African Crafts Market - Home

Zulu People Traditions & Culture


Search this site

contact us | checkout | view cart



South African Flag

www.africancraftsmarket.com - (Producers and suppliers of fine African handcrafted Arts and crafts shipped to the international market)

AFRICAN TRIBES & PEOPLE - 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.
Zulu people
The Zulu believe that they are descendants 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 could not Zulu basket 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 Zulu's 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 best known for their bead work and basketry. There have also been some figural sculpture questionably attributed to them. Zulu architecture is quite complex, and the dress or fashion of the Zulu has been carefully studied. Zulu and Zulu shields have become well known all around the world Zulu warriorZulu chief Rural Zulu Zulu peopleraise cattle and farm corn and vegetables for subsistence purposes. The men and herd boys are primarily responsible for the cows, which are grazed in the open country, while the women do most,if not all, of the planting and harvesting. The most famous Zulu warrior, Shaka Zulu, who, after the death of his father Senzangakhona, conquered many nations and amalgamated them under his reign, thus creating a huge Zulu nation. The name AmaZulu literally means the people of heaven. Shaka was the third born son of Senzangakhona. When Senzangakhona died in 1816, Shaka took over the reigns and within a time period of twelve years he became the greatest leader of his time. He formed the Zulu warrior sunset phenomenal nation of the Zulu people. During his wars that were known as Mfecane (or Difaqane), many people fled KwaZulu-Natal, then known as Natal, and moved north, spreading along their paths the IsiZulu language. In 1828 Dingaan,Shakas brother, assassinated him. After Shakas death in 1828, Dingaan became the king of the Zulu's but was killed in the battle of Ncome. However, the Zulu people won this battle. Cetshwayo, his brother, took over the reigns and in 1879 the Zulu warriors defeated the British in the battle of Isandlwana. In 1887 the British annexed Natal, today known as KwaZulu-Natal, and later incorporated Natal into a colony. Many of the cultures, customs, and traditions of Shakas time remain the corner stones of the Zulu people, and each year the Zulu nation celebrates the Heritage Day during which they commemorate their hero, Shaka Zulu and also revive their cultural traditions.

There are about 11 million Zulu people in South Africa today.

 

 


Zulu shield- Brown/whiteAfrican Zulu shield- brown/whiteZulu shield - BlackZulu shield- Black/white Zulu shield brown
A selection of a few Zulu shield choices available from African Crafts Market.

Click here Learn about more African tribes and traditions


AFRICAN CRAFTS MARKET is a company situated in South Africa that has many African pieces of art available for sale, from the lovely Ashanti Fertility dolls and Talking drums through the traditional Masks and cloth. To view the items that may be of interests to you go to our gallery pages on our website at www.africancraftsmarket.com

Ashanti tribe and tradition

Abstract art~ African figures ~ African busts ~ animal skins ~ Tribal Zulu / Ndebele bead work ~ candles ~ candle holders ~ African canes ~ chessboards ~ clay art ~ cooking utensil ~ cushions ~ Tribal drums ~ footwear ~ furniture ~ gemstones ~ hats ~ animal horns ~ handmade jewelry ~ lights & lamp shades ~leather ~ African tribal masks ~ decoupage ostrich eggs ~ paintings ~ postcards ~ Zulu shields ~ stone animals ~ stone eggs ~ tablecloths ~ tableware ~ ~ wire art ~ wood animals ~ wood tableware ~ Zulu woven baskets

 

 

 

 


Your name:

Your e-mail:



Enter your e-mail address above to receive our monthly specials newsletter

SSL Secure Server
image
image

Follow us on facebook
Follow us on twitter
We only sell top quality African arts and crafts that have been handcrafted from some of the most talented African Artist that can be found. We welcome any suggestions or questions that you do have about our crafts or our website.

Maasai Mare artist from Kenya
Maasai Mare artist from Kenya


Read our fair trade practices


All orders are placed on our secure server through 2Checkout.com. We accept most major credit and debit cards
Secure server

Orders shipped within 3 days from our warehouse in South Africa

.

Please e-mail us for out of stock availability or for any product that you are looking for but can't find africancraftsmarket@gmail.com

Home | contact us | checkout | view cart | shipping | currency converter | site map | Products | Text

African Crafts Market. All Rights Reserved.
Questions or Comments? E-mail us at africancraftsmarket@gmail.com

We take any form of Fraud very seriously and will prosecute anybody found trying to do any type of fraud whatsoever on our Website.
2Checkout.com, Inc. is an authorized retailer of AFRICAN CRAFTS MARKET

Zulu people