South Africa- African Zulu History

While the history of South Africa is full of hardships and apartheid, there stands a tribe today that has left a major impact on the history of South Africa.

Zulu Warriors
A famous fearsome warrior was the mighty King Shaka. Prior to King Shaka, the Zulu consisted of numerous related but disorganized clans. As a mighty warrior and intellectual, King Shaka united the clans into a single and powerful tribe. By introducing new military tactics and strategies, in just 11 years, King Shaka built an army of 1,500 to 50,000 warriors. When the British decided that South Africa was their land, they fought the Zulu tribe in fearsome battles. The Zulu warriors fought with the strength and courage of a lion; however they eventually fell to the shield piercing British gunpowder.

The Zulu tribe in that time were more than a group of fearsome warriors; they were also a vibrant culture full of exquisite costumes, and soul enchanting music.

Zulu Dance



Zulu Music
A singing style that originated from the Zulu tribe is called Isicathamiya. People from the Zulu tribe were taken from their homes and families to work in the mines of South Africa. Poorly treated, these men decided to sing together in unison to keep themselves busy and entertained. Today, Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a group that represents this type of music.



Here is a link to some more Zulu inspired music
http://www.rhapsody.com/ladysmith-black-mambazo