Phalane Motale Veteran Journalist
By Phalane Motale
Veteran Journalist
September is Heritage Month in South Africa, and while Heritage Day commemorates the diverse heritage of all South Africans, its origin is linked to King Shaka, and commemorations for him continue, especially in KwaZulu-Natal where people gather at his memorial.
King Shaka, was not only the last great African warrior, but was also a king and a visionary who united disparate tribes into a powerful nation known as the Zulu Kingdom.
He undoubtedly did not only reshape the landscape of Southern Africa in the early 19th century through his formidable military prowess, innovative tactics, and unyielding leadership.
He left an indelible legacy on the history of his people and the region in general.
Shaka transformed the Zulu tribe into a formidable military and political power, and his legacy extends to the present day.
In my lifetime, I have had the rare opportunity to read the biographies of the Zulu kings— uShaka, uDingane, uMpande and uCetshwayo, which were all written by Rolfes Robert Reginald Dhlomo (1906–1971) in isiZulu.
Dhlomo was a highly respected South African journalist, novelist and historian whose novels about Zulu kings, have been used extensively as school readers on South African history during apartheid, up until now.
It was in his book, uShaka that I read that King Shaka was born around 1787 to the Zulu chief Senzangakhona and his mother, Nandi.
He faced hardships in his early life, including being ostracised due to his mother’s status as a concubine.
King Shaka, who is today popularly known as Shaka Zulu, the leader of the Zulu Kingdom in the early 19th century, is often considered a heroic figure in South African history, particularly within Zulu culture.
He is credited with uniting various tribes into a powerful kingdom and implementing significant military innovations, which transformed the Zulu into a formidable force.
However, opinions about Shaka can be complex.
While he is celebrated for his leadership and military prowess, he is also remembered for his brutal tactics and the violence associated with his rise to power.
His reign included significant conflict and suffering, both for his enemies and his own people.
Shaka remains a pivotal figure in African history, symbolizing the power of leadership and the transformative impact of strategic military reform and nation-building, which saw him transform a minor chiefdom into the powerful Zulu Kingdom.
His legacy highlights the immense power a single leader can wield, but also serves as a complex example of how such power can manifest through both visionary leadership and ruthless tyranny, culminating in his violent assassination by his own guard and half-brothers.
His reign have led to mixed perceptions. The Zulu kingdom he established laid the groundwork for future political developments in the region.
Shaka’s legacy is deeply contentious, shaped by myths and varying interpretations of his life and rule.
His impact on history is undeniable, yet his memory is often clouded by divisive speculations and mythology.
While his reign was marked by both achievements and atrocities, Shaka’s influence continues to resonate in contemporary discussions about leadership, identity, and resistance in Africa.
His story serves as a reminder of the complexities of power and the enduring legacy of historical figures.
Shaka will always be remembered as a brilliant military strategist, with his legacy extending beyond his military success and also reflecting in the culture and pride of the Zulu community by being celebrated in stories, songs and poems passed down from generation to generation.
But his reign was also marked by numerous conflicts with neighbouring tribes, leading to vast territorial gains for the Zulu Kingdom. His campaigns resulted in both conquest and significant displacement of communities, contributing to what is known as the Mfecane (the “Crushing”), a period of chaos and migration in Southern Africa.
Historians and scholars will continue to debate Shaka’s legacy.
Some viewing him as a visionary leader, while others highlighting the negative consequences of his militaristic approach.
He will always be depicted in various forms of media, including literature, film, and television, often romantisizing his life while grappling with the moral complexities of his actions.