Traditions of Durban
A warm Indian Ocean port with the largest Indian community outside India, and a Zulu cultural heartland.
Durban is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, the home of the Zulu nation, and also home to a large community of Indian descent whose forebears arrived as indentured workers in the nineteenth century. The city keeps both traditions: Zulu dance and beadwork, and Hindu and Tamil festivals with fire walking and processions.
Zulu and Indian traditions
Zulu people perform the Umhlanga, or reed dance, and the Zulu royal ceremonies in the countryside. Beadwork carries coded messages in colours and patterns. In Durban, the Hindu community holds Diwali, Thaipusam, and the Kavady festival, and the city's temples are among the finest in Africa.
At the table
Bunny chow, a hollowed loaf of bread filled with curry, was invented here. Durban curries are hot and often use lamb or beans. Zulu meals include pap, maize porridge, with umleqwa chicken or beef. Amasi, sour milk, and umqombothi, sorghum beer, are shared in homes.
Signature traditions of Durban
Also part of it, and being written: Bunny chow (The curry-filled loaf.), Reed Dance (The reed dance.), Zulu people (The people.).
A trail idea for Durban
- Victoria Street Market Buy spices and beads.
- Juma Mosque The largest mosque in the southern hemisphere.
- Golden Mile Walk the beachfront.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Thaipusam: hams Nocete, CC BY-SA 2.0, source