We all know that shaka remodeled the assegai, turning a long, throwing weapon into a much more effective, short stabbing one. Tourism, accommodation and historical attractions of natal. It pays homage to the zulu nations history, explores its contribution to. Thus, even after his day had passed, shakas influence remained, for his model of. One of shaka s most effective generals, mzilikazi, was a dynamic, and ambitious, man. This town is known as a one street, which was part of the royal military homestead of king shaka and it was called kwahlomendlini. Shaka zulu had come into his own when, by force, he took over the. Those eleven days he spent in a hut of the old mans kraal, and every afternoon he came and talked with him, sitting far into the night. He was born in 1787 and was assassinated by his brothers.
Latter day historians who nevertheless believe that the retiefdingane treaty is. Shaka zulus brutality was exaggerated, says new book. His capital kraal was called kwabulawayo, which means where they are killed. It is the oldest zulu cultural village in zululand. An overview of shakas kraal, archaeological site, shakas kraal, north coast, kwazulunatal, south africa. The history of the mosque which towers majestically above all other. Shaka was the first son of the chieftain senzangakhona and nandi, a daughter of bhebhe, the past chief of the elangeni tribe, born near present day melmoth, kwazulunatal province. Chaka was one of the first of africas significant contribution to classic world literature.
The mthethwa throne was occupied by king dingiswayo, who built up a federation of 50 tribes through diplomacy and warfare. A muster and dance of zulu regiments at shakas kraal, as recorded by european visitors to his kingdom, c. Outside south africa shaka has long enjoyed a reputation as a tyrant, a monster of cruelty who murdered his. It was under this king that shaka s fortunes began to take a turn for the better.
A fascinating book about a fascinating man and culture. We start the tour from your accomodation in durban and move to our first stop which is king shaka memorial which is about an hours drive from durban. His political objective was to expand his territory with the. That was why the voortrekkers placed their rifles outside against the kraal. When senzangakhona shakas father died in 1816 shakas younger halfbrother sigujana assumed power as the legitimate heir to the zulu chiefdom. The kraal addo also offers shuttle services at a surcharge and free wifi is. Fynns recounting of the scenes following her death makes harrowing reading. He was of medium height and his skin tone was dark brown.
In books and articles about retief the events almost always feature. Sigujanas reign was short however as shaka, with the help of dingiswayo and his half brother ngwadi, had sigujana assassinated clarification needed in a coup that was relatively bloodless and accepted by the zulu. With 2 listings in shakaskraal, our handy shakaskraal map search and great low prices, its easy to book the perfect holiday accommodation for your shakaskraal visit. The people had had enough of shakas cruelty and were ready to revolt. Shaka recruited young boys to carry his warriors supplies, freeing the warriors to move faster from battle to battle. Savannah van shakas royal kraal smooth collie database. Shaka zulu was successful in establishing zulu dominance in southern africa because he was a great strategist and military innovator. He was born in the month of untulikazi july in the year of 1787 near present day melmoth, kwazulunatal province. This is part of the ecotourism development hub that is. Shakas kraal is a onestreettown which was also the site of king shakas royal military homestead called kwahlomendlini. The history of the mosque which towers majestically above all other buildings will give locals. Hammondtooke 6 revisiting the stereotype of shakas devastations 69. Shakaland is essentially a recreation of shakas great kraal, and as a tourist establishment, offers visitors accommodation in traditional zulu huts.
By then, shaka had no major rival in the area of present day kwazulunatal. It was founded after shakas conquest of the ndwandwe kingdom, in around 1820. The figure of shaka still sparks interest among not only the contemporary zulu but many worldwide who have encountered the tribe and its history. The day was fixed beforehand, the men of the rival tribes met in battle on that day, and. Popular stereotypes imposed on the modernday zulu people continue to be influenced by facts and myths about shaka. Then, you will move on to visit the local folk weaving baskets, making beer and crafting ceramics. Natal 47 gavin whitelaw 5 cattle symbolism in zulu culture 62 w. Leaving their firearms outside the kraal, they walked defenseless into the arena of dingaans kraal. In griefstricken rage, and desperate to outdo one another, the zulus set upon one another until 7 000 people had. He was conceived out of wedlock somewhere between 1781 and 1787. Shakaland zulu cultural village in eshowe, kwazulu natal.
An overview of shaka s kraal, archaeological site, shaka s kraal, north coast, kwazulunatal, south africa. After the film, all but one of the zulu kraals were destroyed. Shakaland is an attraction in eshowe in the scenic province of kwazulunatal, along the east coast of south africa. Much interest was displayed by shakas comrades in the. During his brief reign, which lasted only ten years after his final defeat of the ndwandwe, his regiments continuously went on campaign, steadily extending their assaults further afield as the areas near at hand were stripped of their cattle. During shakas reign as king, zulu stick fighting was used to train for selfdefence and war, building courage and skill. The kraal addo offers breakfast, served in the dining room, while the pub is a frequent favorite for locals and visitors alike.
While working as a medical doctor in soweto, he was approached to write shaka zulu and found himself spending the next two years living amongst the zulus whilst researching this novel which he went on to adapt as the successful miniseries by the same title. On christmas day the remains of these victims were all gathered and buried in a communal grave at the foot of the koppie. This book is a must read, hopefully it will find itself on audible one day for the entire world to get a taste of its power. Shaka ordered a forced march through the night and the posse made it to nandis kraal at emkindeni by noon the next day and she died that afternoon. Shakas father was zenzangakuna a young chiefton, his mother nandi, tribal rules were broken and nandi became pregnant, shaka was born in 1787 and nandi became the chiefs third wife, shakas sister nomcubo was born soon after, at age six shaka was looking after the sheep and allowed a dog to kill one, this was enough to be told to leave the kraal. Zulu armies were fed by a supply of cattle on the hoof and some grain. When the army marched its destination was only known to senior officers. Popular stereotypes imposed on the modernday zulu people continue to. Around 1803, shaka and his mother finally found refuge in the mthethwa hegemony, a kraal belonging to the regions dominant power group. Shakas brothers realized that shaka had gone crazy.
