Zulu Homestead Design | The Ulwazi Programme
2 Purpose behind this design / plan
The Zulu people are a gifted tribe known for their creativity and ingenuity. They used natural resources for sustaining themselves with food, clothing and shelter, etc. One of the olden designs of a Zulu homestead takes a circular shape. Opposite the main gate, there is a kraal and behind it you find the house of a first wife if the man is a polygamist. To the right are the houses of the other wives according to their order. The house to the left is reserved for the children but males are located near the gate or entrance.
Purpose behind this design / plan
According to this culture, it is important that things are grouped together or organised to fulfill certain conditions and situations, like how and where people should stay, cattle, where to plough etc. Co-wives also make a line of houses according to their positions and the kraal, which is always in the centre, symbolising the importance of cattle or livestock in the family. There are also store rooms to keep food.
It’s cost effective because everything is made from natural resources (woods, grass, sticks, mud or animal skins). Protection of females and cattle is the first priority when building the houses. This design makes it easy to access other houses within the household and performing duties is easy.
Ukwakhiwa kwenxuluma lesiZulu kuwumsebenzi othathwa njengobuciko obuphezulu. Bayaziwa abantu baloluhlanga ngokuthi babehlakaniphile. Izindlu zabo babezakha ngezinkuni, utshani njalonjalo okwakungababizi mali. Inxuluma lakhiwa ngotshani nezinkuni libe yisikokela nomnyango ubheke ngasekungeneni kwegceke nesibaya. Isibaya sona siba phakathi negceke. Ngemuva kwesokudla kwakhiwa izindlu zomama uma umnumzane eyindoda eganwe yisithembu. Lezindlu zakhiwa ngokulandelana kwabo. Esinxeleni kwakhelwe nezingane esezikhulile ezazo. Abantu besilisa bona batholakala ngasekungeneni kwegceke. Okuhle ngalokhu ukuthi abakhokhi noma babengakhokhi mali ukwakha lezindlu. Futhi indlela ezakhiwe ngazo zenzela ukuthi wonke umuntu akwazi ukukhululeka kube lula nokwenza umsebenzi wasekhaya.
Written by: Bongisipho Phewa
Communities, Home, Ikhaya, Imiphakathi