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Clans & Totems in Zulu Culture

CLANS AND TOTEMS Zulu Culture (IsiZulu)

INTRODUCTION

The name Zulu means “the sky.” They are the single most prominent clan that comprises more than nine million people in South Africa. They are a part of the Nguni ethnic group founded by Zulu kaMalandela some centuries ago. After the rulership of Shaka, this group reunited their clans to build a rigid cohesive identity of the Zulus. The Zulu 

ethnic group is mainly found in KwaZulu Natal Province, one of the nine provinces of South Africa.

Zulus refer to their clan praises as izithakazelo. No nation is as proud of its clan or isizwe (nation) in South Africa as the Zulu nation. 

CLANS
Unlike Xhosas, Zulus are not divided into tribes. There is only one main clan for the Zulu culture that comprises different sub-clans. These sub-clans are classified as clans/ surnames (izibongo) based on a particular incident or past king. Such clans serve as a great source of identity passed from generation to generation. It is common to find a family surname called Cele, while in a different family, Cele is used as a clan name instead of a surname.

Most of the clan names are related to each other; for example, a Cele clan and Khumbuza clan are somehow related. Therefore, these two families will treat each other as brothers and sisters.

As much as it is opposed by other cultures, inheriting a late brother’s wife is common among the Zulu people. According to a  Xhosa nation, it is taboo for a younger brother to inherit his elder brother’s wife should the elder brother pass away. However, for the Zulus, it is commonly practiced as they believe that by doing so, they are keeping their blood lineage within the same clan or surname rather than letting their brother’s wife remarry outside the clan or have children with different men. 

To mention a few:

Buthelezi: Shenge, Zinyawo ezimahhele, enaganisi’iintombi nanganye nangambili. Mnyamana kaNgqengelele, Sokwalisa, Phungashe, Mnyamana kaNgqengelele! Mnandi ngamondi! 

Bhebhe: Makhedama, Soyengwase, Nina bakaBhebhe kaMthendeka! Nina bakaSoqubel’ onjengegundwane! Nina baseSiweni, kwaMpuku yakwaMselemusi, kwaNogwence webaya! Dlomo weNdl’ ende! Sihlangu samavaka seswel’ ababhemu! Wen’ owalala nomunw’endunu, wavuka wawuncinda wawukhomb’ilanga.

Cebekhulu: Linda kaMafu, wayinga noMaqhwakazi, Nkunga, Nsele kaLindamkhonto! Nongalo, Mntungwa, Sothinyase! Mayinga kaNombedu, Uying’ uMpehleya; wayinga noMaqhwakazi! Izintab’ ezinamancongo, Intak’ ehlal’ umhlakuva wakhothama! Is’khov’ umahhehhe; singathi hhi, siyenanela.

Cele: Ndosi, Magaya, Vico, Khumbuza, Dubandlela.

Gina: Ndaba, Mageza ngobisi, Magadlela, Bukhosini, Mhlungu wasendlunkulu, ncama ngethusi.

Hlatshwayo: Mhayise, Mavuso, Swazi, Cebisa 

Khumbuza: Cele, Ndosi Khuzwayo Gumede, Mnguni 

Khawula: Ntombela, Hlongwa, NtazI, Gebhezi.

Lamula: Zinyane, Mpangazitha, Mdlenevu, Mthembu, Lutholoni, Bantwini, Mthonti.

Madinane: Ngwekazi, Lakaza, Dlawula, Mnguni oluhlaza njengenyonga yembuzi, Dinabantu, , Bhembe.

Mafuleka: Ndinisa, Mzomba, Mazalankosi azala uDlambula azala uLubelo, Mbhobho kaBikwayo, Masibekela, Mlaba, Ngwane, Bhejelibomvu.

Ndaba: Manqele, Mtungwa, Madela, Mthiyane, Sibhene, Mhlungu.

Ndlanzi: Hadebe, Bhungane, Mthimkhulu, Shwabada. 

Thusi: Sishange, Mfene, Dlebenkomo, Mlotshwa.

Ximba: Thusi, Msuthu, Mlaba, Nondlela.

Zwane: Mangethe, Zikode ka Ndabansele ka Linda Mkhonto 

Zulu: Ndabezitha, Msholozi, Mageba, Sithuli.

TOTEMS
The concept of using totems signifies a close relationship between humans, animal species, and plants. In all the Zulu royal families, the chief or the king’s chair and the floor are decorated by animal skin that resembles their clan’s totem. These decorations are believed to bring good fortune and bring the ancestors closer to them. Like many other Nguni cultures, Zulus believe, respect, and protect their clan’s totem animal or plant. They will go to extremes to protect and defend their totem against any harm, as harming or killing them brings bad luck. Clans take care, preserve and treasure their totems for the good that they bring to the clan as a whole. Having or sharing the same totem builds good relationships among the community. When two strangers discover that they share the same totem among the Zulu people, a feeling of easiness and safety is formed between them as they know that they are related and belong in the same bloodline.

A few totems are mentioned below:

  1. Bhebhe: Their totem is a rat. When a rat is seen in the Bhebhe’s homestead, especially inside the house, they will not kill it. Even if there is a cat in that house, they would rather ask their neighbor to look after their cat until all the rites to ward off the rat are done according to their belief.
  2. Cebekhulu: Their totem is a bird/ an owl. An owl is a bird that comes out at night. If an owl is seen in the Cebekhulu clan, it signifies something positive because they believe that it brings good luck. When it frequently visits one’s homestead, the family will take some further steps and consult with a sangoma for answers as its frequency serves as a warning. Its intention may be good or bad.
  3. Ndlanzi: Their totem is a beetle: A beetle as one’s animal totem gives insight and direction on handling certain matters and approaching any problems that the family may encounter. It guides the clans to follow a clear path to all the decisions they would undertake.
  4. Thusi: Their totem is the baboon. In any South African culture, seeing a baboon, especially in the rural areas, is seen as a sign of witchcraft. You may hear some children or even older women gossiping about ubaba kabani (whose father) being accused of having a baboon that he rides at night because he practices witchcraft. The Thusi clan protects and will never harm a baboon. If it is seen during any day, a sangoma is called immediately to explain to the family the meaning of its visit. If it stays for more than two days in one place (even though it is scary, it will mean or pose no harm to any of the people around it), traditional beer is brewed for it. It will then leave without being chased, the same way it emerged.

CONCLUSION
Certain things are avoided by the group of people that belong in the same clan or share the same totem to protect, keep the blood lineage, and avoid incest and taboo’s that will shame the family. 

Totems still exist nowadays,  so when a young woman and man fall have a relationship with the intentions to marry one day, they must be aware of each other’s totem to avoid shame and taboo between the two families. They serve as a reminder that our existence is tied to our ancestral lineage regardless of the changing times.

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