The Zulu
Who were these people in the past?
Hundreds of years ago, before the Zulu were the powerful army that they once were, they lived in isolated family groups and partly nomadic northern Nguni groups. They would move around in search of food and grazing for their cattle, creating loose borders around territories. Nearing the end of the 18th century, a political process of unification among the different groups was beginning to take place. Quite a few powerful families and chiefdoms began to rise, and a change from pastoral and simple society to a more organised and political group happened. Given this change, leaders were able to have more authority over their supporters and to gain allies from conquered groups. Zulu chiefs wanted steadily increasing tribute, or taxes, thus gaining great wealth. They created large and powerful armies, and often defeated neighboring chiefdoms. These military successes allowed certain men to become more important than others, this concluded, though in early 19th century when the warrior-king Shaka conquered all of the groups in Zululand, uniting them into one single Zulu nation that impacted both southern and central Africa. Shaka was in power from 1816 to 1828, when his half-brothers Dingaan and Mhlangana assassinated him. After Shaka’s death, the Zulu kingdom was weakened and Dingaan became king.
By the late 19th century, British troops had invaded the Zulu’s land and had divided the land into different chiefdoms. These happenings became known as the Anglo-Zulu wars, ranging from 1879 to 1896. In 1983, before the Anglo-Zulu wars were over, Kwa-Zulu Natal received colonial government, even though it was dissatisfying to the Zulu people. In 1906, there was one last Zulu uprising led by Chief Bambatha. It was used as a response to harshly executed and unfair laws, along with unethical actions from the Natal government. What caused this last uprising, was the craftiness of the 1905 poll tax of one euro per head, which was originally introduced to increase revenue and to get more Zulu to start working for money. The rebellion was defeated before its cause was solved.
In the 1920’s, many Zulu men and women began to work for the mines and made up a large part of the workforce in South Africa throughout the century. In 1940, however, Apartheid was announced, causing much stress and discrimination for the native South Africans. In the 1960’s, the Government decided to form a ‘Tribal Authority’ and to provide for the development of self-governing Bantu national units. In 1970, the first Territorial Authority for the Zulu was established, and KwaZulu was defined as the Zulu homeland. 1972 brought the first Legislative Assembly of KwaZulu being constituted by the South African Parliamentary Proclamation; Chief Mangosutho Buthelezi was elected as the Chief Executive. The 1970’s also brought the revival of the Inkatha Freedom Party, which was the sole party, and ruling party of the self-governing KwaZulu. Led by Buthelezi, they worked within NP governments system, even though they opposed homeland independence and stood for non-racial democracy, federalism, and free enterprise.
Hundreds of years ago, before the Zulu were the powerful army that they once were, they lived in isolated family groups and partly nomadic northern Nguni groups. They would move around in search of food and grazing for their cattle, creating loose borders around territories. Nearing the end of the 18th century, a political process of unification among the different groups was beginning to take place. Quite a few powerful families and chiefdoms began to rise, and a change from pastoral and simple society to a more organised and political group happened. Given this change, leaders were able to have more authority over their supporters and to gain allies from conquered groups. Zulu chiefs wanted steadily increasing tribute, or taxes, thus gaining great wealth. They created large and powerful armies, and often defeated neighboring chiefdoms. These military successes allowed certain men to become more important than others, this concluded, though in early 19th century when the warrior-king Shaka conquered all of the groups in Zululand, uniting them into one single Zulu nation that impacted both southern and central Africa. Shaka was in power from 1816 to 1828, when his half-brothers Dingaan and Mhlangana assassinated him. After Shaka’s death, the Zulu kingdom was weakened and Dingaan became king.
By the late 19th century, British troops had invaded the Zulu’s land and had divided the land into different chiefdoms. These happenings became known as the Anglo-Zulu wars, ranging from 1879 to 1896. In 1983, before the Anglo-Zulu wars were over, Kwa-Zulu Natal received colonial government, even though it was dissatisfying to the Zulu people. In 1906, there was one last Zulu uprising led by Chief Bambatha. It was used as a response to harshly executed and unfair laws, along with unethical actions from the Natal government. What caused this last uprising, was the craftiness of the 1905 poll tax of one euro per head, which was originally introduced to increase revenue and to get more Zulu to start working for money. The rebellion was defeated before its cause was solved.
In the 1920’s, many Zulu men and women began to work for the mines and made up a large part of the workforce in South Africa throughout the century. In 1940, however, Apartheid was announced, causing much stress and discrimination for the native South Africans. In the 1960’s, the Government decided to form a ‘Tribal Authority’ and to provide for the development of self-governing Bantu national units. In 1970, the first Territorial Authority for the Zulu was established, and KwaZulu was defined as the Zulu homeland. 1972 brought the first Legislative Assembly of KwaZulu being constituted by the South African Parliamentary Proclamation; Chief Mangosutho Buthelezi was elected as the Chief Executive. The 1970’s also brought the revival of the Inkatha Freedom Party, which was the sole party, and ruling party of the self-governing KwaZulu. Led by Buthelezi, they worked within NP governments system, even though they opposed homeland independence and stood for non-racial democracy, federalism, and free enterprise.
How did they lose their position in their country?
