Zulu Recruitment (1816 – 1897 AD)
The Zulu are a Bantu people that presently number around 12 million, making them the largest ethnic group in present-day South Africa. Within the realm of popular history, the Zulu are best known for the 19th century accomplishments of their great war chief, Shaka, who led his men to a stunning victory over the British army at the Battle of Isandlwana (1879). The British nearly lost a second hard-pitched fight to Shaka during the subsequent Battle at Rorke’s Drift, eventually gaining the upper hand and complete victory at the Battle of Ulundi during the summer of the same year.
That said, King Shaka managed to work several tactical wonders during his time as a tribal commander in the Mthethwa Empire and later Zulu nation. In taking a few strategic cues from his European and domestic adversaries, Shaka introduced a series of strategic and logistical reforms that transformed the Zulu army into a formidable fighting force. Chief amongst these innovations were improvements to Zulu weapons and shields, along with the introduction of the impondo zenkomo (a tactical formation and battle strategy that relied upon lighting fast strikes and pincer movements to overcome technologically superior forces).
Shaka’s success did not come without a price, nor did it occur overnight. In capitalizing upon Bantu warrior traditions, he indoctrinated regional youths into the Zulu army, beginning at ages as young as six. Boys were made to run incredibly long distances, over unforgiving terrain, which turned them into swift warriors. Anyone who couldn’t tolerate the training, or otherwise complained about Shaka’s methods was summarily killed on the spot. Recruited boys were also forced to constantly train for battle by stick fighting, which typically ended with one opponent shamefully submitting to the other. Some fights, however, carried on until death.