Why did shaka zulu die

Read more: Amina: The warrior queen of Zazzau. He was a nation builder and not a blood thirsty killer. He was not a ruthless assassin. His father was Senzangakhona. His mother was Princess Nandi of the Mhlongo royal family who lived at a place called eLangeni. When his mother, who was not married at the time, became pregnant, people thought she was suffering from ishaka. 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.

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Updated February 28, Featured Video. Cite this Article Format. Boddy-Evans, Alistair. The Assassination of Shaka Zulu September 24, Casca and the Assassination of Julius Caesar. Presidential Assassinations and Assassination Attempts. Plutarch Describes the Assassination of Caesar.

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