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Monday, April 30, 2012

Zulu

In the phonetic alphabet, Zulu represents the letter Z. The Zulu Kingdom was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the South to Pongola River in the north. The small kingdom grew to dominate much of Southern Africa until it came into conflict with the British Empire in the 1870s during the Anglo-Zulu War where it was ultimately defeated.

Today the Zulu people are the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated 10–11 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Their language, Zulu, is a Bantu language. Under apartheid, Zulu people were classed as third-class citizens and suffered from state-sanctioned discrimination. Today they are the most numerous ethnic group in South Africa, and now have equal rights along with all other citizens.
source: http://www.culture-cultures.com/culture-in-south-africa/south-africa-culture-tradition.asp

31 comments:

  1. Great choice for Z. And congrats on finishing this.

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  2. Love the mask. I kinda want one now.

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    1. The mask is gorgeous. I'd love to own artwork like that.

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  3. Zulu...awesome. Very informative. And we finally made it. Whew.

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    1. Whew is right! I'm ready for a day off.

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  4. They look like folks I'd enjoy meeting.

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    1. I want them to teach my how to do beading like that.

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  5. What a brilliant way to end the A-Z challenge! Yay for a wonderful resilient culture - still going strong despite such attacks from the outside to destroy them! Yay! Take care
    x

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  6. Amazing. I love the word Zulu and almost used it for mine this morning. :-) Wish I had their jewelry! Awesome new photo up top!

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    1. I love the beadwork they're wearing. love.

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  7. Thanks for the historical post - I learned a lot. I loved your creativity in this A-Z challenge!

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  8. Woo HOO! Congratulations on making it the distance. (Not that I ever doubted ya.) A great finish to a great series. Now, it's time to catch some REAL zees...

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    1. It was fun, but I have to say I'm glad it's over. I'm tired!

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  9. Liked what you did for the A to Z challenge. And I love that new pictures at the top of your page. That sun is amazing.

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    1. thanks LG. It was fun! But I'm glad to get back to my regular posting schedule. Whew!

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  10. Excellent post. I love learning something new, especially when it's something great. Glad to see the Zulus have equal status now.

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  11. I agree with LG - the sun is perfect!

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  12. I'm so glad that I visited your place today!
    You have posted about my country, and specifically about Kwazulu-Natal, the province in which I reside... the Zulu ladies in your picture are dressed in traditional wear... though they have also become very Westernized (especially the younger generation) and where modern clothing...
    In certain villages (mainly in the rural areas) they are very strict and the women do not wear trousers (according to custom)... just some extra tidbits...
    Congrats on completing the challenge!!

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    1. I'm glad you came :) I love the beadwork in the pic; the colors are amazing.

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  13. Zulu..great Z post, beutiful people. Congrats for finishing the A-Z

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    1. thank you! And they are beautiful.

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  14. They have such an interesting and difficult history, don't they. I read Michener's The Covenant several years back and it is one of his anthropological move through time books focused on South Africa. It's really a great glance (and by glance, I mean 800 pages)

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    1. yeah, that's something I like about his books, nice and long and interesting. Haven't read The Covenant though.

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  15. I had a fascination for the Zulu people, and I'm glad to hear that they appear to be a thriving society now.

    Congrats on making it to Z!

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

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