The Traditions of Zulu Men
The name Zulu means people of heaven and the Zulu nation reflects their name. The Zulu are a proud people full of life and color. Pride in their African heritage and respect for their traditions keep them a united people even in today's modern world. The traditions of Zulu men speak of a history filled with military activities, hunting expeditions and family responsibilities.
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Traditional Leader
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The traditional leader of a Zulu clan is male. He carries the title of Inkosi, and is viewed by his people as a father figure. He is a spiritual symbol for his tribe and is considered to be the source of their wealth and well being.
Stick Fighting
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The warlike influence of the Shaka regime can still be seen among the male traditions. For instance the umshiza, which are demonstrations of stick fighting used to settle private differences, between male teens and also adult males, in a public setting.
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Wealth And Bride Price
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Among the Zulu the ownership of cattle is not only essential for survival, it is one of the measures of a man's worth. The men and herd boys are responsible for keeping the cattle which is quite a task considering they are maintained on open ranges. A man's wealth is seated in his cattle because the women own the houses. The lobola is a traditional system that requires a price to be paid to marry a daughter, this compensates a father for the loss of his daughter when she gets married. If a woman proves to be infertile or dies before producing a child then the father is required to provide a replacement without demanding a second bride price.
The Slaying of the Bull
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Ukweshwama is an annual ceremony to celebrate the harvest. During Ukweshwama there is a traditional slaying of a bull. The bull is placed in a kraal (pen) with 40 Zulu warriors. These warriors are a new regiment, the regiment is required to face the bull to demonstrate their courage. It is believed by the Zulu that upon the bull's death his strength is transferred to the warriors, and that it is then transferred to the Zulu king.
Dances of Life
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Dance is a large part of the Zulu culture for men and women both. The hunting dance is a challenging dance performed by the men that imitates real-life hunts for dangerous beasts such as lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. The dance involves mock attacks, retreating from imaginary animals. Plain sticks are used in this dance rather then spears to avoid injuries.
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References
- Photo Credit zulu village image by TEMISTOCLE LUCARELLI from Fotolia.com
