Abstract

The Zulu iqhugwane, or grass beehive, is closely related spatially, physically and metaphysically to other buildings produced by similarly pastoralist peoples, which are distantly located across the globe. All these dwellings are similarly gendered, all have commonalities of form and plan arrangement, and all are imbued with ritual closely associated with shamanistic practise.

Based on conclusions gleaned from didactic and other discourses, this paper will present a preliminary investigation into the potential common origins of such structures, as precursor to a greater project determining an estimate as to the age of these buildings and their connection to anatomically modern humans.