The Zulu Reed dance ... Extraordinary findings as to why the Zulu people engage in such celebrations
The Zulu girls also known as Zulu maidens come together at the Enyokeni Zulu Royal Palace every year to celebrate the Umkhosi Womhlanga known as the Reed Dance, this promotes the purity of virgins amongst girls in kwaZulu Natal.
The reason is called the Reed dance is because during the dance the Zulu girls fetch the reeds from the river and bring them to the royal palace for the King, it is during this dance that most Kings chose their wives.
This is a Zulu custom that has been carried out for years now, helping the girls to preserve their virginity until they get married, the purpose of the reed dance is to allow Zulu maidens to meet their king and mingle with princesses while delivering reed sticks.
Zulu Dance
The Zulu dance is a sign of happiness it's done when there is a Zulu wedding, inauguration of a king, when a child is born, when a war is won, the testing of virgins. The dance is taught to young girls and boys while in an early age.
The Zulu people love to sing and tell stories to children known as "izinganekwane" this stories are normally about animals.
Find out about zulu women who make Zulu pottery, clay pots, wooden trays,
Every Zulu person in a tribe is involved in the singing and dancing especially when a King takes over the kingdom (inauguration).
"Indlamu"
The men have their way of singing and dancing, called Indlamu in Zulu, what they do is lift up one leg in the air, bringing it down together with the hands following the other leg then doing it over and over changing the legs, and while doing that they lift one leg in the air and fall purposely on the ground with their backs. The boys also do the same as the men.
The women sing and clap their hands while dancing and they are the ones you hear making lots of funny noises with their tongues. For example: Ali-Li- Li- Li, Ayi-ayi-ayi!
The girls do the same as the women but at times they also lift up one leg in the air with their hands going under the leg.
It's not the same as the men and boys because girls want to cover with their hands when they lift the leg up but with boys and men they don't.
Zulu song from the Shaka Zulu Movie
There is this famous song that the Zulu women use to sing when going to the fountain to fetch water or to the bushes to fetch wood for fire it was directed to their men saying:
"Msheli wami wavuka wangenyanya uzongikhumbula mhlawuphela mandla"
Meaning - My love, if you wake up one day and you hate me, you shall remember me when you are left with nothing.
The song was used in the movie Shaka Zulu sang by Tu Nokwe who played the part of Shaka's Zulu's wife and Henry Cele as Shaka. Durban beach holiday
Zulu Mask
There is no such thing as Zulu masks it is just a perception from English countries that because Zulus are in Africa and countries like Nigeria, Angola, Suburu have masks so do the Zulus.
The Zulu people are best known for their beadwork and basketry and sculptures.
Some in the African countries do put on Masks when dancing and singing, and others make masks sculptures to sell or display to tourists.