The name AmaZulu means ‘the people of the heavens’ and the Zulu people are a proud nation that treasures their heritage.  According to the tribal storytellers, the Zulus are descended from the Nguni people, who lived in Central/East Africa - a mystical land called Embo. During the 16th and 17th centuries the Nguni supposedly moved south, and a small group settled in the fertile valleys of the current Zululand.

The rural Zulu economy is based on cattle and agriculture; as a result the main staple diet consists of cow and agricultural products. But for the hostel dwellers their staple food includes barbecued or boiled meat and stiff pap (phuthu). The meat options varies from Inhliziyo (cow’s heart), amathumbu (cow’s intestine), and Inyama inhloko(cow’s head). The cow’s heart was usually eaten by young boys after having a stick fight and the cow’s head was only eaten by older males after slaughtering the cow. Yet in recent years even women are allowed to consume these special parts of the cow. Eating from the same plate was and still is a sign of friendship. This is derived from a "share what you have" belief which is part of ubuntu (humanity) philosophy