu Kingdom played an important role in the history of what is now South Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries. During the apartheid era, the Zulus in South Africa, as the largest ethnic group, were treated as second-class citizens. The Zulu's own language, Zulu, is a language of the Bantu family, belonging to the Nguni group and close to the Xhosa and Swati languages. Zulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa. However, many Zulus also speak English, Portuguese, Sesotho and other South African languages.
Among the Zulus there are Christians, many remain committed to traditional beliefs. Zulu religion includes a belief in a creator god (iNkulunkulu) who is above the everyday affairs of men. The world of spirits can only be accessed through ancestors (amadlozi), with whom fortune tellers (almost always fortune tellers) communicate. Everything bad, including death, is seen as the result of evil witchcraft or the actions of offended spirits. Another important aspect of Zulu religion is ritual purity. Different utensils and utensils are often used for different foods, and ablution must be performed up to three times a day.
Over 11 million Zulus make up the largest ethnic group in southern Africa.
The South African city of Durban was made famous throughout the world by the Zulus.
The Zulu are made up of more than 300 tribes, which live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal
The Zulus belong to the Nguni group of peoples, a linguistic subgroup of the Bantu language family. Thousands of years of southward migration brought the Nguni to the White Umfolozi River basin in 1700 AD. Here the Zulus decided to settle for a long time - so says a legend dating back to 1709. The Zulus received their name in honor of Zulu Cantombel, the founder and leader of the tribe.
The Zulu tribes are one of the most powerful and hardened black cultures. All the people of this tribe are subordinate to the Zulu king (currently Goodwill Zwelathini). They are divided into clans, each with its own leader. The clans are divided into even smaller units, living in separate village-kraals. It also has its own leader. And the smallest part is the family, where the husband acts as the leader.
Translated from the Zulu language, “Zulu” means heaven, and the Zulus mean “sky people.” Despite the romantic name, representatives of this African people are quite down-to-earth people. It is not typical for them to soar in the clouds. They tend to strive for a cloudless life. That is why they lure tourists hungry for spectacle and organize performances for them.

Section contents: Peoples of the Earth
Read: Pygmies from Africa

The Zulus are a people living in the south of the African continent, numbering about 10 million people. The Zulus live primarily in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the Republic of South Africa. Small groups of Zulus also live in the neighboring countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. The language of the Zulu people belongs to the Nguni language group of the Bantu family. The Zulu's own language - called Zulu - is the most widely spoken language in South Africa. It is also close to the Xhosa and Swati languages.

Nowadays, many Zulus speak English, Portuguese, Sesotho and other South African languages. Among them there are Christians, but many remain committed to traditional beliefs. The Zulu religion in particular includes belief in a creator god, and the spirit world can only be accessed through ancestors with whom diviners communicate. Death and everything bad in their lives is seen as the result of evil witchcraft or the actions of offended spirits. An important aspect of the Zulu religion is ritual purity: different utensils and utensils are often used for different foods, and believers bathe up to three times a day.

The Zulus make up the largest ethnic group in southern Africa. The Zulus got their name in honor of Zulu Cantombel, the founder and leader of the tribe. Thousands of years of southward migration brought the Nguni people to the White Umfolozi River basin around the beginning of the 18th century, pushing the nomadic Bushmen tribes who lived here into the desert regions of the Kalahari. According to a legend dating back to 1709, the Zulus decided to settle here for a long time. And they created their Zulu kingdom here, which has a glorious history. And the South African city of Durban, famous throughout the world, was also created by the Zulus.

The Zulu tribes are one of the most powerful and hardened black cultures. All the people of this tribe are subordinate to the Zulu king (currently Goodwill Zwelathini). The Zulu are made up of more than 300 tribes, which live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. They, in turn, are divided into clans, each with its own leader. Clans are divided into even smaller units, living in separate village-kraals, also headed by a chief. And then comes the smallest social unit - the family, where the husband stands for the leader.

The personal life of the Zulus is a whole economic science. Upon reaching adulthood, every Zulu can get married, but not everyone can, much less wants to. After all, marriage for Zulu grooms is an extremely expensive matter. According to established tradition, every Zulu who decides to enter into a legal marriage must pay a ransom to the bride’s parents. And this is about one hundred kilos of sugar, one hundred kilos of corn and eleven more cows! If you sell all this wealth in South Africa, you can rent an apartment in the suburbs of Durban with an ocean view or buy a prestigious SUV... So many young Zulus are single...

Translated from the Zulu language, “Zulu” means heaven, and the word Zulu translates as “sky people”...

136 years ago, in 1879, the Anglo-Zulu War began - a war between Great Britain and the Zulu Country. The growth of tension was largely facilitated by the unique position of the Zulu power, which by the 1870s had preserved its independence, military organization and traditional way of life. Under Kechwayo, the Zulu army numbered 25-30 thousand people; with the help of the English trader J. Dunn, a detachment of warriors armed with firearms was created, and attempts were made to organize cavalry. The Zulu army was the most powerful, largest and disciplined African force in South Africa.

An obstacle to British plans to colonize Africa was the existence of several independent republics and Zululand with its army. This war made history with several famous battles, such as the defeat of the British battalion at Izondlwana or the heroic defense of the Rorke's Drift mission. The result of the war was the liquidation of Zulu independence.

Below you will find an album on a rare topic with stunning photographs of all areas of life in the young colonies, the local population and the war itself. And also two films - a feature and a documentary.

Zulu witch hunters

Zulu

Zulu woman with child

Zulu

Zulu in wedding attire

Zulu from the Natal region

Zulu with isikoko

Zulu

Zulu from the kraal

Zulu

Zulus near the hut

Zulus smoking dhakha

Zulu

Zulu at the creek

Umgeni waterfall

Matcheska Falls in the eastern part of the Transvaal colony

Jeppes Tower, a rock outcrop in the eastern part of the Transvaal colony

Mak Mak waterfall in the eastern part of the Transvaal colony

Sabi Falls in the eastern part of the Transvaal colony

Fig tree

Ketchwayo kaMpande (Zulu Cetshwayo kaMpande; c. 1826 - February 8, 1884) - supreme ruler (inkosi) of the Zulu from 1872 to 1879, led the Zulu resistance during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

Kechwayo. September 13, 1879. Kechwayo was born around 1826 in the vicinity of the town of Eshowe, which is located in the modern KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. His father, Mpande, was the brother of the founder of the Zulu state, Chaka, and his successor, Dingane.

Bultfontein. Mining camp at a diamond mine

Vaal is near the entrance to the diamond mines. Griqualand (Western)

Western Griqualand. Diamond mines

Western Griqualand. People sort diamonds

Western Griqualand. Workers leave the diamond mines

Western Griqualand. Workers in the mines

Western Griqualand. Workers leave the diamond mines

Western Griqualand. Equipment used for mining and washing diamonds in mines

Kimberly

Kimberly. Kimberlite pipe "Big Hole"

Kimberly. Kimberlite pipe "Big Hole" before the start of mining

Kimberly. Kimberlite pipe "Big Hole".

Kimberly. Kimberlite pipe "Big Hole". Recovery after a landslide

Kimberly. Kimberlite pipe "Big Hole". Edge

Lieutenant Governor Southey's camp at the old Da Beers farm

Kechwayo. In the second half of the 1830s, the Zulus entered a period of severe trials that shook the foundations of their way of life. In 1835, a large-scale resettlement of Boers (Afrikaners) began from the eastern regions of the Cape Colony to the lands of neighboring peoples

Kechwayo. October 27, 1879. In 1861, the actual control of the country passed into the hands of Kechwayo. Despite official recognition and assurances of friendship by the British authorities, since 1873, contradictions between Natal and the Zulu ruler gradually grew

Kechwayo. September 1879: In 1875, Sir G. Wolseley, acting Lieutenant-Governor of Natal, came to the conclusion that all difficulties in relations with Africans could be solved by annexation of Zululand

Kechwayo. On December 11, 1878, the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal, G. Balwer, presented Kechwayo. January 1879, January 11, 1879, when the ultimatum expired, British units entered the territory of Zululand in several columns.

