Zulu, like most indigenous Southern African languages, was not a written language until the arrival of missionaries from Europe, who documented the language using the Latin script. The first grammar book of the Zulu language was published in Norway in 1850 by the Norwegian missionary Hans Schreuder.Rakkenes, Øystein (2003) Himmelfolket: En Norsk Høvding i Zululand, Oslo: Cappelen Forlag, pp. 63–65 The first written document in Zulu was a Bible translation that appeared in 1883. In 1901, John Dube (1871–1946), a Zulu from Natal, created the Ohlange Institute, the first native educational institution in South Africa. He was also the author of Insila kaShaka, the first novel written in Zulu (1930). Another pioneering Zulu writer was Reginald Dhlomo, author of several historical novels of the 19th-century leaders of the Zulu nation: U-Dingane (1936), U-Shaka (1937), U-Mpande (1938), U-Cetshwayo (1952) and U-Dinizulu (1968). Other notable contributors to Zulu literature include Benedict Wallet Vilakazi and, more recently, Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali.
zulu like most indigenous southern african languages was not a written language until the arrival of missionaries from europe who documented the language using the latin script the first grammar book of the zulu language was published in norway in 1850 by the norwegian missionary hans schreuderrakkenes øystein (2003) himmelfolket en norsk høvding i zululand oslo cappelen forlag pp 63–65 the first written document in zulu was a bible translation that appeared in 1883 in 1901 john dube (1871–1946) a zulu from natal created the ohlange institute the first native educational institution in south africa he was also the author of insila kashaka the first novel written in zulu (1930) another pioneering zulu writer was reginald dhlomo author of several historical novels of the 19th-century leaders of the zulu nation u-dingane (1936) u-shaka (1937) u-mpande (1938) u-cetshwayo (1952) and u-dinizulu (1968) other notable contributors to zulu literature include benedict wallet vilakazi and more recently oswald mbuyiseni mtshali