Shaka began with a systematic reorganization of Zulu warriors, implementing a rigid training program, new blade weaponry that replaced the traditional spear, new attack formations and a strict code of obedience. Zulu society — much like Sparta — was entirely restructured to support the army.
In just a couple of years, his army had brutally executed, displaced or assimilated a vast territory with more than , inhabitants who became his subjects. Despite its violent methodology, his clan had formed one united nation — the biggest and most powerful in southern Africa. An increasingly cruel and paranoid Shaka Zulu was assassinated in , but that didn't mark the end of his effects on the history of southern Africa. Besides creating a political entity in the Zulu Kingdom, Shaka's military campaigns caused the massive displacement of people, a crisis that became part of a decades-long period of turmoil historians call the Mfecane or the "scattering".
Many groups banded together for security, forming new communities. However, Dingiswayo was killed by another man named Zwide, ruler of another group called the Edondwe. With this, he merged the Zulu with the Edondwe, Mthetwa and other local groups. A lot of our information comes from European traders, who came to this part of Africa, mostly looking for ivory. This is when they encountered Shaka.
An increased demand for ivory led to more hunting of elephants. Hunting elephants needs groups of people to come together to hunt. A big drought dry spell also caused the European crops to fail. Between and , there was a new period of war and total chaos as people fought back against Shaka. First, Shaka had to build his power and his army. The Mthetwe and the Zulu became warriors under Shaka. Shaka began to expand his territory in quite a brutal way.
Sometimes, Shaka would use diplomatic tactics where you try to befriend other peoples and foreigners to get them on side. When Shaka was satisfied he had enough fighters, he took on Zwide, leader of the Ndwandwe group. Shaka and Zwide the one who killed Dingiswayo went to war. The Ndwande still had twice as many men as Shaka, so they really thought that victory was certain for them.
Shaka had cleverly put his men on top of a huge hill, which made it difficult for the chaotic and disorganised Ndwande army. The Zulu, of course, had their short stabbing spears and ran the Ndwande army down the hill. The Ndwande had to climb the hill five times.
They began to tire and suffer from the scorching hot climate of Africa. The bull horn fighting technique had really worked in defeating the Ndwande. This is how Shaka got this name.
Read more: Wangari Maathai: The outspoken conservationist. So, he was Shaka kaSenzangakhona, with Senzangakhona being his father. In those days your father's name became your surname. Shaka's grandfather's name was Zulu. When he became king, Shaka said, let us have an identity and call ourselves Zulu people. He tried to deny it because he was afraid of his father, King Zulu. For a heir apparent like Senzangakhona to impregnate a girl before marriage was an embarrassment and could attract harsh punishments including losing his right to ascend to the throne.
His family later owned up and Senzangakhona paid the bride price which enabled Nandi to move into Senzangakhona's family. Nandi and Shaka were later thrown out of Senzangakhona's place. How did it come to this? Nandi was arrogant and had a tempestuous character always dictating to everyone. So, theirs was a rocky relationship.
Senzangakhona could not take it anymore. He threw her out together with Shaka. They both wandered around. Nandi then met Ngwati. They fell in love and stayed together and gave birth to Shaka's sister. While Ngwati was killed in pursuit, Nandi and her two children were taken up by the Mthethwa king Dingiswayo. How did Shaka then join the Mthethwa regiments or army? He became King Dingiswayo's senior headboy when he was This was because of his intelligence and courage.
It was not long before he was recruited as a warrior joining the Izicwe regiment. As a commander, he stopped the warriors from wearing sandals and ordered them to walk bare-footed. He also stopped the use of long spears which warriors would throw at the enemy.
This forced his warriors to get close enough to stab the enemy and move to the next using the same spear. He also introduced the buffalo horn formation which his army used to trap their opponents before descending on them. It resembled the head of a buffalo and its two horns. He became so feared and well known even in other tribes and kingdoms that he earned the name 'Nodumehleli' which means the one who when seated causes the earth to rumble.
It was as a Mthethwa warrior that Shaka finally ascended to Senzangakhona's throne. Did this act go uncontested? When his father Senzangakhona died, King Dingiswayo assisted him to return to his father's people, giving him two warriors to help him take over power. But Senzangakhona had told his prime minister Mudli, that his other son Sigujana was the heir apparent, not Shaka. On arrival he killed Sigujana and in took over as King.
After King Dingiswayo died, Shaka incorporated the Mthethwa people under his kingdom and the clans that Dingiswayo had conquered under Shaka's military leadership.
He went on to conquer other clans and ruled them.
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