Wives of Ketchwayo. September 13, 1879

Dabulamanzi, half-brother of the ruler (inkosi) of Kechwayo. During the Anglo-Zulu War he commanded the Zulu forces, in particular at the Battle of Rorke's Drift. After his death, Ketchwayo supported Dinuzula as the main contender for the place of inkosi of the Zulu

Sokuta, half-brother of one of the Kechwayo brothers

Ndabuko Madun and Shingana. They were relatives of Kechwayo

Sekhukhune (1814-1882). King of Sekhukhuneland in the Transvaal. Fought against the British and was eventually defeated in 1879 and imprisoned in Pretoria.

Zulu nobility. Some of these men are relatives of Kechwayo, the Zulu king during the Anglo-Zulu War. Other Zulu chiefs or representatives of neighboring tribes

Zulu weapons

Items belonging to the Zulus, including weapons, jewelry and household items

Zulu warriors in ceremonial garb

Zulu warrior

Zulu warrior in ceremonial dress

Zulu warrior with Zulu woman

Zulu warrior

The Castle of Good Hope, in which Kechwayo was imprisoned

Ketchwayo attendants at the Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town. October 27, 1879

Male servants of Kechwayo in 1879

Maids of Ketchwayo in 1879

"Times and warriors. Zulus." (doc. film)

"Zulu" (feature film, 1964)

South Africa, the height of the Anglo-Zulu War... The British have not yet recovered from the terrible defeat of January 22, 1879, but the British Army is already facing a new, severe test. One hundred and forty brave Welsh archers will engage in bloody battle with four thousand fierce Zulu warriors. From this unequal twelve-hour battle, brave soldiers will emerge as heroes. But at what cost?!

“Zulu” is a feature film directed by Cy Endfield, released in 1964. The plot is based on a real historical event - the Battle of Rorke's Drift.

Plot. The film is interesting, I didn't notice any plot holes. It may seem boring in some places, but I didn't find it that way. It’s really interesting to watch the progress of the plot, but no, it’s true that no one will make such films now. Now the same battle scenes look different and not as cool as they do here.

Characters.

There is not just one main character, there are several of them.

I would like to write about some characters. For what? Why not?

Stanley Baker and his character Her Majesty's Engineer.

As a character, there's nothing particularly compelling about him. During the fight, he didn’t show anything like that either, he was rather good at speaking. But he fulfilled his task in the film, he gave a strategy for the battle and deployment of soldiers (and most likely completed this bridge).

James Booth. Hawk, he is a comedic character who has a “dramatic” moment in the film, but, to be honest, it’s not much of a drama.

Alfred. Okay, okay, Michael Caine, you will always be Alfred to me. He's good, no, really. Unlike the same engineer, he was able to show himself excellently on the battlefield. And what about the end of the film, and their dialogue with the engineer:

“This was your first battle.
-Does everyone feel this way afterwards?
-What do you feel?
Pain
-Only the living can feel pain.
-You asked, I answered. And one more thing, I feel happy"

And my favorite is Nigel Green. He is simply charismatic in the film. How he commands a soldier, how he bravely fights. Who knows, maybe I’m the only one, but I really liked him as a character, maybe the fact is that for me, he looked like exactly the Englishman who would have lived at that time.

There was also a priest in the film and he was annoying. I'm glad they removed him, he really would have been superfluous in all this porridge (delicious porridge). The rest of the actors are also great, but I remember these ones more.

War. I have always been attracted to films related to war themes, and here + colonization, and, unfortunately, I cannot say anything about the reliability of the film, because I know nothing about the event itself, but I do know that the film turned out good. The Zuls turned out great, they really show brave warriors, but at the same time I have a complaint about them. Okay, they are weak in front of guns, but what happens during close combat? But like, why the hell do the British knock them down so easily? This seemed strange and implausible to me. The battles look dynamic and cool, the Zuls come and shoot them, but with each new raid of the Zuls the battles look better.