I was left with the feeling that, had shaka been living in, say, europe and been white he would have been heaped with long lasting praise as an innovator, master tactician, talented general and empire builder he would be spoken of in the same terms as napoleon or alexander the great or the armies of rome. Henry francis fynn and the mythography of shaka jstor. Shakas enemies described him as ugly in some respects. The last one is what remains today and forms the basis of shakaland. This unique establishment gives visitors the opportunity to experience the real excitement and romance of shaka, the great king of the zulus. Kwabulawayo prefixed according to context with gu or kwa was the royal kraal of shaka zulu, and as such was the capital of the early zulu empire. The day of the covenant and the battle of blood river. Shaka then led a fresh reserve some 70 miles 110 km to the royal kraal of. Shakas life and deeds had been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation, and they are here evoked with a sense.
The classic of african history a biography of shaka zulu, founder of the zulu nation, born leader and brilliant general. Zulu fighting can be traced back to 1670, though it is also linked to shaka zulu 1787 1828 southern africas legendary warriorking who was a highly proficient stick fighter by the age of 11. He was uncircumcised, which bucked a trend in zulu culture near that time. Svechin, strategiia introduction in the early nineteenth century, the legendary zulu warrior, shaka zulu, emerged as a leading figure in the military and political state of affairs in the zulu kingdom of southern africa.
They assassinated him 1828 and buried him in an unmarked grave. If you are looking for shakaskraal holiday accommodation, safarinow has a selection of selfcatering, holiday accommodation in shakaskraal and surrounds. This includes visiting king shakas kraal, overlooking the gorgeous phobane lake, and an audiovisual portrayal of the life of this king. This novel gives a highly fictionalised account of the great shaka, from the circumstances surrounding his death, to his rise to never before seen power and culminating in the prophetic claim of. Mzilikazi was 34 when he fled zululand with his impi and founded matebele nation. The shakaland cultural experience, zululand, kwazulunatal. Why did the zulu king order his warriors to kill retief and his men. Shaka zulu african emperor, great military king shaka zulusynopsis. Shaka reigned over much of present day zimbabwe, swaziland and south africa.
During the conflict, shaka made a stand outside kwabulawayo, facing two thousand ndwande who returned from. The local indians will be delighted to tell you more about the mosque in the area, which is so big that it casts a shadow over all the other. The cultural sites in the area are mainly parts of shakaskraal and then some indian traditions too. King shaka kasenzangakhona, is the first illegitimate son of the zulu chief senzangkhona kajama and nandi daughter of a langeni chief. Smooth collie database profiles of dogs, pedigrees, puppies, links and more. Shaka project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. On the third day he asked zweete how it was that his left hand was.
Ritter grew up with the zulus, earning their respect and accumulating a rich store of material during his long association with them. Shaka zulu is the most famous african ruler to ever walk south african soil. After in stalling himself in a new kraal which he named kwabulawayo, the place of. In addition to the standard cultural tour which is an overnight adventure, there is the nandi experience, which is a threehour excursion that is fun and exciting. Sinclair is a professor in filmmaking, comparative theology and biblical anthropology. Culture remains an integral part of shakaskraal with its blend of african and indian traditions. Shakaland offers a wonderful insight into the zulus former traditional way of life. Shaka zulu haka shaka kasenzangakhona, also known as shaka zulu, was the most influential leader of. In a twoday running battle, the zulu inflicted a resounding defeat on their opponents.
South africa has a plethora of african cultures, but the zulu one is, undoubtedly, one of its most significant in terms of history, heritage and modern identity. Shaka built a huge kraal called bulawayo or the place of the persecuted one, referring to his fathers expulsion from zululand. Guests can relax in the comfortable tv room, while there is outdoor space for the kids to play. The kraals black boycott gives you first hand insight into companies, brands, people, organizations that exploit and show disrespect to the black community. This became as much a symbol of the empire as a military stronghold and homestead. Tour to shakaland and history of zulu culture by zulu. After killing his brother, shaka, to succeed him as the leader of the zulu kingdom in kwazulunatal, dingane went on to build an immense kraal on top of a hill. Its first halt, after reaching the umhlatuzi river, was presentday melmoth. It was strategicallyplaced, with expansive views of the surrounds, and flanked by two streams. Though much remains unknown about shakas personal appearance, sources tend to agree he had a strong, muscular body and was not fat. Mzilikazi was born in 1790, making him slightly the junior of shaka who was born in 1787. The zulu nation was founded by king shaka kasenzangakhona the prefix ka meaning son of, who reigned from 1816 to 1828, and whose nephew cetshwayo kampande was on the throne in 1879.
According to tradition, shaka was conceived during an act of what began as ukuhlobonga, a form of sexual foreplay. It was one kilometre in diameter, five kilometres in circumference, contained 1400 huts and 12,000 warriors. One of shakas most effective generals, mzilikazi, was a dynamic, and ambitious, man. Shaka 161 wellinformed and balanced a historian as carolyn hamilton felt constrained to render her account of shakas career concise to the point of guardedness. Dingane and mhlangana on 24 september 1828 age 41 in kwadukuza stanger, kwazulunatal. The operation is the means of strategy, and operational art is the material of strategy. King shaka memorial shakaland dlinza forest this popular tour is dedicated to the culture and customs of zulu people.