Expanding an Empire
Shaka’s strategy was a clever one because he became known as a kind of ‘haven’ for tribes and warriors who were fleeing attacks. Shaka was careful to ensure these refugees felt welcome because he needed all the manpower he could get. Given his preference for diplomacy over war at this stage of his reign, the suggestion that he murdered the entire Langeni tribe is almost certainly nonsense. Shaka apparently tried to fill up Thathiyana Gorge with the dead; a neat trick since there is no evidence that this gorge even existed. In reality, most of the Langeni submitted without the need for bloodshed.
Shaka had problems with the Qwabe, but eventually, he managed to kill its leader, Phakathwayo, after the Qwabe chief refused to help against Zwide and insulted the Zulu chief’s nether regions. There is some doubt over the veracity of the tale but killing Phakathwayo would explain how Shaka managed to get the Qwabe on his side. Over the next few years, Shaka was able to expand north and in the central region which was near the Zulu ancestral heartlands. It is important to note that Shaka always remained behind his army and didn’t get directly involved in battles.
By the middle of the 1820s, the Zulu apparently controlled an area of over 11,500 square miles. He seemingly met white traders in 1824, and while he was friendly to them, there is a suggestion that Shaka was intent on attacking them at a later stage. Although he had an enormous amount of power, Shaka had yet to defeat Zwide completely. He finally got his chance in 1825 when his army met Zwide near his royal kraal. His men destroyed the kraal and forced Zwide to flee. He died in mysterious circumstances soon after he fled to a female chief named Mjanji, who led the baBelu clan.
The Death of Shaka Zulu
Such was the nature of his kingdom that despite his success, Shaka’s crown was never secure. His two half-brothers, Mhlangana, and Dingane, apparently made at least two assassination attempts. The truth is, despite trying to be diplomatic, Shaka made many enemies during his lifetime. He supposedly went off the rails when his mother, Nandi, died in October 1827. One tale suggests that he ordered the death of pregnant Zulu women and their husbands, and decreed that no milk could be used and no crops could be grown. Moreover, 7,000 people who were accused of not grieving enough for Nandi were executed.
Sources for these allegations are sketchy, but it is likely that Shaka met his end at the hands of three assassins in September 1828. He had sent most of his men north and lacked enough security to protect himself against the plotters. Dingane and Mhlangana are the likely culprits, along with an iNduna called Mbopa. They dumped Shaka’s body in a grain pit and covered it with stones and mud; the body has never been recovered.
Dingane became the new chief, and he embarked on a tyrannical reign of terror. He murdered everyone he suspected of being pro-Shaka and killed numerous chieftains to secure his throne. During his 12-year reign, Dingane embarked on a foolhardy war against the Voortrekkers and another against Mpande which was an even bigger disaster. With the support of the British, Mpande seized the crown and Dingane was murdered.
As for Shaka Zulu, he will be remembered for creating the Zulu Kingdom. He introduced military innovations that helped his people get the upper hand against enemies, and while many exaggerations and myths surround his name, Shaka Zulu is arguably the best military leader that Africa has ever produced.
Sources
Myth of Iron: Shaka in History – Dan Wylie
Fortune of Africa: A 5,000 Year History of Wealth, Greed, and Endeavour – Martin Meredith