Juliuse Mallari

Professor Tina Katsanos

LBST 2102-338
Final Reflection Paper
Globalization is the product of the growing interdependence of cultures through emerging
global techno-economic and sociocultural networks. While globalization can be seen as a good
thing, it could also be seen as bad. Globalization is good due to the fact that it connects humanity
and mixes up many different cultures in order to be one. It could be bad since unique cultures
will disappear and certain customs will vanish. I personally feel that Globalization is a great
thing; I think that humans will evolve even further if everyone honestly feels that they are equal
to each other no matter the skin color, race, or ethnic backgrounds. Culture will always change
and evolve; it is up to us whether we accept or deny that certain fact.
I chose the Zulu People of South Africa as the basis of the indigenous culture that has
been impacted by Globalization. The Zulu lived in isolated family groups that were nomadic.
They moved around their land in search of food and pasture for their cattle. By the end of the 18th
century, unification among different Zulu tribes was taking place. Chiefdoms and powerful
families began to rise, and a change from a simple and pastoral society became a political and
organized group. Due to this change, Zulu leaders were able to have authority and gain allies
from the groups that they conquered. Taxes were proclaimed by Zulu chiefs and because of it,
they gained a vast amount of wealth. On account of the wealth, they were able to create powerful
and large armies that defeated neighboring kingdoms. The military successes of the Zulu allowed
certain chiefs to proclaim their great kingdom and the warrior king Shaka was able to conquer all

the groups in Zululand. He was able to unite them into a single Zulu nation that impacted both
central and southern Africa.
Due to Globalization, they lost their lands because of British invasion. This war was the
Anglo-Zulu Wars which started in 1879 and ended in 1896. On January 10th 1879, the invasion of
Zululand by British forces came into a conclusion. The British won due to their superior
weapons and tactics. Due to this lost, the Zulu were forced to work at mines and their economy
and freedom came into a collapse.
Today in South Africa, the Zulu people are actually doing fairly well by the effects of
Globalization. They now have the freedom to choose where they live, and what religion they
choose to follow. The Zulu language is the official language of South Africa and over 24 million
people speak it. They are very dominant in their society today and even have their own political
party; the Inkantha Freedom Party. Even though they lost the Anglo-Zulu wars, I think that the
effects of Globalization were a positive thing for them. They are now part of the global world
and South Africa is participating in the United Nations.