The Zulu tribe is one of the most widely known tribes in Africa, mainly because of the very vital part that it played in the continent’s history. Originally, the Zulu tribe emanated from the Ngunis who inhabited the central and Eastern Africa and subsequently migrated to the Southern Africa in the “Bantu Migration” which occurred centuries ago. The Zulu tribe represents the largest population of ethnic groups in South Africa; making up to 10-11 million people. They are known for their strong fighting spirit which has fashioned renowned warriors in history including the likes of Shaka Zulu who played a prominent role in various Zulu wars. The history of South Africa would not be complete without the mentioning of the Zulu tribe. Outlined below are interesting truths about the Zulu tribe you should know.

Home of the Zulu Tribe

As much as there are some scattered Zulu- speaking people all over the provinces, the majority of the Zulu-speaking people live in KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. Most of the 9 million Zulu-speakers in South Africa reside in this province or have migrated initially from this province to other provinces in South Africa. Since a majority of its population are Zulu-speaking people, it is therefore known as the home of the Zulu Tribe.

See Also: South African Tribes – Historic Facts and Figures

Language 

The Zulu tribe speaks their language which is known as IsiZulu, a widely spoken language in South Africa. It mostly features respect terms which are words used while addressing older people. Using first names on an older person is normally frowned upon by the tribe and instead, they use terms such as Baba for father and Mama for mother even when the senior individuals are not the parents of the person addressing them.