Most of the population lives in the 10,000-square-mile Zululand reserve along the Indian Ocean, just north of the Sea of Durban. It is a semi-fertile area with a flat coastal plain, highlands to the west, and numerous rivers and streams. The subtropical climate brings lots of sunshine and brief but intense rain showers.
A typical Zulu village is shaped like a horseshoe or circle, with a fence around the perimeter and a livestock pen in the center. Each village is made up of a very large extended family with a chief who serves as a leader.
Most Zulu homes are shaped
like a dome and made of cow dung plaster.
Some of the more modern homes are constructed of cement block with corrugated tin roofs.
Within traditional Zulu household,the father is given utmost respect. Children often fear their father and will not speak to him unless he speaks to them first. The mother's role is less aurthoritarain and more nuturing. It is the mother who passes Zulu folklore, history, and rules of behavior on to the children. If he can afford it, a Zulu man will take more than one wife.
The division of labor between men and women is not an equal arrangement; women do a greater share of the work. This inequality stems from the days when Zulu men spent most of their time as warriors, and women were responsible for most chores in the home. Along with preparing food, cleaning, and caring for the children, women make repairs on the homes, collect water, carry and chop wood, make pots, weave baskets, and brew beer. Men clear the land of trees, construct the homes, and care for the livestock.
In Zulu religous life, great emphasis is placed on ancestor spirits. Offerings and sacrifices are made to these spirits for protection, health, and happiness. Because of this respect for ancestors, the Zulu believe that grave sites are sacred and must never be disturbed; angry spirts might cause harm. They also believe that ancestor spirits sometimes come back to the world in the form of snakes. If a snake appears in a Zulu village, the villagers make an animal sacrifice of a goat or a lamb as an offering to show respect for the visiting snake spirit. The Zulu also believe in one supreme god, whom they call Unkulunkulu, but this god is thought to have less influence on their lives than the ancestor spirits.
Music, dance, and rituals play an important role in Zulu life. Birth, death, and marriage are all occasions for major celebrations that often include the ritual slaughter of an animal. Small goats are often raised expressly for this purpose. The beginning of a new harvest is also marked by major festivities. Dances are performed for many occasions and represent unity among the village. One special dance, performed by young men who are being initiated into manhood, is accompanied by thunderous drumming; the men dress as wariors, wave their clubs, and thrust their cowhide shields forward in order to prove themselves to the chief. Songs are sung to praise members of the Zulu nation and to pass on oral histories. In addition to drums, the Zulu play stringed instruments made out of hollow gourds.If you want to find out more about geography, economics, or culture of Africa, check out these sites: