Dark Origins: African myths and legends, The Zulus – Part 1
Posted: April 27, 2022 Filed under: Dark Origins, Mythology and Legend | Tags: African Legend, BuffaloThorn Bush, Dark Origins, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Writing to be Read, Zulu 40 Comments
The Zulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with a population of between 10 and 12 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Zulu tribe originated from the Ngunis who inhabited central and eastern Africa. They migrated to Southern Africa as part of the ‘Bantu Migration’ which occurred centuries ago.
One of the most famous Zulu chief was Shaka (1816 to 1828) who founded the Zulu empire. He is credited with uniting more than one hundred independent Nguni chiefdoms into a formidable fighting force. Shaka armed his warriors with short-handled stabbing spears for close-contact fighting and trained them to move up to their opponents in close formation with the body-length cowhide shields forming an almost impenetrable barrier to long-handled assegai thrown by enemy forces.
This is the theme song from the Shaka Zulu TV show called We are Growing:
The first interesting Zulu cultural belief I want to share is about the Buffalo Thorn tree.
Like many other cultures, the Zulu people believe that a person’s life continues in the spirit world after death. Every person who dies within the Zulu tribe must be buried traditionally or the deceased may become a wandering spirit. An animal is slaughtered as a ritual and the deceased person’s personal belongings are buried with them to help them on their next journey.
Ancestors, known as amadlozi and abaphansi, are believed to live in the spirit world, unKulunkulu, and are regarded as intermediaries between the spirit world and the world of the living. Ancestors make their presence known through dreams, sickness, and snakes. At opportune times like birth, puberty, marriage, and death, the ancestors are asked for blessings, good luck, fortune, guidance and other assistance. Sacrifices of animals are made to appease the ancestors and offerings of home-made beer and other things are given as offerings.
The buffalo thorn blooms in southern Africa from October to Zulu. It is a deciduous tree and sheds its silvery-grey leaves annually. It is unusual in that its thorns grow in pairs with one thorn being straight and the other hooked. This makes this tree an effective perimeter barrier.
In Zulu culture, a twig from the Buffalo Thorn is used to collect the spirit of a deceased person from their place of death, and taken to their final resting place. If the transporter of the spirit travels, the branch will have its own seat in the vehicle.
In a traditional Zulu kraal, the beehive hut on the highest point, furthest from the entrance, is occupied by the chief’s mother and is also home to the family’s ancestors. Modern Zulu settlements all have a beehive shaped traditional spirit hut.
It is also common for the Zulu people to plant a Buffalo Thorn tree at the site of a graveyard or mass burial site.
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has short stories and poems in several anthologies and has 2 published novels, Through the Nethergate, a historical supernatural fantasy, and A Ghost and His Gold, a historical paranormal novel set in South Africa.
Roberta has 9 children’s books published under the name Robbie Cheadle.
Roberta was educated at the University of South Africa where she achieved a Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1996 and a Honours Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1997. She was admitted as a member of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2000.
Roberta has worked in corporate finance from 2001 until the present date and has written 7 publications relating to investing in Africa. She has won several awards over her 20-year career in the category of Transactional Support Services.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
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Writing to be Read 
Such an interesting article. Thank you Robbie
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My pleasure, Bernadette. I will send my recipe to you today.
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Reblogged this on and commented:
I am over at Writing to be Read with April’s Dark Origins – African myths and legends post. This month, I am featuring the Zulu people and the famous Zulu king, Shaka. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.
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The information about the Buffalo Thorn is fascinating. Those are some big thorns!
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Hi Liz, they are interesting thorns, but know where near as long and sharp as Karoo Sweet Thorn tree thorns. These ones can pierce a car tire and go right thought the sole of your shoe. The Afrikaans people call Buffalo Thorn “blinkbaar wag-‘n-bietjie meaning shiny leaf wait a while which refers to the difficulty of removing the complex thorns once hooked.
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In comparison, our thorned bushes are definitely “prickers.”
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The Buffalo Thorn tree is vicious looking! It must be difficult to work with without getting injured. Very interesting article, Robbie.
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Hi Priscilla, that is exactly right. That is why it makes a good barrier.
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Fascinating, thanks Robbie.
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I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Darlene.
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Thanks for sharing this information about the Zulus and their traditions, Robbie. I enjoyed learning about the Buffalo Thorn Tree and its importance in their funeral rituals. I do like how the world of nature plays a role in connecting the living with those passed.
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HI Barbara, the African people have some very practical traditional and cultural beliefs. Before I wrote Sir Chocolate and the Fondant Five story book, I wanted to do an African themed book. I asked one of my work colleagues what fairy like creatures the Xhosa’s have (that is her people). She said that they only have beliefs about animals and ancestors, hence that particular book was born.
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Oh, that’s interesting, Robbie!
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Fascinating, Robbie!
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Thank you, Chris
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As always, a very intriguing post, Robbie. I especially loved learning about the Buffalo Thorn tree.
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I found that tradition very interesting, Mae. I’m glad you also did 💕
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I can see why this tree would be considered magic. It’s not a bad idea to honor spirit and ancestors either. (K)
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Ancestors play a big role in African beliefs and culture. Thanks for visiting, Kerfe 😊
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It’s sweet how much their culture involves rituals for their ancestors. I have trouble getting my children interested in even knowing theirs.
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Hi Jan, both my kids love history. They didn’t have much option with me dragging them around museums before they could even walk.
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Another great post Robbie. Is this television show one supported by the Zulu people. Is it for people to learn about their history. The song and video were wonderful.
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HI Carla, I don’t watch TV so I haven’t seen the mini series. I like Margaret Singana, she was also in the famous theatre show Ipi Tombi. I watched this video and it is in line with my own historical knowledge of Shaka and his life. I have not read any negative reviews of this show from any local people.
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Thanks, Robbie.
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Reblogged this on No Facilities and commented:
These people have such a rich culture. Thanks for making us aware of it.
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HI Dan, thank you for sharing. Much appreciated.
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Zulu warriors are known for their fierceness, it’s interesting to read about their spirituality, as well.
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HI Jacquie, at that point in time they were ferocious. No match for the technology the British soldiers had which was quite unfair, really.
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They have lived, and appear to continue to live their lives with such intensity. I can tell you this much, one would have to be more than somewhat crazy to mess with the Buffalo Thorn bush or anything that it protects! Thank you another provocative history lesson, Robbie. 🙂
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I agree, Annette. Those thorns are not at all inviting.
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I enjoyed your artcle about the Zulu people. The part about their spiritual beliefs and how they respect their ancestors is amazing! That thorǹ bush is scary. Thanks Robbie
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Hi Kay, I am glad you enjoyed this post. Those thorns are lethal looking.
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[…] Last month for Dark Origins, African Myths and Legends, I shared an introduction to the Zulu people of South Africa, the Great Zulu King Shaka and the legend of the Buffalo Thorn tree. If you missed it, you can read it here: https://writingtoberead.com/2022/04/27/dark-origins-african-myths-and-legends-the-zulus-part-1/ […]
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[…] Last month for Dark Origins, African Myths and Legends, I shared an introduction to the Zulu people of South Africa, the Great Zulu King Shaka and the legend of the Buffalo Thorn tree. If you missed it, you can read it here: https://writingtoberead.com/2022/04/27/dark-origins-african-myths-and-legends-the-zulus-part-1/ […]
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Excellent history
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Thank you, Derrick. I am very keen on southern African history, traditions and culture.
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What a fascinating post! Many thanks, Robbie!
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Hi Olga, I am so glad you enjoyed this post.
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[…] African Myths and Legends […]
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[…] African Myths and Legends […]
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