Zululand District Municipality comprises five local municipalities: Ulundi, Nongoma, uPhongolo, eDumbe and AbaQulusi.
Vryheid and Ulundi are two urban centres of note in the district, respectively serving as a regional service and a regional and provincial administrative centre. The town of Vryheid is a commercial and business hub, while Ulundi Town is mainly an administrative centre and also the headquarters of the Zululand District Municipality.
16-18 September 2022
Annual Royal Reed Dance (Umkhosi womhlanga)
Enyokeni Royal Palace Nongoma
The annual celebration of the Zulu King’s Reed Dance, the uMkhosi woMhlanga, is a traditional ceremony of maidens held annually during the first weekend of September. Maidens from all over the province and from as far afield as Eswatini flock to the eNyokeni Royal Palace to participate in the traditional dance of the maidens.
The girls converge in groups from the Zululand regions to the Kings Palace the day before the ceremony. The main attraction of the ceremony is the presentation of reeds to the King. Each maiden is to carry a reed from the river and present it to the King in a spectacular procession at the Palace.
24 September
Umkhosi Welembe / King Shaka Celebration
KwaDukuza
As the 18th century drew to a close in 1787, a young man was born in the village of a small Zulu clan, living in the south-eastern part of Africa. His name was Shaka and under his authority and military power the region would eventually be united.
Shaka was the first son of the chieftain Senzangakhona, and Nandi, a daughter of the past chief of the Langeni clan. Nandi moved away with her young son who grew up under the powerful protection of Dingiswayo, leader of the Mthethwa.
Shaka became a prominent warrior and courageous leader of the Mthethwa army, fine-tuning battle tactics like the horns of the buffalo, whereby the enemy would be encircled, and the short, stabbing spear used in hand-to-hand compact.
When his father died, and with the backing of the Mthethwa, Shaka took over the leadership of the Zulu clan, and began to forge the nation. One early victory was at the Battle of kwaGqokli Hill in 1818 where he defeated the powerful Ndwandwe. He used his diplomatic skills to cement alliances with smaller neighbours while others, defeated in battle, were incorporated, paving the way for further conquests.
His overwhelming grief at the death of his mother in 1827 and his demands for national mourning led to many deaths and ultimately to his assassination the following year.
The site of one of Shaka’s impressive capitals, Kwa Bulawayo, near the Mhlathuze Valley, is visible today. Nearby is a memorial to the Cowards’ Bush where he tested the bravery of his warriors.
At KwaDukuza on the North Coast, site of his third and final residence, a museum adjoins his grave.
The Shaka Day Festival is held there on September 24 every year.
King Shaka’s name was given to Kwazulu-Natal’s International Airport.
