DID YOU KNOW?

The Zulus defeated the British at the Battle of Isandlhwana on 22 January 1879.

The Zulus, meaning the people of heaven, are the largest ethnic group in South Africa and Zulu culture draws on a strong heritage of pre-Christian traditions and beliefs called ancestor worship or 'amatongo'.

The spirits of the African ancestors are known as amadlozi and they play a very important role in the lives of their living descendants. An ongoing Zulu tradition is to  make offerings and sacrifices to the amadlozi so the Zulu can secure a good life.

But it's not a matter of dialling a number and reaching the amadlozi. The ancestral spirits speak to believers through a sangoma, a designated diviner, who has to go through many years of training to qualify as a medium.

In Africa, ancestor worship is very popular and it is not only Zulus who consult their ancestors. At least 80 percent of South Africans visit a sangoma in about 3 visits a year, and you can too - by visiting a Zulu cultural village.

Many of them are in southern Zululand between Eshowe and Empangeni in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

The Kwabhekithunga Zulu Cultural Village and Shakaland, originally built as a set for the movie Shaka Zulu, are some of the open-air museums were visitors can experience traditional Zulu life from long ago.

Zulu beliefs and culture are also demonstrated in the villages.

Arts and crafts, such as intricate beadwork, carvings and basket weaving make beautiful and unusual souvenirs while culture is demonstrated by stick-fighting and the throwing of short spears, which King Shaka, who united the Zulu nation, got down to a fine art.

Traditional beer and food is also usually available.

Another popular Zulu tradition is the Reed Dance held every September at Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini's Enyokeni Traditional Palace. You can also visit the Dumazulu cultural lodge and traditional village in Hluhluwe, Zululand, north of Durban.