World History has been marked by the brilliant military stratagems of the Zulu King Shaka, and his warriors due to his campaign of expansion and conquest known as the “MFECANE.” The Zulu people hail from KwaZulu-Natal, which abounds with their rich traditional culture. This is reflected in the finely crafted pottery, elaborate beadwork, traditional herbal medicines, and in song, dance and colorful rituals. Opportunities to see a Zulu warrior at his Kraal within a Zulu village and also experience Zulu Dancing are always exhilarating. Zulu “beehive” huts are still constructed in the same way they were constructed several centuries ago and a visit to a traditional Shangaan or Swazi village is a memorable cultural exchange.

The XHOSA tribes have the “AMAGGIRHA,” traditional healers chosen by the ancestors to provide treatment for disease and misfortune. The Xhosa have Initiation Rites, which commemorate transition from one stage of life to another and tend to paint their faces white. The NDEBELE are well known for their decorative murals on their houses and traditional costumes of rings and beaded hoops. The elaborateness of the beadwork on a woman’s clothing is an indication of her status within the family or community.

The TSONGAS are well known for their traditional “Mine” dances carried out to the beat of drums and horns and a variety of musical instruments such as the MBILA. Indigenous South Africans have long used their music as a rallying cry for freedom.

For a long time the music of Hugh Musekela and Lady Smith Black Mumbazzo served as a means of educating the world about their oppressive plight under Apartheid. Tours to Soweto, apartheid’s symbol of mass resistance, offers visitors a glimpse into life in the township through a drink and meal in a Shebeen (local pub). The Indian and Asian influence on culture is evidenced by the sweet smells of incense and delicious spices and curry that fill the air in open market places. It is also evidenced in the architectural design of Mosques and Temples through out South Africa.