It's a take-at-a-time strategy, but the volley looks great. You truly believe all of this. The British are shown as an army, albeit of a smaller number, but despite the number, they are not devoid of the same courage as the Zuls. And the very concept of the battle, where a small number of Englishmen fight with the Zulus many times larger than them. And if they defeat the Zuls, then naturally they will be heroes who have accomplished the impossible. The scene angles are chosen perfectly.

Music. What can you write about music? NICE, not music. Consider the dances and war chants of the Zuls.

In short, the film is good and if you watch it, you will not regret it.

There are many different tribes and nationalities living in South Africa. That's why they call themselves the "rainbow country." But there are two main peoples - Zulu and Xhosa. There are also Swati, Swazi, Sotho, and many others, but in principle they are all relatives. Of course, a person who is not “cooked in this cauldron” is unlikely to distinguish one from the other, but it is simply impossible not to notice and highlight Zulu women. Because of their prominent butt.

Let me clarify a little, in South Africa there are actually only nine main black peoples, and if you count all the African representatives, you get several dozen. But the main ones are those that I wrote about above, Zulu and Xhosa.

There are Bantu people who traditionally lived in East and central Africa, although, relatively speaking, all black people in Africa are Bantu. This is where the name “Bantustan” and the language group “Bantu” come from. Almost all African languages are related. The Nguni nation broke away from the Bantu and migrated south, settling the northern part of South Africa sometime in the 12th century. (A very controversial date, but this is not a dissertation before you). Tribes broke away from the Nguni nation, the largest of which became known as Zulu and Xhosa. Perhaps at first there were Zulu, then some people separated from them and began to call themselves Xhosa.

The Zulu and Xhosa have been at odds with each other for generations, dating back to the time of a Zulu warlord named Chaka. Chaka saw strength in the unity of the Zulus and built a tribe under his leadership. He killed many enemies, forcibly united the clans under his rule, and created a magnificent army. He himself came up with the tactics used by Alexander the Great. In battle, he hid the phalanges on the sides, then tried to split the enemy with a wedge. He pretended to retreat, but he brought them under attack from his flanks, and won. Instead of a spear, he introduced an assegai - a small spear for hand-to-hand combat. He threw the spear and was left without a weapon; you can fight with the assegai. He also fought with the Xhosa tribe, driving them to the West, from where the Boers drove them. This animosity continued under apartheid and was exploited by the government. Divide and rule. To this day, the two tribes do not mix, neither at the everyday nor at the political levels. The Zulus are in the opposition, and the government is mostly Xhosa.

We spent a week in Durban, and this is the capital of the very province in which Zulu predominates, it is called the province of KwaZulu Natal. Accordingly, the main local population is the Zulus. And it’s simply impossible to make a mistake looking at their women. I don’t know what kind of anatomical feature this is, but their butt is simply phenomenal. The upper part of the buttocks is located parallel to the ground, and the buttocks themselves are of impressive size.

Among the Zulus, a woman is valued if she has a body. Thin people are often rejected for two reasons. Firstly, the husband will be teased that he has no money to feed his wife. Secondly, a thin wife may have AIDS. In the tribes there used to be even a position of a fat man, whose task was to accumulate weight. During negotiations with the tribes, he was seated next to the leader to show, they say, what a rich tribe it is that can support such a hog. Even in parliament, the majority of members are overwhelming, and consumption of meat and fatty foods in the parliamentary canteen has increased by 30% since Africans came to power.

And a selection of photos. I apologize for the quality. They don’t like to be photographed; I had to take them from the waist up or with my phone.))

Of course, not all Zulu women are plump, although the majority are. There are simply amazingly beautiful, slim and curvy ones. But the fifth point always stands out.)

Our ladies in the gym are dying to somehow match such “Zulu butts,” but here it’s given by nature.