Tourism Month has officially kicked off in KwaZulu-Natal, with the theme being #WeDoTourism. An event was held at the Vulintaba Country Estate this weekend to celebrate the Zulu kingdom. From Zulu Warriors(amabutho) to beadwork demonstrations, the event encapsulated what it means to be a KwaZulu-Natal local.
Zulu-British war enactment
The festivities kick started with an enactment of the Anglo Boer War where the British soldiers and Zulu warriors came head to head with each other. The fast paced battle depicted the fight that happened decades ago and how the Zulu took the victory.
Beadwork
I was handed a Zulu beadwork bracelet with green, red and black patterns on it. Before we were presented with these gifts, we were shown a demonstration. The beadwork demonstration gave a glimpse of the significance of the colour of the beadwork and how it is part of the Zulu custom.
Entertainment
Newcastle group New Tunes made us dance with their stunning tunes, showcasing the delightful sounds of the province. In between speeches, Zulu dancers enthralled guests with their gripping dances. I even learned a few tips.
We learned how to make amagwinya
I have always seen the famous amagwinya being bought from local eateries in Durban, but a bonus was seeing it being prepared. A local resident showed us how to prepare the amagwinya and what made it unique. Amagwinya is also known as the vetkoek. It is a popular meal for many people living in townships and is served plain and hot and is sold by a wide variety of spaza shops, hawkers at taxi ranks, roadside vendors, and fast food shops throughout South Africa.
We Do Tourism
One of the main objective of this year’s tourism month celebrations is the “We Do Tourism” campaign. The campaign encourages locals to explore their city or other parts of South Africa.
Tourism Month has officially kicked off in KwaZulu-Natal, with the theme being #WeDoTourism.