Mighty Zulu Nation

Mighty Zulu Nation

TRADITION

From KwaZulu Natal to the world's stage, rekindling the spark of Zulu culture and heritage through traditional drama, song and dance.

Zulu Tradition at Shrewsbury Morris' Beats and Bells in June 2015. A good time was had by all. The town was buzzing with it!

Listen:
Induku (Maskandi - traditional Zulu)
Kumnandi (African Gospel)
Shosholoza (Traditional African)
Ndawo Yam (African Gospel)

"ZULU Tradition really helped to bring the South Africa theme and atmosphere to our event. They got the audience engaged with the music and really brought the evening alive, whilst being extremely flexible with our timings and requirements. I would highly recommend Zulu Tradition to other event organisers and will definitely keep them in mind for all future events." Suzanne Ryder Richardson for British Red Cross event at South African High Commission

Imagine a youthful, mixed gender, Ladysmith Black Mambazo with high kicks. ZULU is company of genuine young Zulu singers and dancers who deliver a heady mix of African harmonies (traditional songs as well as Afro-Gospel) and high-energy, athletic dance - all traditionally costumed and with drum-rhythms. Their stage shows are exciting, enthralling and hugely entertaining and they attract enthusiastic audiences.

Some of the members of Zulu Tradition are also part of the Zulu/English jazz fusion group Ubunye, based in Leeds.

I have just been to a fantastic gig at Quarndon Church Hall with Zulu and my mind is now racing of how to get to see them again and also bring them to my kids' primary school.' - Sally Wallwin

"Oh my GOD what a beautiful night was had by all in a small village of Chinley Derbyshire with this act. Being from South Africa myself it was very very very emotional. I just wanted to say thank you thank you thank you to them all. I wanted to invite them back to my home to party all night. Please thank them from me." - Leonie Gater

"I saw Zulu Tradition last night at Chinley, it was a packed house and they were fantastic!  So brilliantly musical and rhythmic, electric personalities and very inspirational, everyone loved them." Lynne Knowling

"Just wanted to say a big thank you to the Zulu stars for their wonderful performances for the public during Mandela Day at the British Museum. Many thanks especially for being so generous with theirr time toallow the visitors to be photographed with them." - Hilary Williams, The British Museum, London.

This vibrant company of Zulus reaches back into the past to preserves ancient skills while stretching forwards to contemporary Africa. Direct from Durban in KwaZulu Natal, individual members of ZULU have performed in the UK and abroad, including special events at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles, at the South African High Commission as well as at major festivals across the UK. They hit national TV in both the UK and in South Africa when performing for the first officially sanctioned Mandela Day at the British Museum.

They are not only great concert performers, but also excellent communicators who can deliver outdoor performances for special events, festivals, summer-seasons, galas. During term-time they offer a range of educational workshops for young people of all ages and abilities.

They excel in daytime outdoor performances for special events, festivals, summer-seasons, galas (and weddings). They also play festival, theatre and arts centre concerts. During term-time they offer a range of educational workshops for young people of all ages and abilities and do workshop days in schools all over the country.

A typical show from ZULU encompasses: Maskandi (indigenous Zulu music as well as traditional song & dance including Zulu psalms (AMAHUBO); traditional songs (AMACULO ESINTU); and various genres of traditional dance (i.e. iINGOMA, UMZANSI, ISIGENYANE, NENDLAMU). They place great value on the oral relaying of information from the older generation to the youngest (UKUTHAMUNDWA).

ZULU Tradition , is also an educational company grounded firmly in the curriculum of Africa's rich history and the established paradigms of Zulu philosophy.

ZULU Tradition have performed at venues and events including: Buckingham Palace, the British Museum for Mandela Day, The South African High Commission for the British Red Cross, Sidmouth International Festival, Wickam Festival (Hampshire), Saltburn Folk Festival, Derby Tradition Festival, Sunderland Festival, Birdsedge Village Festival, Wallingford Festival, Towersey Festival (Oxon), Broadstairs Folk Week, the Platform Morecambe, the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, The Junction, Goole, Landmark Arts Teddington, Mill Arts in Banbury, the Square Chapel Arts in Halifax, The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness, plus community concerts for Night Out scheme in Wales, Live and Local in Derbyshire and Staffordshire and the Shindig touring Scheme in Worcestershire.

Individually the Zulus are hugely talented, right across the spectrum of traditional entertainment, though each has their own particular strengths in drumming, dance, song, drama, choreography or musical arrangement.

Despite their extensive work at outdoor events during the warmer weather, the performers of ZULU Tradition are no stangers to the big concert stage. They have taken their Zulu culture to many audiences. Individually and collectively they have graced many stages from London to Moscow as significant parts of larger productions as well as a company in their own right.