Isizulu
Translation: Greetings students! Come and begin to learn Zulu! Here at OSU you can learn the language and history of the Zulu people who live in South Africa. If you want, you can even go to Durban and Pietermaritzburg in Kwa Zulu-Natal. We will be happy to teach you. Stay well!
Zulu is spoken by more than 10 million people in South Africa, is the most commonly spoken African language in urban South Africa today. The Zulu language belongs to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, spoken in southeastern Africa. Other main languages of the Nguni group are isiXhosa, siSwati, Zimbabwean Ndebele, Transvaal Ndebele, and Malawi Ngoni. Zulu language today is of great political, cultural, historical and social importance in Southern Africa. Zulu has spread throughout large areas of Southern Africa, and the language serves as a tool for unifying the many ethnic groups found there. The Zulu language also forms a basis for understanding the other Nguni languages. It is also the language of commerce in a country that has the most advanced and sophisticated economy on the African continent.
Today, after years of repression and the system of apartheid, many Zulu people feel a sense of new pride in their history and cultural heritage. Consequently, they have built a strong national identity by celebrating their rich cultural heritage that draws on centuries-old traditions. Ceremonies and rituals play a huge role in Zulu society, and form the basis of the majority of the social events. There has been a revival of Zulu traditions through performances at festivals that are meant to keep their culture and traditions vibrant and alive. There is a lot of literature written in Zulu dating back four hundred years, and some of the most colorful African praise poetry is found in the Zulu language. Song and dance is also a distinctive feature of Zulu life, and Zulu musical culture and its fusion with various modern forms such as jazz, choral and gospel singing has produced a unique sound and a major export for the country.
The Zulu people are great crafters and they are famous for their colorful beadwork, clay pots and the weaving of baskets and mats. Beadwork is the most distinguishing features of the Zulu craft, and is known throughout the world for its beauty and intricacy. The beadwork encompasses symbolic language that may include reprimands and warnings, messages of love and encouragement. The traditional Zulu women apparel is highly decorative with distinct headdresses, bracelets and skirts.
Students can take Zulu to fulfill their foreign language requirement, and can complete Zulu 101 to 104 within the same academic year: Autumn Zulu 101; Winter Zulu 102; and Spring Zulu 103 & Zulu 104. Students wanting to do advanced Zulu can enroll in the national Intensive Zulu Group Study Abroad Program sponsored by Fulbright-Hayes and the Department of Education.
