Introduction
Cultural anthropology revolves around the study of human conditions in respect to their origins, beliefs, values, and traditions amongst other aspects. Cultural anthropology aims at understanding human beings on a comparative perspective in their habitats. Culture is an important aspect of human beings even though it varies from one group to another. However, culture has five main characteristics: adaptive capacity, cumulative development, change within the culture, specific norms and standards, and the aspects of learning. Understanding global culture is cumbersome hence the study of specific cultures.
Motivated by such interests, this paper aims at analyzing the Zulu people of the South Africa. This is an outline for the proposed study. Whilst using scholarly journals, ethnographies, and ethnologies as the primary sources of information, the proposed study will identify beliefs and values, economic organization, sickness and healing, social change, and social organization of the Zulu people from South Africa.
Beliefs and Values
The following will form discussions on beliefs and values of the Zulu people:
- Traditional leaders (Croft, 2012)
- Belief by men that polygamy is the best way of life
- Religion (Maria, 2005)
- Ancestral worship
- Zulu burials
- The Inyanga
- Superstitions: The Isivivane, lightning, and Tokoloshe
Economic Organization
Economic organization of the Zulu will be discussed under (Croft, 2012):
- Income generating activities
- Cattle rearing
- Other aspects of Agriculture
- Disbursement of the earned income
- Economic statues of the leaders
Sickness and Healing
Under sickness and healing, the proposed paper will discuss:
- Common sicknesses and ailments
- Forms of medicines
- Medicine for physical ailments
- Western medications
Social Change
Social change of the Zulu will be discussed under:
- Change in leadership and kinship (Adam, 2010)
- Societal changes
- Relationships that existed within the Zulu community
Social Organization
The Zulu’s social organization will be discussed under:
- Kinships and leadership (Adam, 2010)
- Interactions amongst the Zulu
- Relationships between different genders
- Interactions between the Zulu and the surrounding tribes and culture
Conclusion
This section will provide an overview of the main points discussed and the position of the author in respect to cultural anthropology.
References
Adam, B. (2010). “The Zulu Military organization and the challenge of 1879.” Military History Journal, 22 (2); 34-45
Croft, D. (2012). “Zulu.” Journal of Natal and Zulu History, 30 (3); 45-48
Maria, A. (2005). “Re-evaluating Zulu religion.” Journal of Black Studies, 35 (3); 343-367.
