Question

For this assignment, construct a topic for an ethnographic research paper including some scholarly background information on the group to be studied. The topic should be summarized in three to four sentences.  

Your paper should be based on the following:

Select an indigenous or minority group and compose a 4-page research paper on a cultural feature of this community. For example, artwork among the Yoruba, shamanism among an indigenous population, tribal organization among Native American groups, cuisine and / or food restrictions of a specific group, any religious ceremony or tradition, a rite of passage (such as a quinceanera) practiced among a specific group, or the affects of globalization on one or more indigenous populations.

For your research, please only use academic sources, such as anthropological journals. You must have at least 4 sources for your paper. You can use the HCCC online library or Google Scholar to acquire your information.

Your paper should be descriptive as well as analytical; you should explain why they practice their culture in this specific way.

Your paper should be 4 pages long, double spaced, Times New Roman or Calibri, size 12 font, and you should have at least 4 sources. You must cite your sources using APA format. and you must include a reference page at the end of your paper.

Answer 1

Africa is the place where tribal communities maintain practices, that they have preacticed to shape their respective cultures. From San healing dances to Xhosa initiation, Hamar bull jumping to Bodi beauty pageants, theres no shortage of incredible traditions to inspire the world with wonders.

Zulu people in Africa are one of the most imprtant ethnic group of south Africa. They refer themselves as "the people of the Heaven". They population of Zulu are estimated to more than 10 million Zulu residents in KwaZulu-Natal. The language spoken by the people of Zulu is isiZulu. In the 19 century they were merged into a great kingdom under the leadership of Shaka.

When Shaks accepted the leadership of Zulu clan, after the death of his father, Senzangakhona, the population was just 1500.Shaka started to form military force and taught them all the tactics to defeat the enemies. To fight , he created a weapon called Assegai, a weapon with short, large bladed stabbing spear. He proved himself as a powerful military leader and became the threat for his clan. Shakas half brother, Dingaan took the reign over the clan agter the assassination of Shaka.

Traditional Dressing:

Zulu women dressing shows their pride of her body, wearing skirts made of grass or beaded cotton strings. she used to dress according to their marital status. A married women would wear the dress and will cover the body to make understand that she is already taken by somebody. An engaged women wii just cover her body with her hair and cover her chest with decorative cloth. men used to wear a traditional attire called umqhele, to put over the shoulders, ibheshu around the waist,

Traditional beverages:

They take fermented milk, Amazi, which will be shared by their family members, which improves the digestion. They take maize and sorghum are soaked in water for a day, again boiled with dry sorgham and set to cool, on the third day, the brew is filtered, using a sieve and it is consumed.

Traditional food:

They consume vegetarian dished which mainly consists of vegetables and grain. Starch is a dietary staple food,maize, pumpkins,potatoes are common ingredients . Meat is consumed only on special occassions like wedding and age ceremonies.Wooden bowls and spoons are used.

Zulu warriors:

Zulu warriors had their greatest success in warfare against 1500 British troops.They generally use sticke for fighting.. The duel is over as soon as blood flows and the winner then tends the wounds of the loser.

Dances:

Zulu celebrations are accompained with drums and it is always by dancing and chanting.The instrument drums are made with goatskin and ablack clay pot.To play the drum they use a flattened piece of reed on the drum and vibrate it with both hands,. There are number of dances, in Zulu tradition, but hunting dance symbolizes the bravery it requires to hunt by imitating the movements of hunter.

Zulu religion:

They believe that the life doesnt doesnt end with death , it continuos with spiritual world. , they see death as a persons deeper connection with all , if dead body is not buries in a traditional way, they believe that, the spiriy will be wandering, so a animal is slaughtered as a ritual. They believe in unkulunkulu and are regareded as intermediate between the living and the spirit world and they work hand in hand with god.