by Glynnis Hayward

Created on: September 24, 2010   Last Updated: September 30, 2010

The Zulu nation is part of the Nguni people of Southern Africa.  Zulus were one of many clans that became united by the great Shaka Zulu, described as the Napoleon of Africa.  He was the illegitimate son of Chief Senzangakona of what was then a small clan, the Zulu, and he came to the throne in 1816 after his father's death.  At that time there were over fifty independent clans among the Nguni, each with sub-clans, in what we now know as Kwazulu.  Because they were united into one nation by Shaka, the real history of the Zulu nation can be said to begin with his reign.

Shaka's mother Nandi had been an outcast and he had grown up sharing her humiliation.  The clan that gave them refuge was the Mthethwa, whose powerful leader, Dingiswayo, saw the early promise that Shaka displayed. In later years, Shaka showed no mercy except towards those who had been kind to him and his mother when he was a young boy.  Otherwise he was ruthless.  Disobedience resulted in death.  There was only one outcome that was acceptable and that was conquest, with all the conquered incorporated into the Zulu clan.  Shaka had excellent military instinct and made enormous demands on his soldiers.  He radicalized warfare; he forced his soldiers to run barefoot; he changed their spears to shorter, stabbing spears; he made their cowhide shields larger.  All of this made for greater speed, maneuverability and accuracy. He also perfected a formation called the “buffalo” maneuver, consisting of two columns of soldiers or “the horns”, as well as the “chest” and the “loin”.  The chest attacked first while the horns encompassed the enemy, taking them by surprise.  The loin lay hidden and would emerge if needed.  Runners went between groups to communicate.  So successful was this method that it became the hallmark of Zulu warfare and was used by them fifty years after Shaka had died (murdered by his half brothers).  It was used in the great Battle of Isandhlwana to defeat the mighty British army  When he began as a chief, Shaka had an army of approximately 350 “impi” (soldiers).  A year later he had about 2,000, and ten years later he had an army of approximately 40,000 impi.  When faced with a choice of becoming a Zulu foot soldier or facing execution, not surprisingly the majority of conquered clans chose to become Zulu.  Under

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