In the Zulu religion, the world of the gods can be contacted only by first invoking the ancestors through a diviner, an important person in daily affairs. All bad things are believed to be the result of offended spirit beings or sorcery. Cleanliness is paramount in Zulu belief. All people are expected to bathe at least once a day and sometimes two or three times. The rules about cleanliness apply to meals as well, as separate dishes are used for separate foods. Ukqili, “the wise one”, is the chief god of the Zulu pantheon. He controls the lightning. When lightning strikes a cow, it is assumed that Ukqili is hungry, and the dead animal becomes a sacrifice.
Umvelinqangi is the all-present Zulu creator god, who manifests himself as thunder and earthquakes. He created the primeval reeds from which the supreme god Unkulunkulu emerged. Unkulunkulu, which means “ancestor”, is the primary creator god. He grew on a reed in the mythical swamp of Uthlanga. Three other major deities are Inkosazana, a goddess who makes the crops grow and is venerated in springtime; Mamlambo, who is the mother goddess and goddess of rivers; and Mbaba Mwana Waresa, the goddess of rain and the rainbow, agriculture, and the harvest. It is she who gave humans the gift of beer. The Amadlozi are the ancestors of the Zulus. Humans can invoke the help of the spirit world by calling upon them. Other ancestral spirits are the imilozi, or whistlers, who whistle as they speak.
The Zulu started as a clan that belonged to a larger group of people called the Nguni. The Nguni migrated south from central East Africa in the 16th century to the Natal region. As they settled the Zulu built beehive shaped grass huts to live in. The Zulu people believe that they are the direct descendents of a chief called Zulu (which means heaven in the Nguni language). After the death of Zulu, his descendants called themselves abakwaZulu (people of Zulu). The Zulu people also call themselves Abantsundu, which means “brown people”. By the early 19th century the Zulu had become the strongest military force in southern Africa (under the leadership of the powerful but violent Shaka). They raided and killed many neighbors and took their land, goods and women. Soon after this, however (around 1830), they had to face the growing colonial presence of the British, who wanted to control the entire southern part of Africa.
Zulu mythology, Is based on the Indigenous religion located in South Africa. In Zulu mythology, the indigenous people believe in their Creator Unkulunkulu. According to the Zulu myth creation story; before any sight of man or any creature roamed the earth, the earth was covered with darkness and there was one single seed. And that single seed went deep into the earth, and from that seed long reeds began to grow from it. From those reeds which were also called Uthlanga: which means the source of all things. And slowly the first reed that grew, turned out to grow into a man, and he was called Unkulunkulu. He was known for being the creator of all things, and the larger he continued to grow the heavier he became. And when he finally became fully grown he broke off the reed and fell onto earth, and he began to roam the earth and seen that the other reeds were producing men and women. Unkulukulu then broke off the first men and women, medicine men and their dreams, he pulled off the cattle, the birds, and all of the animals. He then began to create the mountains, lakes, valleys, the elements such as wind, rain, the sun and the moon. Unkulukulu also taught the men and women on how to hunt, make fire and how to cloth their selves.
Isiququmadevu is a creature from Zulu mythology. Said to dwell along the Zambezi River in Zambia, she is described as huge, hunchbacked and bearded. She is amphibious, spending equal time in the water and on land. Revered as a deity by some, Isiququmadevu is said to swallow children whole. One story tells of a Zulu tribal chief whose children were eaten by Isiququmadevu. The chief stabbed her in the back hump, killing her and causing the children to spill from her maw unharmed.
The Abatwa a race of very small tiny fairies who ride on ants and live amongst them. They were born when the nature spirit Vash’Nok cried and his tears fell to the earth. The tears burst and formed into this diminutive little people. The Abatwa are very shy seclusive and can only be seen by children, pregant women and magic prationers. The Abatwa are highly skilled hunters and warriors, they wield poisionous darts and arrows to protect themselves because of their size and if you were to step on one it could be a possible death sentence for you.
The Ninki Nanka (or Grootslang) is a dragon from the myths and folklore of South Africa and Botswana. It is said to be a animal so powerful that G0D Himself limited it to only one or two individuals at a time, since 4 or more would destroy the Earth, His creation. The Ninki Nanka is a flesh and blood creature, but is said to be so powerful, so strong, that even supernatural beings and armies of angels couldn’t kill it. It is described as so massive that to try to see it would cause insanity out of fear, and to “turn to stone” (which means ‘to become so scared that you become stiff and catatonic’, not literally turn to stone).
All the tribes in Southern Africa, including the Zulu tribe, with the exception of the San / Bushmen, originate from the central African regions, and has migrated over the past few hundred years south.
There are various reasons for this movement of the tribes, ranging from the natural expansion of tribal people looking for grazing for their live-stock, and the conflicts between tribes.
The Zulu myth on their creation is as follows:
The Ancient One, known as Unkulunkulu, is the Zulu creator.
He came from the reeds (anga, means source) and from them he brought forth the people and the cattle.
He created everything that is: mountains, streams, all creatures wild and domestic.
He taught the Zulu how to hunt, how to make fire, and how to grow food.
He is considered to be the First Man, and is in everything, that he created
South Africa Myths and Legends
South Africa is a country rich in history and culture, containing some of the world’s oldest archaeological sites. It has accumulated a series of myths and legends over the years to reflect the country’s personality. Due to the number of civilisations which inhabit South Africa, there are an endless variety of stories to be told, from Zulu mythology to the San religion.
One day, a hungry hyena came across a fork in the road, with two separate paths each leading to two goats caught in the thickets. Unable to choose a path, the hyena decided it would tread the left path with its left legs and walk along the right path with its right legs. However, as the paths grew further away from each other, the hyena was eventually split in half. Two roads overcame the hyena is a well-known African proverb, meant to encourage people to choose a path and commit to it – otherwise they will be stretched too thin, like the poor hyena!
Shaka kaSenzangakhona (c. 1787 – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu (Zulu pronunciation: [ˈʃaːɠa]) and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. He was one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, responsible for re-organizing the military into a formidable force via a series of wide-reaching and influential reforms. King Shaka was born in the lunar month of uNtulikazi (July) in the year of 1787 near present-day Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal Province, the son of the Zulu King Senzangakhona kaJama. Spurned as an illegitimate son, Shaka spent his childhood in his mother’s settlements, where he was initiated into an ibutho lempi (fighting unit), serving as a warrior under Inkosi Dingiswayo.
Shaka Zulu: Founding Father of the Zulu Nation
The name Shaka Zulu has become synonymous with battle. His army devastated anyone who stood in his way. A lot has been said about Shaka Zulu. There is very little that has been written about King Shaka from the African perspective. Some of the things written by non-Africans are factually incorrect. We want to tell the story from an African position. Before Shaka was born, a prophetess by the name Sithayi, prophesied that ‘a child will be born who will bring about a new order and a new nation.’ He was a military genius in Africa. He was a nation builder and not a blood thirsty killer. He was not a ruthless assassin. In those days your father’s name became your surname. Shaka’s grandfather’s name was Zulu. When he became king, Shaka said, let us have an identity and call ourselves Zulu people. He was the first to call his people ‘Zulu people’, hence he is known as the founder of the Zulu nation despite the fact that he inherited an already existing throne.
The Zulus are noted for being mighty warriors and their creation story is just as formidable. It goes thus:
“The Ancient One, known as Unkulunkulu, is the Zulu creator. He came from the reeds (anga, means source) and from them he brought forth the people and the cattle. He created everything that is: mountains, streams, all creatures wild and domestic. He taught the Zulu how to hunt, how to make fire, and how to grow food. He is considered to be the First Man, and is in everything that he created.”
The Zulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with a population of between 10 and 12 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Zulu tribe originated from the Ngunis who inhabited central and eastern Africa. They migrated to Southern Africa as part of the ‘Bantu Migration’ which occurred centuries ago. One of the most famous Zulu chief was Shaka (1816 to 1828) who founded the Zulu empire. He is credited with uniting more than one hundred independent Nguni chiefdoms into a formidable fighting force. Shaka armed his warriors with short-handled stabbing spears for close-contact fighting and trained them to move up to their opponents in close formation with the body-length cowhide shields forming an almost impenetrable barrier to long-handled assegai thrown by enemy forces. Like many other cultures, the Zulu people believe that a person’s life continues in the spirit world after death. Every person who dies within the Zulu tribe must be buried traditionally or the deceased may become a wandering spirit. An animal is slaughtered as a ritual and the deceased person’s personal belongings are buried with them to help them on their next journey. Ancestors, known as amadlozi and abaphansi, are believed to live in the spirit world, unKulunkulu, and are regarded as intermediaries between the spirit world and the world of the living. Ancestors make their presence known through dreams, sickness, and snakes. At opportune times like birth, puberty, marriage, and death, the ancestors are asked for blessings, good luck, fortune, guidance and other assistance. Sacrifices of animals are made to appease the ancestors and offerings of home-made beer and other things are given as offerings.
Indigenous Peoples Literature 