The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group and nation in South Africa, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. They originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu migrations over millennia.
Known as one of Africa’s most powerful nations, the Zulu have a rich heritage of bravery, spirituality, and strong social structures that continue to shape South African identity today.
Zulu, a nation of Nguni-speaking people in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. They are a branch of the southern Bantu and have close ethnic, linguistic, and cultural ties with the Swazi and Xhosa.
Today, there are around 15 million Zulu people, the overwhelming majority of whom live in South Africa. They form South Africa’s largest ethnic group, and the Zulu language is the most widely spoken first language in South Africa.
Zulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa, with more than half of the South African population able to understand it. Many Zulu people also speak English, Portuguese, Shangaan, Sesotho and others from among South Africa's eleven official languages.
The Zulu tribe, one of South Africa’s most renowned ethnic groups, is celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant traditions, and significant historical impact.
Known for their rich traditions, formidable fighting forces of the 19th century, and significant impact on the history of South Africa, the Zulu are a diverse and vibrant ethnic group.
The Zulu clan, founded around 1709 by Zulu kaMalandela, was originally a smaller society. By 1816, Shaka Zulu emerged as the first true leader, transforming the clan of about 1,500 into a powerful kingdom with a formidable army (impi) of 50,000 warriors.
The Zulu, the largest of these groups, are native to South Africa and trace their ancestry to the Bantu migrations that spread across Africa thousands of years ago.
The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group and nation in South Africa, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. They originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu migrations over millennia.