Zulu people facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Zulus
Zoulous (Shakaland).jpg
Total population
10,659,309 (2001 census)
Regions with significant populations
 South Africa
KwaZulu-Natal 7.6 million
Gauteng 1.9 million
Mpumalanga 0.8 million
Free State 0.14 million
Languages
Zulu
(many also speak English, Afrikaans, Portuguese, or other indigenous languages such as Xhosa)
Religion
Christian, African traditional religion
Related ethnic groups
Bantu · Nguni · Basotho · Xhosa · Swazi · Matabele · Khoisan · Afro-Iranians
 person  umZulu
 people  amaZulu
 language  isiZulu
 country  kwaZulu

The Zulu (Zulu: amaZulu) are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. There are 10-11 million Zulu living in South Africa, mostly in KwaZulu-Natal province. A small number of Zulu also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. The Zulu language, called isiZulu, is a Bantu language of the Nguni subgroup.

The Zulu Kingdom was very important in South African history during the 1800s and 1900s. During Apartheid, the Zulu people were third-class citizens and suffered from official discrimination. Today the Zulu people are the largest ethnic group in South Africa and have equal rights.

Beginning

The Zulu were originally a major clan in the area that is today Northern KwaZulu-Natal. The Zulu clan was started around the year 1709 by Zulu kaNtombhela. In the Nguni languages, the words iZulu, iliZulu, and liTulu mean heaven, or sky.

In the early 1700s, many large Nguni communities and clans lived in the area. These groups were called isizwe (nations) and isibongo (clans). These Nguni communities had migrated down the East coast of Africa over thousands of years. These movements of people were called the Bantu migrations. They probably arrived in what is today South Africa in the 800s.

Isaacs - Sjaka, Koning van die Zulu (1836) crop
Shaka, king of the Zulu. An engraving based on a sketch by Lt. James King, a merchant in Port Natal.

Related pages

Images for kids

  • ZuluWarriors adj

    Zulu warriors, late nineteenth century(Europeans in background)

  • Zuludänzer

    Zulu man performing traditional warrior dance

  • Zulumammakand

    Zulu mother and child

  • Zulu village 4

    Zulu village women in traditional clothing.

  • IQhugwane-binneruimte in die Mtonjaneni-museum

    Interior space of a traditional beehive hut, or iQhugwane

  • AAC Worshippers

    Zulu worshippers at a United African Apostolic Church, near Oribi Gorge

  • Traditional Zulu dance

    Traditional Zulu dance


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Zulu people Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.