From a philosophical point of view, Zulus see human beings as coming from another dimension of existence. Hence they suddenly appeared on earth.

The earth is also seen as a created domain but the world used for creation is dala. Therefore God created (wadala) heaven (izulu) and earth (nomhlaba). This is how Genesis 1:1 is translated into Zulu.

But the Zulus had a smile on their face when this translation was rendered. The root word Dala in Zulu means ancient and hoary and ageless. Therefore creation from a Zulu conceptual point of view is conceived as a process which took place many years ago infact ageless, probably running in millions of years. Immediately from this we arrive at a scientifically validated fact that the earth is far older in age than its creatures including man who is a late comer who emerged from a Holy Spiritual place, with a clear Holy and Spiritual mandate. In the Zulu cosmology it is important to note where man emerges from. It is this place that gives a clue to the purpose and destiny of man.

For instance if you have a military mandate you clearly receive your orders from the Commander in Chief probably if you are an American General from the Pentagon. Therefore Zulus see themselves emerging from a highly regarded spiritual vantage point into the world. Other Bantu cultures see themselves emerging from a mountain top. This is not a childish guesswork but it clearly points to the fact that this particular tribe see itself descending from a point of intersection of heaven and earth and clearly unless you choose to be stubborn, it is a point of Spiritual genesis because where heaven and earth meet, it is a point of Devine Intervention and from thence they descend to the earth with clear divine instructions.

Now having emerged from the reed marsh, Zulus claim that the first humans were received by Unkulunkulu.

Unkulunkulu – is literally the Great-Great One (nkulu=great) hence His greatness being ascribed to Him due to His being the Foremost One, the First to Emerge and subjugate the created world. He therefore emerged from the Unknowable Greatness and established a crown, a kingdom, a domain, space for rulership, using a blueprint of spiritual principles, so that man could live in the world. These concepts are in total agreement with all knowledge of ancient religions about the first things that appeared from the unknown.