Photographed by famed filmmaker Myron Zobel — who made so many films and traveled so widely that his friends called him “Global Zobel” — this somewhat exploitative film “Zulu Hulu” was sold for the home market and presented by Castle Films (:09). It shows two tribes of Southern Africa: the Venda tribe and the Zulu tribe both of which are Bantu ethnic groups. It opens with footage of animals typically found in the area including zebras (:36), antelope (:45), hippos (:59), giraffes (1:13) as well as elephants (1:19). A native kraal of the Venda tribe is then shown (1:31) with thatched roof huts. Venda tribe members patch the huts with clay and mud (1:50). The female members of the tribe are seen conducting work around the kraal (2:17). A frame for one of the hut’s roof is set atop its walls (2:23). A female silversmith works to craft delicate silver bracelets (2:59) and sets them around a small child’s wrist (3:07). Women are then seen pounding maize with long wooden poles to prepare a meal for the tribe (3:32). The completed meal is spooned out (4:14) as women bow their heads while the chief consumes his meal. The Zulu tribe is visited during an all-day festival (4:51). Members don ceremonial attire of cheetah fur, head dresses and face paint while dancing ritual dances (5:18). Female Zulu join in the festival (5:46). Some of the women are seen with large gauge earnings in their ears (5:51) and beaded skirts (6:03). The ceremony is paused as the Zulu pick at prepared food (6:48). One woman’s face is zoomed in on to show small scars across both cheeks (7:10). The tightly woven dreadlocked hair of another tribe member is zoomed in on (7:18). The ceremonial attire of the Zulu tribe is pointed to (7:25) showing close shots of headdresses (7:34), hand crafted jewelry (7:38) and a necklace with small bottles attached to it (8:12). The medicine man is seen in a feathery outfit holding a spear and shield (8:35). A Zulu style beauty pageant follows as women are paraded through the grounds headed by the medicine man (8:58). Male judges mull over their decision (9:30). Two of the finalists are pointed out, one being a young single woman (10:03) and the other a married woman (10:15). The chosen winner follows (10:44) and the film concludes shortly afterwards (11:03).
The Venda (VhaVenda or Vhangona) are a Southern African Bantu people living mostly near the South African-Zimbabwean border. Zulu people are a Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa. The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group and nation in South Africa with an estimated 10–12 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Bantu peoples are the speakers of Bantu languages, comprising several hundred indigenous ethnic groups in sub-Saharan Africa, spread over a vast area from Central Africa across the African Great Lakes to Southern Africa.
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