Zulu

:This article is about the African ethnic group. For other meanings, see Zulu (disambiguation).

History

Origins

The Zulu were a minor clan in what is today Northern KwaZulu-Natal, founded ca. 1709 by Zulu kaNtombhela. At that time, the area was occupied by many small Nguni tribes and clans.

Related Topics:
KwaZulu-Natal - 1709 - Zulu kaNtombhela - Nguni

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Kingdom

Shaka Zulu was the illegitimate son of Senzangakona, chief of the Zulus. He was born ca 1787. He and his mother, Nandi, were exiled by Senzangakona, and found refuge with the Mthethwa. Shaka fought as a warrior under Dingiswayo, chief of the Mthethwa. When Senzangakona died, Dingiswayo helped Shaka claim his place as chief of the Zulus. The two fought together against common foes. After Dingiswayo was murdered by king Zwide of the Ndwandwe, the Mthethwa placed themselves under Shaka's rule, and took on the name Zulu.

Related Topics:
Shaka - Senzangakona - 1787 - Nandi - Mthethwa - Dingiswayo - Zwide - Ndwandwe

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Shaka built upon Dingiswayo's military reforms, and, using superior tactics, expanded the territory controlled by the Zulu to form the Zulu Kingdom. Some of the conflicts involved in this process fall under the Zulu Civil War. The Zulus at this point constituted a great nation between the Tugela River and the Pongola River. This process of expansion played a major role in the occurrence of the Mfecane - the catastrophic forced migration of many clans around Zululand.

Related Topics:
Zulu Civil War - Tugela River - Pongola River - Mfecane - Zululand

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Shaka was succeeded by Dingane, his half brother, who conspired to murder him.

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Interaction with the Voortrekkers

Dingane suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838, when he attacked a group of 470 Voortrekker settlers.

Related Topics:
Dingane - Battle of Blood River - 16 December - 1838 - Voortrekker

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Anglo-Zulu War

The Anglo-Zulu War was fought between the Zulus, under Cetshwayo and the British in 1879. The British ruled the colony of Natal, which bordered on the Zulu Kingdom at the time. Despite defeating the British at Isandlwana on January 22, the Zulus lost the war at the Battle of Ulundi on July 4.

Related Topics:
Anglo-Zulu War - Cetshwayo - British - 1879 - Natal - Isandlwana - January 22 - Battle of Ulundi - July 4

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Cetshwayo was forced to flee, and the British forcibly restructured the Zulu aristocracy.

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Apartheid Years

Under apartheid, Zululand was declared a homeland, and a large proportion of the Zulu people forced to live there. Zulu people were classed as "black" in South Africa, and as such were heavily discriminated against.

Related Topics:
Apartheid - Zululand - Homeland

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