The Songs of Zululand

Zulu culture is not just about the history of a proud nation. It is about people and communities, happy events and poignant moments. The songs and dances of the Zulu people are famous all over the world but what most people see is Zulu culture presented as history whereas it is in fact a living and dynamic experience practiced by Zulu people every day.

Nowadays the Zulu people sing and dance not about great warriors or preparing for battle or lost loves - rather they express emotions about studying for exams, travelling by train to the city and - well, yes, lost loves (some things never change!).

Celebrate the living culture of the Zuluas practiced and performed by the school children on the tourism route to the Umfolozi Game Reserve.

There is no charge for Songs of Zululand but donations are encouraged. Donation boxes are situated at each school. All cojtributions are collected by the Mtubatuba Publicity Association, audited and paid over to the schools to fund selected projects.

Teachers from each school will be on hand to welcome visitors and explain the dances and the songs performed.

Northern Zululand, historically the least developed area in South Africa, boasts a rich ethnic culture. The Mtubatuba Publicity Association has implemented tourism awareness programmes in the area, targetted specifically at schoolchildren. The philosophy is that scholl children will enthusuastically talk to their friends and family and so engender an awareness of the benfits of tourism throughout the community.

Armed with this knowledge, the Mtubatuba Publicity Association launched Songs of Zululand with four schools in the area taking turns on four selected weekday afternoons to host visitors.

It is a unique project, presenting Zulu culture by young involved Zulu children.

• Visitors are encouraged to be at the designated schools on the allocated day
• Bookings are NOT necessary
• The children eagerly await visitors
• Teachers will be on hand to explain the dances
• The schools are conveniently situated between the Nyalazi gate of Umfolozi Game Reserve and the main N2 highway
• Performances are not held during schoo holidays (July and December)
• Starting times may vary according to when visitors arrive
• Ablution facilities are at the Nyalazi Gate to the Reserve.

Performed by males in groups of about 20, standing in a straight line or slight arc. The lead sings the counterpoint or rhythm. The music form is balladic and the group makes up new lyrics to old melodies. Lyrics often refer to modern issues. The music form is part of the psyche of the Zulu, symbolizing life in rural areas. Whenever a group of Zulus gather, no matter where in the world, they will sing isicathimiya.

Zulu rhythms and movement adapted to gospel songs. The words are acted out in gestures and motion with boys and girls of all ages participating.

These are wedding songs. At a Zulu wedding, the guests form two groups, one supporting the bride and the other the groom. The two groups take turns in singing the praises of their respective spouses to be, which develops into friendly rivalry as each group tries to better with fulsome praise and the beauty of their singing. Boys and girls take part although the girls will perform alone.

Similar to isicathimiya, but much livelier, fusing the old music form with contemporary expression. The singers always wear white shirts with a splash of red, such as their braces.

A tradtitional dance performed by boys and girls without drums and accompanied by a chant. The girls wear woollen skirts and are usually bare breasted.

A modernised form of Ingoma, which originated on the Durban docks when ingoma dancers discovered that their regulation Wellington boots , when stamped, sounded like drums. It was eveolved into an art form by the migrant workers from Zululand who took this dance to the gold mines of the Witwatersrand.

The traditional dance most commonly associated with Zulu culture. Performed with drums and full traditional attire of skins and shields. It is derived from the war dances of the warriors. In the finale, the dancers take turns to perform a challenging step, lifting their legs high in the air before stamping their feet.

For school children, the traditional dances have been adapted, particularly to protect the skins used by performers which are often from endangered animals and require special permission to acquire.

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