The Zulu Under Shaka

It is our understanding that there is a lot of discrepancy over what happened to the Mfecane. We believe that to truly understand the events in question, we must turn to the stories told by those who have lived through these events as they are passed down through the generations.

We believe that the Zulu under Shaka began to thrive under Shaka as not only a general but as an actual leader. This is because he allowed for the creation of a strong empire both in the military and in politics, which resulted in a powerful empire even after his death.

To begin to understand the events that happened under Shaka, it is important to first look at his achievements before his official rule to understand how those skills he built throughout his life transferred over. First off, according to Henry Francis Fynn, when Shake joined the Mthethwa army regiment, he was almost instantly chosen to be its leader. Shaka would become the regiment’s advisor and lead them through many battles with the Zwide. Fynn continues to state that Shaka was a fine warrior who always was to first to attack in battle. This is a significant detail because it highlights how Shaka was an actual leader to his people and not just a boss.

Continuing the story of how Shaka built up his leadership skills, it is important to look at his intelligence as a military leader. Shaka, during the Battle of Isandlwana, introduced his military formation known as the “Horns of the Bull”, in which a block of his army would stay in front of their enemy with another block directly behind them for support. Next, Shaka would have two separate hordes flanking the enemies from each side making a bullhorn-like shape. It was during this battle that Shaka proved himself to be not only a fierce leader but also an intelligent one.

Transitioning into his actual reign, Shaka, though not directly in the military anymore, made efforts to keep his army strong. He insisted that the men stay celibate, with the belief that intercourse would weaken them. Continuing to remove any threats that might come from intercourse, Shaka also refused to have a wife or any pregnant concubines. Having a son would prove as a risk to his reign since there was a chance that if he had a son, he would execute Shaka to gain power. It was also around this time that Shaka introduced a short spear to replace the javelin or throwing spear, emphasizing a switch to close-range combat over the traditional long-range attacks.

Due to these accounts that highlight the strengths of Shaka, it can be concluded that Shaka’s true rise to power started with him as a general leading the charge against the Zwide. He then proved his effectiveness and intelligence during the Battle of Isandlwana. Shortly after that battle, Shaka would become ruler. During his rule, the Zulu would then go on to battle the Zwide and the Ndwandwes. In this battle, Shaka displayed the multitude of military practices that he had built up over the years which resulted in his victory as he chased the Ndwandwes into lands past the Pongolo River.

After that battle, Shaka would then gain control of Nguni. It was at this point that the term “Mfecane” would officially come into play. At the start of the Mfecane, there are multiple accounts from different people at which Shaka would take land and repurpose it. The land Shaka would repurpose would be from the Amasomi, Amadungwe, Amakanywayo, and Amandhlovu.

After acquiring such lands, Shaka focused heavily on splitting land and putting in place a currency. Shaka would continue to practice his rule in these taken lands by splitting them into different regiments or private kraals at which cattle and milk were key components in trade. It was also during his reign that it is said that Shaka possessed many of the realm's products. It is also stated that Shaka was not too fond of European influence but welcomed them very cautiously and even tried to get them invested in trading.