Shaka Zulu is said to be one of the greatest military leaders in African history, and perhaps all of history. There is controversy around the brutality of his methods, and the strictness with which he trained his troops, but in many ways, he improved warfare methods forever. Born in 1787 in what is now South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, he died in 1828. His legacy lived on in the Zulu warriors who fought the British in 1879. The military conflict helped immortalize the Zulu in the minds of Westerners, but Zulu history was far from over in 1879. The Zulus persevered through apartheid and remain the largest ethnic group in South Africa. Here are 16 things that made Shaka Zulu a military genius.
He introduced new weapons to the Zulu people
Tired of the assegai — a long pole weapon made of wood with pointed iron at the end and thrown like a javelin — Shaka Zulu introduced the ikwla, a weapon with a shorter sphere and a longer spearhead, sort of like a sword. This weapon gave Shaka’s warriors a huge advantage over opponents when they came up close for hand-to-hand combat.
He introduced cowhide shields
Shaka Zulu supposedly introduced cowhide shields, which were much stronger than the iron or wood shields used previously.
He accustomed his troops to war conditions
Some historians say that Shaka Zulu would make his troops go on 50-mile marches for practice over rough and hot terrain so they wouldn’t be fazed by difficult conditions during battle.
He collected troops like they were acorns
When his father Senzangakona, the chief of the small Zulu tribe, died in 1816, Shaka Zulu took the throne. The following year, he had gathered an army of more than 2,000 warriors. By 1824, his army numbered up to 20,000.
His strict military decrees earned him respect
By stating these rules for his army, Shaka gained confidence and support: 1) He eliminated privilege and class. Warriors had to earn their positions and rank. 2) All the spoils of war taken from the defeated armies were to be split among the warriors, and all resources shared. 3) Ageing members of society were to be treated with dignity, and allowed to retire.
He introduced (and perhaps invented) the bull horn formation
Many historians say Shaka Zulu was the first military leader to use the bull horn formation. This is a three-part attack system in which seasoned warriors form the “chest” of the horn at the front, pinning the enemy into a position where it can be easily attacked. Younger warriors would form the “horns” and encircle the enemy, attacking from the sides, and additional warriors formed the “loins,” standing behind the “chest” with their back to the battle, protecting against any additional attackers.
He differentiated soldiers
Shaka Zulu had soldiers carry different colored or patterned shields, depending on their rank. In a troop of hundreds, this made it much easier for soldiers to know exactly where to go when forming the bull horn.
He made his soldiers remain celibate
With the exception of those already married, he made sexual abstinence mandatory. Many believe that Shaka was a homosexual who had some procreative issues. Would such issues tie into his lifestyle demands for his troops?
He was fiercely dedicated to his mother
Shaka was ruthless and violent with grief after his mother Nandi’s death in 1827. Pregnant women and their husbands from his tribe were murdered, crop planting and milk production was banned, and many Zulus were executed.
He started apprenticeships
Children over age 6 would became apprentice warriors, delivering rations, cooking supplies and weapons to real warriors. By the time children came of age, they were accustomed to being in battle surroundings and were more emotionally ready to fight.
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54 Comments
Very interesting piece on Shaka Zulu !!!
Why do great black warriors always suspected to be gay by white historians?
Cut that out.
Thank you!
I’m glad others see this funny shit they do to our leaders
Because their agenda is to effeminate Men so they won’t attack or rebel. Slaveholders used to rape enslaved African males to make them submissive. Now they try to push their gay agenda and normalize THEIR deviant behaviors. They are pathological amd psychotic.
They will not let you be Black and glorious. You just have to be gay.
I also think that is out of line especially when Shaka Zulu despised homosexuals n even killed them. King Shaka killed his babies from their mothers wombs with the perception that they will come after him as he did the same to his father.
Because homosexuality Is a deeply rooted in their ( Anglo-Saxon) human spirit soul.
Lenard i agree with you. Zulus were/are fiecely patriarchal and there was no gay people therein. Its only in this so called modern south africa where you start hearing about gay Africam men. Homosexuality if it existed it was in the closet as it was an abomination. Zulu men and families took pride in having large families, lots od kids, with women! White racist n colonial narratives on our people must fall! I am a Zulu and very proud of Shaka’s pride in his culture and people! Bayede Nlosi!!!!!
Of course – there were no gay people then ??♂️? – seriously? While I agree that historians may be wrong, who cares? It takes nothing away from the incredible warrior, leader an nation builder he was.
One of my all-time favourites as a general, military mind and leader. Respected even by the British who fought him.
Alexander The Great, Julius Ceasar, Spartacus,
The 300 (Band of Thebes), etc., we’re all from
a time when bisexuality & homosexuality was
not seen as a weak point.
Some of you are seeing this through a Judeo-Christian
& Radical Islamic filter, that has been taught to you
by your oppressors, so you pre-programmed to see
the conjecture that Shaka Zulu may or may not have
been homosexual or bisexual as a diss!
Be more open-minded and less reactionary.
It could not be true that Ilembe was gay.The Cele sing praises ” inkomo esengwa ilele ngoba nxa imile iyakhahlela” these were coined by King Shaka after a sexual encounter with a girl from a Cele tribe.
Open minds are open to homosexuality and every thing in between.
I wonder who are the “many” that believe one of Africa’s greatest warrior kings was “homosexual.”
“homosexual” but still his greatness live forever *long live African greatest*
long live to the heart of the zulus
I’m happy for this peace of Shaka’s history though it was painted bad somewhere as on homosexuality and the killing of pregnant women and their husbands and the banning of milk and crop planting.
