Three Zulu songs, very commonly sung by members of the bridegroom’s family, welcoming the bride in teasing terms to her new home.
You have reached the place of weariness,
You have arrived and you will get weary!
Women’s Self-Praises
Two Zulu women’s Praise-Poems. In Zulu society, women often compose their own praises which are performed whenever groups of women are together with no men present. The Praise-Poems are descriptions of a woman’s personality and achievements, though they are often used to express complaints.
I am she who cuts across the game reserve
That no girl crosses…
Shaka
Three extracts from the long Zulu Praise-Poem about Shaka, the Zulu king. Shaka succeeded Dingiswayo as head of the Zulu clan in 1818; by the time of his assassination by Dingane in 1828, he had become King of the Zulu nation.
Dlungwana son of Ndaba!
Ferocious one of the Mbelebele brigade,
Ndaba
A Zulu Praise-Poem, in praise of Ndaba, Shaka’s great-grandfather and the first Zulu king.
Ndaba, son of Sonani, they say ‘What wrong did he do?’
Since the people are living with their herds
