Culture of Kwazulu Natal

Description:

Culture of Kwazulu Natal

Kwazulu Natal uses four of the eleven official languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa.

This represents the subtotal of the beliefs, accomplishments and behaviour patterns of the group through social learning and transmitted from one generation to another in our diverse province.


Location

The subtropical province of Kwazulu Natal known as the 'banana' province is situated between the eastern seaboard and the Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and neighbouring countries like Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. Ti was renamed in 1994 by the merger of Natal and Kwazulu, the former Zulu speaking people and originally stems from the Portuguese explores who landed at Durban on December 25th 1497.

Population

Kwazulu Natal had a population of 8,713,300 in 1995 and today is probably the most populous province of South Africa of which the majority are Zulu and host the largest portion of the country's Asian population.


Languages

The main languages are Zulu - 79 %, English - 16 %, Afrikaans - 2 %, and Xhosa - 1 %.


Afrikaanres

The Afrikaans peoples originally descended from the Dutch and Germans who arrived in the Cape in the 1600’s. They originally lived on farms and were called Boers (meaning farmer). Although most Afrikaners now live in cities, they have managed to preserve the culture and traditions which is a mixture of Dutch German and English influence.

Mostly Afrikaners are members of the Dutch Reform Church, which base its teachings on the Old Te


stament. They are conservative people, however their religious background provided instruments to form the basis of ‘Boeremusiek’ which is a light danceable country music. The Afrikaans is renowned for their braaivleis- equivalent to a barbeque, as well as their passion for rugby and biltong-dried, salted meat.

Most popular foods are the milk tart and ‘gooey’ koeksisters as well as traditional boerewors, which can most simply be described as long meat stuffed sausage.

Their lifestyles are mostly to enjoy a braai and to get together to watch the rugby.


Zulus

South Africa has a vast number of Native Black people, who are grouped and differ in langu age but some are closely related.

The Zulu’s form a large part of KZN’s population. They stem from the Nguni group, but got their name after a man called Shaka Zulu, who founded the Zulu Kingdom.

The Zulu nation is a proud nation that treasure their heritage and are fairly friendly and displaying an unyielding loyalty to their inkosi which is their traditional leader.

They live and treasure their ancestral spirits and demons and ceremonies form the central core of their existence.

The Zulu language is also called Zulu and with some 19,000 words it is also one of the most complex grammars in the world. The Zulu language is rich and expressive, very often punctuated with distinctive click sounds.

Dancing and singing is very much a part of the lifestyle of the Zulu people, and each dance formation or movement symbolizes an event or happening within the clan.

An interesting Zulu tradition is that a man may have more than one wife. But no marriage is considered legitimate until the husband has paid a labolo. This is usually a gift of cattle to the bride’s family, to compensate for their loss. Marriage of members of the same clan is discouraged.

The Zulus have a complex social organization, which has survived the pressures of modern life relatively well. It is based on the Imzi, or group of circular thatched houses, or increasingly brick built. An elder and his extended family occupy each Imzi. Many of these Imzi’s form a sort of village. There are various clan chiefs, however the ultimate head of the Zulu nation is the King. Presently King Goodwill Kwelithini Bhekezulu, his position is purely cultural and socially important as the republic of SA governs the Zulus.

Christianity is widespread among the Zulus, however co-exists with the Zulu religion.

Sangoma’s or traditional healers still practice alongside modern medicine, although supernatural diagnosis is often used. They are fairly well known for their bone throwing rituals.


Xhosas

The Xhosas are another one of the many ethnic groups, which emerged from the Nguni speaking people. To an uninformed person Zulu’s and Xhosa’s would seem to be the same people.

For the Xhosa boys there is initiation in the form of circumcision. It is a


painful experience, but it is shameful to show fear or pain. The boys are given a necklace made of cow hair to protect them.

The chief is invariably the wealthiest man in the tribe and he is expected to be generous and to help his people in times of need. He is not only the father of his tribe, but also the main religious leader.

In the Xhosa culture the wives main task is to care for her husband, she will also continue to work throughout her pregnancy. The children are expected to assume responsibility, such as herding cattle and fetching water.


Indians

Indians immigrated to Kwazulu Natal about 140 years ago in November 1860 mostly as slaves working in the sugarcane farms.


The Indian community has since developed into a thriving element of the South African nation. The Indian community has made a vast contribution to the economic growth of Kwazulu Natal. This success is particularly noticeable in and around Durban where the concentration of Indians is the largest in the world outside of India.

Kwazulu Natal can be seen as a true mixing pot of many cultures forming an integral part of the rainbow nation of South Africa.