A Zulu kind of day...

We are now in the Indian Ocean and our ship docked early this morning in Richards Bay, South Africa.  Located halfway between Durban and Kosi Bay, it is one of South Africa's largest harbors. Richards Bay has a humid, subtropical climate the year around. Given that, its farmers grow many agricultural crops such as corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables, nuts (groundnuts, pecans, macadamias). It also produces a lot of beef, poultry, mutton, wool, fish and seafood. Our guide stressed that Zulus are big on meat! They also mine and export coal, minerals, wood and more. In spite of this, Richards Bay still has a 40% unemployment rate.

Our trip today was a trip to a Zulu Cultural Village, located about 1 hour 15 minutes outside the city. Our guide told us a lot about the history and culture of the Zulu people. Their ancestors originally migrated from west Africa into southeastern Africa in the region known as KwaZulu-Natal, which is where the Cultural Village is. The Zulus are the single largest ethnic group in South Africa.

 

Ronnie with Zulu warrior painting

friendly warrior puts his headpiece on me

Zulu village - thatched, domed houses

our guide

The people who work at the village actually do live there, but it's because this is where they work. The Zulus no longer live in thatched houses like the ones pictured above. Their houses are now built of sturdier materials than what their ancestors had.

But even today Zulu homeowners build at least one (small) round house on their property because they believe it will help their ancestors recognize the house and be better able to find them. Their religion seems to be a very mixed bag of Christianity plus other things (syncretism). There was definitely some voodoo thrown in there as well during some of the dance performances. I asked our guide afterwards and she confirmed it, even spelling the word voodoo out for me.

I read “Ancestral spirits are important in Zulu religious life, and offerings and sacrifices are made to the ancestors for protection, good health, and happiness. Ancestral spirits come back to the world in the form of dreams, illnesses, and sometimes snakes. The Zulu also believe in the use of magic.”  

 

Zulu warrior

about to demonstrate how they cut meat

Zulu woman bead crafter

Polygamy is still accepted and practiced in Zulu culture today, but each wife has to have her own living quarters, etc so many simply can’t afford it. There are lots of traditions regarding courtship and marriage and the uniting of 2 families. In their culture, the bride must be bought with 11 cows. Like Hillary Clinton, the Zulus believe it “takes a village” to raise a child and anyone and everyone can correct or discipline any child that isn’t behaving properly. Our guide (who is Zulu) shared many other things about their culture. The clothing (or lack of) and the beads all have certain meanings as well.

 

one of the tribal dancers

shy boy

carrying a heavy pot on her head

close up of warrior/dancer (above)

 

My favorite kind of travel photography is “people” photography. Again, I took my camera with telephoto lens as well as my cell phone, so I was able to get a number of close ups. The people were friendly and they know that a bunch of tourists will bring cameras. Of course they expect and appreciate tips. P.S. I got to try carrying a basket on my head - I did pretty good - for a few seconds. Then I tried walking with it up there...NOT easy!

 

 

I forgot what he was demonstrating!

another of the shy one

 

cute kid - just liked this one