Before the Anglo-Zulu wars starting in 1879 and ending in 1896, the Zulu were a powerful group of fierce warriors. When the British troops arrived, the Zulu peoples various weapons were no match for the Europeans guns and swords. The Anglo-Zulu wars started when Sir Bartle Frere, the appointed high commissioner to South Africa in 1879, thought that the self-reliant Zulu kingdom was a threat to his policy. His policy was the Policy of Confederation, which was set to bring the various British colonies of Boer republics, and independent African groups under common control, with the purpose of putting into action a policy of economic development. After Shepstone, the Secretary for Native Affairs supported Sir Bartle Frere’s views, there was an ultimatum; that the Zulu people should disarm and Cetshwayo, the leader at the time, should forsake his sovereignty.
The invasion of Zululand began when the ultimatum expired, on January 10th 1879, and the first attack was made two days later. Overall, the Anglo-Zulu wars probably had the most impact on the Zulu’s position in their country, because they no longer had the economy or freedom that they had established for themselves. They were forced to work at mines to make a living, and in 1883 they received Colonial Government, which is when a country is governed by the country that has colonized it. They did not enjoy this, and it played a part in the Zulu’s losing their former position in South Africa. Since then, the Zulu language is one of the national languages of South Africa, there are over 10 million Zulu people alive today, and they have their own political party known as the Inkatha Freedom Party. Overall, even though at a time they were enslaved by the Europeans and forced to change their ways, they have somewhat regained what they once lost.
Before the Anglo-Zulu wars starting in 1879 and ending in 1896, the Zulu were a powerful group of fierce warriors. When the British troops arrived, the Zulu peoples various weapons were no match for the Europeans guns and swords. The Anglo-Zulu wars started when Sir Bartle Frere, the appointed high commissioner to South Africa in 1879, thought that the self-reliant Zulu kingdom was a threat to his policy. His policy was the Policy of Confederation, which was set to bring the various British colonies of Boer republics, and independent African groups under common control, with the purpose of putting into action a policy of economic development. After Shepstone, the Secretary for Native Affairs supported Sir Bartle Frere’s views, there was an ultimatum; that the Zulu people should disarm and Cetshwayo, the leader at the time, should forsake his sovereignty.
The invasion of Zululand began when the ultimatum expired, on January 10th 1879, and the first attack was made two days later. Overall, the Anglo-Zulu wars probably had the most impact on the Zulu’s position in their country, because they no longer had the economy or freedom that they had established for themselves. They were forced to work at mines to make a living, and in 1883 they received Colonial Government, which is when a country is governed by the country that has colonized it. They did not enjoy this, and it played a part in the Zulu’s losing their former position in South Africa. Since then, the Zulu language is one of the national languages of South Africa, there are over 10 million Zulu people alive today, and they have their own political party known as the Inkatha Freedom Party. Overall, even though at a time they were enslaved by the Europeans and forced to change their ways, they have somewhat regained what they once lost.
What is their reality today?
In South Africa today, the Zulu people have the freedom to choose many aspects of their lives. Following the demolition of Apartheid in the 1990’s, the Zulu have the right to pick their religion, where they live, and the homeland set up for the Zulu in the 1970’s, consisting of only a small portion of the original Zululand, is open to people of all races and religions. The Zulu have their own political party, the Inkatha Freedom Party, which is led by Chief Mangosutho Gatsha Buthelezi. Both before and after the elections of 1994, the Inkatha Freedom Party stated that the African National Congress did not represent their interests, which resulted in multiple clashes between the two parties. However, in the June elections of 1999, they formed a truce and the Inkatha Freedom Party gained many more followers in South Africa, thus forming one of the leading opposition parties.
There is still much poverty in South Africa, although equality is much more prominent than it was during the 20th century. From the census taken in 2001, there are approximately 10, 659, 309 Zulu people living in Africa. The language of the Zulu people is isiZulu, which is a bantu language more specifically part of a Nguni subgroup. Currently, Zulu is the most widely spoken language across South Africa, with over nine million first-language speakers, and fifteen million second-language speakers. Under Apartheid, the Zulu were considered third-class citizens and suffered from state-sanctioned discrimination. In modern day South Africa, Zulu people remain the most numerous ethnic group throughout South Africa, and have equal rights along with all of the other citizens in South Africa.
In South Africa today, the Zulu people have the freedom to choose many aspects of their lives. Following the demolition of Apartheid in the 1990’s, the Zulu have the right to pick their religion, where they live, and the homeland set up for the Zulu in the 1970’s, consisting of only a small portion of the original Zululand, is open to people of all races and religions. The Zulu have their own political party, the Inkatha Freedom Party, which is led by Chief Mangosutho Gatsha Buthelezi. Both before and after the elections of 1994, the Inkatha Freedom Party stated that the African National Congress did not represent their interests, which resulted in multiple clashes between the two parties. However, in the June elections of 1999, they formed a truce and the Inkatha Freedom Party gained many more followers in South Africa, thus forming one of the leading opposition parties.
There is still much poverty in South Africa, although equality is much more prominent than it was during the 20th century. From the census taken in 2001, there are approximately 10, 659, 309 Zulu people living in Africa. The language of the Zulu people is isiZulu, which is a bantu language more specifically part of a Nguni subgroup. Currently, Zulu is the most widely spoken language across South Africa, with over nine million first-language speakers, and fifteen million second-language speakers. Under Apartheid, the Zulu were considered third-class citizens and suffered from state-sanctioned discrimination. In modern day South Africa, Zulu people remain the most numerous ethnic group throughout South Africa, and have equal rights along with all of the other citizens in South Africa.