Tshaka Zulu

Noted for his accomplishments as a fearless and fierce warrior, Tshaka revolutionized African warfare. Though his reign was marked with wars and conquests, Tshaka unified the Zulu tribes as well as other tribes thus forcing them to abandon their culture and embrace the Zulu culture.

Born in Kwazulu in 1787, Tshaka was an illegitimate child. His father, Senzangakhona was a chieftain of a small Zulu clan. In Africa, bearing a child out of wedlock is considered a taboo and women were treated with scorn. As a result of this, in 1794 Tshaka left with his mother to her mother’s village, Elangeni. His mother Nandi kaBebe was a princess as her father was a deceased chieftain of the Elangeni clan. Nandi was rejected by her kinsmen and treated with disrespect as it was agreed by all, she had brought shame to her people by having a child out of wedlock.

Tshaka was laughed at by his other play mates. In fact, his name Tshaka was derived from iTshaka- an intestinal beetle.

After so much hardship, Tshaka moved with his mother to the Mthetwa tribe. They were accepted and treated well by Dingiswayo- the Zulu king who with time was to recognise Tshaka’s potential as a fighter. Dingiswayo groomed Tshaka as a warrior with the hope of making him his Chief warrior.

His reign as Chief warrior was marked with significant changes. He revolutionized the Zulu fighting pattern. This was based on fearless indomitable spirit and battle strategy. He reduced the length of the spears and also improved the Zulu shield by making it heavier.

Upon the death of his father Senzangakhona, Tshaka attacked the kingdom, taking it by force and became its new Chief.

Tshaka’s conquest saw the unification of Zulu tribes. Tribes which did not want to confront him moved farther up as far as Tanzania.

One of Tshaka’s greatest regrets was his trust of the British.Even though, the British treated him in the time of ill health, they tricked him to obtain vast expanse of land from him.

Tshaka reigned for 10 years and was later killed on the 22nd of September 1828 by his half brothers, Dingane and Mhlangana. Dingane reigned in his stead.

Tshaka’s inputs in Zulu culture can be felt till date as the Zulus rank amongst the toughest ethnic group not just in Africa but the whole world.