Learning area: ZIMSEC

Level: Form 3
Students Name: Kylie Filimon
Class: 3 Business
Date: 01.09.22
School: Dominican Convent High School Harare
Shaka Zulu

Who was Shaka Zulu?

Shaka kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka Zulu and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu
Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. He was one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, responsible for re-
organizing the military into a formidable force via a series of wide-reaching and influential reforms.
King Shaka was born in the lunar month of uNtulikazi (July) in the year of 1787 near present-
day Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal Province, the son of the Zulu King Senzangakhona kaJama. Spurned as an
illegitimate son, Shaka spent his childhood in his mother's settlements, where he was initiated into
an ibutho lempi (fighting unit), serving as a warrior under Inkosi Dingiswayo.

[the only known drawing of Shaka]

Early life

When Senzangakhona (Shaka Zulu's father) died in 1816, Shaka's younger half-brother Sigujana assumed
power as the legitimate heir to the Zulu chiefdom. Sigujana's reign was short, however, as Dingiswayo,
anxious to confirm his authority, lent Shaka a regiment so that he was able to put Sigujana to death,
launching a relatively bloodless coup that was substantially accepted by the Zulu. Thus Shaka became
Chief of the Zulu clan, although he remained a vassal of the Mthethwa Paramountcy until Dingiswayo's
death in battle a year later at the hands of Zwide, powerful chief of the Ndwandwe (Nxumalo) nation.
When the Mthethwa forces were defeated and scattered temporarily, the power vacuum was filled by
Shaka. He reformed the remnants of the Mthethwa and other regional tribes and later defeated Zwide in
the Zulu Civil War of 1819–20.
When Dingiswayo was murdered by Zwide, Shaka sought to avenge his death. At some point, Zwide
barely escaped Shaka. In that encounter, Zwide's mother Ntombazi, a sangoma, was killed by Shaka.
Shaka chose a particularly gruesome revenge on her, locking her in a house and placing jackals or hyenas
inside: they devoured her and, in the morning, Shaka burned the house to the ground. Despite carrying
out this revenge, Shaka continued his pursuit of Zwide. It was not until around 1825 that the two military
leaders met, near Phongola, in their final meeting. Phongola is near the present day border of KwaZulu-
Natal, a province in South Africa. Shaka was victorious in battle, although his forces sustained heavy
casualties.

Expansion of power

As Shaka became more respected by his people, he was able to spread his ideas with greater ease.
Because of his background as a soldier, Shaka taught the Zulus that the most effective way of becoming
powerful quickly was by conquering and controlling other tribes. His teachings greatly influenced the
social outlook of the Zulus. The Zulu tribe soon developed a warrior outlook, which Shaka turned to his
advantage.
Shaka’s Military Innovations

These changes resulted in several military victories.

Weapons

Shaka decided to abandon the long throwing spear assegai because he thought it was inefficient and
replaced it with a short stabbing one called iklwa. This spear could be used more than once unlike the
long throwing spear. Shaka also introduced a longer and harder shield for more protection called
Ishlangu. The ishlangu was about six feet tall and three feet wide with its base made from a layer of thick
wood and had a handle affixed to its interion.

The shield was the layered with cowhide, from about 1 to 3 inches thick. He taught his army how to hook
the enemy with the shield bringing him to the right and stab him using the iklwa. Each regiment had a
distinctive coloured shield with some using black, others white with black spot among others with lower
ranks getting darker coloured shields He supplied cowhide skins to his troops kept them after battle as
his property.

Footwear

Shaka abandoned the previously Nguni soldiers wooden sandal. He believed the sandals to be heavy and
slowed the pace of the soldiers. He ordered his troops to go to war barefooted for greater speed,
toughening of feet and improved footing in warfare. Thus Zulu soldiers became faster in pursuing the
enemy.

Soldiers who went against Shaka and wore sandals were killed.

Shaka is believed to have trained his army in a march of about 80 km per day over hot, thorny and rocky
terrain.

Battle tactic

Although some historians argue that the Cow horn formation introduced by Shaka was already in
existence, Shaka was more effective in using this method. Shaka introduced the cow horn formation in
which his troops would be divided to form a cow horn shape when attacking the enemy as compared to
the previously used mass combat. The Zulu regiments were divided into four groups to be positioned as
cow horn.

The bravest soldiers were placed in the middle of the horns and these directly attacked the enemy whilst
the younger soldiers made the horns. A reserve army was placed at the back of the horn. In case of stiff
attack, the bravest soldiers would retreat and be replaced by the reserve army.

Any soldierwho returned with a wound in the back was killed as he was labelled a coward. He put spies
and informers everywhere.

Total warfare

Unlike other Nguni leaders who employed limited warfare to allow the enemy to recuperate and accept
dominance of the winning chief, Shaka introduced total warfare Total warfare was simply based on the
knowledge that everyone participated in the war, either as soldiers or giving soldiers help. Total warfare
also meant destroying the enemy completely so that they won't be able to recover. Shaka removed the
ruling family of the conquered group and replaced them with relatives of those he selected. Young men
and women of defeated chiefdoms would be inscripted into the Zulu regiments

Shaka’s Army

The regiments were kept in the barracks permanently. The army was supported by the state and was
well disciplined and trained. Shaka made sure that his army was well fed and they were fed on beef
mostly. Shaka had an army of about 20000 soldiers, during battle times small boys were employed as
baggage carriers. Shaka abolished circumcision too.

The fall of Shaka

Shaka has been described as a very cruel leader. Events that too place from 1825 to the time of his death
in 1828 were often described as horrific. The death of his grandmother in 1825 gave Shaka a sense of
personal loss. It frightened him as it, so reminded him of his own death. He became paranoid as his hair
turned grey. Some say that he asked a white trader by the name Henry Fynn for black hair dye, which he
called magic. He felt a sense of impatience after the death if his grandmother, this resulted in him killing
many innocent Zulu.

When Shaka’s mother died, he killed people for not showing enough grief, or simply not crying. About 7
000 died due to exhaustion and murder. The Zulu were put to a whole year of mourning. No sex was
allowed, no agricultural activity was taking place, no one was allowed to drink or use milk. Any woman
who was to fall pregnant during that time period was killed. These events made Shaka’s own brothers
turn against him.

In a campaign against Soshangane, Shaka sent his entire army, leaving him exposed at home. His half
brothers, Dingane and Mhlangane left the expedition and returned home where they conspired with an
induna and his father’s sister to murder him.

Both Shaka’s brothers ended up stabbing him to death. An induna witnessed this and was about to
mobilize available soldiers against the assassins but was stopped by Mbhopa. The capping against
Soshangane had failed. Shaka’s death was a relief to the Zulu because they had suffered long enough. His
own cruelty against his own people led to his assassination in 1828.

However, Shaka may have been cruel but he had a huge impact on the Zulu Kingdom. It started off as a
small chiefdom. The Zulu ended up being the biggest kingdom all because of Shaka. His military skills and
harsh discipline were key elements. The Zulu succeeded in absorbing everyone they defeated in terms of
culture and language as a result created a unified nation of the Zulu.

Shaka made the Zulu the dominant ethnic fighting machine in Southern Africa. He perfected the old
fighting methods and weapons. The shield became an offensive weapon from being a defensive one. The
success of his armies did not depend solely on his military innovations but also on his efficient political
reorganisation.