
As with all cultures, Zulu-speaking people have a number of ceremonies associated with death. Ihlambo is a cleansing ceremony that closes the period of mourning for a deceased. Traditionally, part of the ceremony would involve a hunt, with the prey slaughtered and eaten by the mourners. Today the meat is often bought, rather than hunted, but the tradition of ihlambo is still very much respected, as is evident in the series of videos taken by one of the Ulwazi fieldworkers, Siboniso Langa, during the recent cleansing ceremony that was performed in honour of his grandfather.
Follow the links below to find out more about this important rite in Zulu culture, as well as other stories written by our fieldworkers during the month of May: