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Zulu beliefs are passed down through
story telling traditions, and can explain
everything from the creation of all
things, to the reason that owls only
come out at night. Part of Zulu culture
is its celebration of the aging process.
Many age-related milestones are
celebrated from childhood through
adulthood, and growing old is
considered a privilege. It is believed
that elderly people have been blessed
by god. Even death is nothing more
than another milestone, because the
Zulu believe that life goes on after the
last breath leaves the body.
hen God decided to let people live forever, he sent the chameleon to tell
them the good news. The chameleon is a pretty slow walker, and also a bit vain.
As he ambled along on his mission, he stopped many times to admire the
beautiful colors his skin turned. Before long, he came to a huge patch of
berries that he knew God had forbidden him to eat. But the chameleon
couldn't resist. When God saw the chameleon's sin, he got so angry that he
instead sent the lizard to tell people that they would not live forever after all.
The lizard, who moves quickly, reached people ahead of the chameleon and
told them God’s will. When the chameleon finally arrived, he was too late.
The people could not change their fate. For this reason, to this day, the Zulu
think of the chameleon as an unlucky and untrustworthy animal.
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