Culture in Durban

There are a number of ethnic groups in South Africa; these include Sesotho, Xhosa and Ndebele, among others however the ethnic group or cultures which are dominant in Kwa-Zulu Natal are the Zulus. The Zulu people have a distinct culture that distinguishes them from other ethnic groups.
During each year, they hold ceremonies that revive their culture and tradition such as the Reed Dance festival. The Reed dance is an activity that promotes purity among virgin girls and respect for young women. The festival is part of the annual festivities on the calendar of the Zulu nation. During the Reed dance, the virgins fetch the reeds from the river and bring them to the palace for the royal king, King Goodwill Zwelithini to inspect. It was during this festival that the Zulu King chose his youngest wife.
Shaka Zulu who is known as the most powerful king is the creator of the Zulu nation. What also distinguishes the Zulu people is the traditional dress of women, which mostly includes beadwork. Men’s traditional clothing consists mainly of cowhide that is used to cover the bottom front and back. Although the culture is not practiced as widely as it has been in the past, there are a number of cultural villages celebrating the Zulu culture, especially in Kwa-Zulu Natal. One such cultural village is PheZulu where visitors get the chance to savour the taste and feel the rhythm of Africa. Visitors are taken into traditional beehive shaped huts where the various artifacts, beliefs and rituals are explained and a traditional dancing show is performed and followed by a meal of traditional delicacies.
The Indian culture of South Africa is one of the most notable and dominant cultures in South Africa, especially in Durban. South African Indian culture began in 1860 when the first immigrants arrived on board the Truro as indentured labourers to work on sugarcane farms in present day KwaZulu-Natal. Despite the history, Indian foods are some of the most talked about dishes, and it is the topic of food which makes the main mark in the Indian culture.
South African Indian culture has produced food loved by most South Africans. While they stick mostly to traditional recipes, one of the most renowned dishes in South Africa is the half-loaf of bread stuffed with curry known as bunny-chow. The cuisine of India is thus characterized by sophisticated and subtle use of various spices, herbs and other vegetables grown in India.
There are various places where people and tourists can visit in order to learn the many things about Indians. One such place is the Indian market in Chatsworth, Durban. Here, tourists can see and taste the different foods and experience a truly Indian culture. There is also Indian music and many other Indian specials.

The Afrikaans Dutch culture in South Africa originated when Jan Van Riebeeck landed with his Dutch settlers in the Cape in 1652. Since then, we have seen the Afrikaans community spread far and wide around South Africa. Afrikaans families are most commonly known for their contribution in the agriculture industry and the trade industry. The Afrikaans culture is a strong culture that has its common traits with the love of Rugby (one of South Africa's national sports) and the traditional “Braai-Vleis” or “Boerewors” which roughly translates to “Barbeque meat” and “farmers sausage” respectively.
During apartheid, the Afrikaans led National Party was responsible for implementation of the apartheid system, a dark time of racial oppression in South Africa. Today, the Afrikaans community is known for its conservativeness and high regard for moral values, even though the stigma surrounding apartheid still follows them.