Shaka Zulu

I'm going to you on a trip of about 1,200 kilometers around the Zulu Nation. Everywhere there were empty skulls of a people driven off their land. Farm homes without windows, windows without curtains, gardens overgrown and dying, staff quarters empty and lifeless. Old farm equipment, rusting in the broken down shed, hungry cattle alone, because there parents had to be slaughter to produce poultry. Vultures having a feast day, like it is thanksgiving. The greatest Zulu leader in history, Shaka Zulu, often known as the Napoleon of African history, was responsible.

Long ago, in 1789, in the rolling green hills of Zululand, a Zulu woman called Nandi gave birth to an unwanted child named Shaka Zulu. The name Shaka means parasite or simply bastard. (Fisher) The child's father, Senzangakona, from the clan of Zulu, wanted nothing to do with them, because tribal elders sent a message to Nandi saying "the girl has a beetle in her belly". When Shaka was six years old he allowed a dog to kill one of Senzangakona's sheep and from that day forth, Shaka and Nandi were cast out by the Zulu clan. (Cawthore 112-113) In shame, they were forced to return to the clan of Nandi's family. He showed extraordinary bravery in protecting the animals under his care, and one day killed a leopard single handedly using two throwing spears and a club. (Van 251-254)

By the time Shaka reached adulthood, he was angry and bitter, bloodthirsty for the people who outcast him and his mother out of the clan. At about the age of sixteen, He joined the warrior force of chief Diniswayo who ruled the Zulu's. Shaka proved to be an excellent military strategist and introduced changes in battle methods that were to be a great success. Dingiswayo was a good leader of his people, and under his wing, Shaka grew into a rich and important person. Shaka learned military tactics while proving his bravery in numerous engagements. When Shaka's father died in 1816, Shaka's young half-brother, Sugujana became chief. When Shaka heard the news he broke into a great rage and killed his half brother Sugujana. (Fisher) After Shaka did away with his half-brother, Dingiswayo saw Shaka potential and decided to train him to be Chief of the Zulu's. Shaka set to building a mighty new clan; it was called Bulawayo, "the place of killing." Shaka was thirsty for revenge on his mother's clan who had treated them so cruelly in his youth. Victory came easily, and Shaka developed a taste for the power of battle. (Cawthore 112-113)

In Shaka reign he described his men as cowards, because in the start of battle the Zulus would have there long, throwing spears called assegais in there hand, and throw it and retreat, and the battle would be over. So Shaka Invented a new weapon called Iklwa, a short stabbing spear, with a long sword like spearhead. It was named, allegedly, for the sound it made when it went in, then out of the body. (Van 251-254) This allowed his men to retain their weapons and advance right up to their enemies with the aim to attack. He also introduced a larger, heavier shield made of cowhide so that the Zulu army can lasted threw battles, and not lay on there backs. He also, forced his soldiers to run barefoot over fields of thorns so that their feet became hardened and they could move more quickly in battle. Soldiers caught disobeying his rules were immediately put to death. (Carroll)

Shaka also introduced a battle formation