Named for the fierce Zulu warrior race of South Africa, popular legend places its roots back to a small club called The Tramps.  They attended the Pythian Theatre in 1909 to see a theatricale by a troupe called The Smart Set.  One of the musical novelties was called "There Never Was And Never Will Be A King Like Me" which took as its setting the Zulu tribe.  Inspired by the performance, members of The Tramps, the Benevolent Aid Society, and other groups from the surrounding wards met in a back room behind a bar/restaurant in the 1100 block of Perdido Street after seeing the skit.  When they emerged, they were organized into the krewe of Zulu.  While The Tramps were marching as a walking club since 1901, their move to become a legitimate krewe marks their official beginning.  More raucous and joyfully-irreverent than its pregenitors, Zulu actively parodies the traditions of Carnival, and revels in its own jokes.  The most famous of the Zulu Kings was international music icon and native New Orleanian Louis Armstrong, who reigned in 1949.

This krewe shares a theme of legendary warriors with the krewes of  Gladiators, and Centurions.