A small group of the Nguni moved south to a place which they declared to be the Zululand, this happened during the 16th and 17th century. Malandela, a zulu man, had a wife called Nozinja. Together they had two children of which the second one was blessed with the name Zulu (Heaven). When he got married, it signified the beginning of a new clan.

Today, Zulu people have one of the richest cultural rituals which include one which hosts great importance in a young woman's life, it is called uMemulo. This ceremony is not compulsary for every girl to have, it is a blessing, a gift of thanks from the girls' parents to her, which signifies even further the importance and greatness of this ceremony. (An illustration of the attire worn at the event has been provided at the top of this page).

Let me explain this in greater detail: When the parent of a young girl (usually between the ages of 20 to 26) believes that the girl has been a good, respectful child by not loosing her virginity(maintaining purity), by making her parents and family proud of her in all she did, she then is honored by her parents (more so by her father) and family by having this ceremony in her honour. The purpose of it is to have the blessings of her future granted by the ancestors to show their gratitude for all her right decisions and sacrifices in life. By giving her this, her father is now blessing any relationship she is to have with the man she has or will wish to marry (depending on whether she has met him or not).

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Source of information:

1. MR. and MRS Mncube (Londiwe parents)

2. Zulu Traditions & Culture. retrieved 16/03/2008 from http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/zulu-culture-traditions.html

3. Reed dance video from African Travel Channel: retried on 20/03/2008 from: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/918414/africa_travel_channel_the_royal_zulu_reed_dance/#