I was named after him, Am Shakazulu from Nigeria, his history inspires me so much and i wish i was one of the warriors who fought beside him. I in love with his African tradition.
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Shaka Zulu was not a homosexaual…thats the dumbmess sh!t ive ever heard ??
1. Shaka IS NOT “Shaka Zulu”. Thats a European construct and is seen by Zulus as an insult. He is Shaka Kasenzangakhona.
2. Homosexuality? Kindly supply prove for any insulting claim made against African heros and heroines. Africa, due to its colonial past had a problem with “most” of its history being stolen. History tellers killed. So any hero we have is just a few. We cant afford to villify the few heros and heroines we remain with.
THANK YOU!!!!
There is no history of homosexuality in africa, that is you white folks shit and your niggers.
WTF are you talking about you pea brain
Good men a leader before his Time
Shaka was strategic and he knew about the coming of the colonizers hence he fought many Kings in the Southern African cause he wanted unity by the time the colonizers arrive, unfortunately his ways were brutal and he was misunderstood by many. There’s a clip in his movie that was deleted where he asked the colonizers how the Zulus and Whites will share residency.
Ask the Zulus if you want to know their history, don’t go around reading the lies Whites write about Africans.
Ha, homosexuality was huge in Greek culture and some native. Show the evidence of this being true in Shaka’s case, because he implemented moral behavior?
Thank you, Jabu.
Lulu
Shaka Zulu, The Great African Warrior.
He defeated the English and Left the English General to Live to Tell The Tale.
After The English Lost 33.000 Troops who were sent to Kill innocent, Black African People, The English General said he Thought he was “Going to fight Savages”, But he fought “The most intellectual Fighting Force on Earth” ? Even in the 20th and 21st Century America and England ??????? with Allies have used Military Methods Which they Learned From Shaka Zulu.
American General, Jamaican ?? General Colin Powell Said he used Strategies Which were used By Shaka Zulu in The past, in Modern Times in order to advance and win Battles during the Golf War.
Billy D Bignell
Bignell TV ?
Shaka Zulu is a Straight, African Warrior, he also had Children.
White Historians have fooled a whole Kenyan Tribe into Homosexuality because they do not like to see Black People reproduce and Mind Control is the method they use to Trick people into Murder and Homosexuality. The Notion is. If they tell people Heroes behaves badly knowing it is a lie. They might stop ?people from learning how to retain Straight Great Sentiments
Picture and Story Credits Source Black Then Dot Com Please Continue to share this.
https://blackthen.com/16-things-that-made-african-king-shaka-zulu-one-of-the-greatest-military-minds-in-history/
Please Share in order to keep History Accurate. The Article was written By a White Person who tried to discredit a Great African King.
The Truth is in The following Text. Shaka Zulu Promotes Reproduction. He is A Straight, Great, African Leader.
Shaka Zulu, The Great African Warrior.
He defeated the English and Left the English General to Live to Tell The Tale.
After The English Lost 33.000 Troops who were sent to Kill innocent, Black African People, The English General said he Thought he was “Going to fight Savages”, But he fought “The most intellectual Fighting Force on Earth” ? Even in the 20th and 21st Century America and England ??????? with Allies have used Military Methods Which they Learned From Shaka Zulu.
American General, Jamaican ?? General Colin Powell Said he used Strategies Which were used By Shaka Zulu in The past, in Modern Times in order to advance and win Battles during the Golf War.
Billy D Bignell
Bignell TV ?
Shaka Zulu is a Straight, African Warrior, he also had Children.
White Historians have fooled a whole Kenyan Tribe into Homosexuality because they do not like to see Black People reproduce and Mind Control is the method they use to Trick people into Murder and Homosexuality. The Notion is. If they tell people Heroes behaves badly knowing it is a lie. They might stop ?people from learning how to retain Straight Great Sentiments
Picture and Story Credits Source Black Then Dot Com Please Continue to share this.
https://blackthen.com/16-things-that-made-african-king-shaka-zulu-one-of-the-greatest-military-minds-in-history/
Also The Method is Called The Buffalo ? Horn Formation not Bull Horn and When The Jamaican Born General Colin Powell was Working on The Gulf War ?? for The American Army He used that Buffalo ? Horn Formation method to Strategically win Battles.
Billy D Bignell
The Educator ??
Also East African Tribes in Kenya ??and other places including Uganda ?? have been Fooled into Being Europeanised and were unwittingly doing this to prevent reproduction and Encourage murder and Tribal war which made it easier for the Western Politicians to Steal From Africa From a distance That is why USA ?? Comes up as USA ?? on WhatsApp and Facebook People don’t even know that the Capital Of The United States Of Africa is Ethiopia ??
Put in USA ?? and notice only The American Flag Comes Up and they do not have a flag for Africa
England ??????? chooses Flags for Countries ruled by puppets
Billy D Bignell
Cut the fucking out homosexuality wasn’t in the black man carickilum that Rass came in after slavery by white people they pack us on slave ship like cargo no black man didn’t came that ship as homosexeality are same sex reek african Ave 6 7 8 9 10 wife’s western world fuckry
A great read, yet out of all the interesting reveals, his sexuality has become the root of most comments, as has been and further persist, how to demasculate men, even if he could’ve been homosexual, he didn’t train, act nor present such in battle, let’s remember homosexuality doesn’t destroy the body, doesn’t even cause for the fabouyant act, Iron sharpens IRON and facts could reveal, that’s the method, not the madness to making a warrior, nothing feminate, be a man’s man doesn’t act, then never will look for soft, it’s not his flavor, nor condone less of another warrior, real warriors died in battle, limited few were nursed to old age
Iam a Black man but I did not see the power of Black people, I only see the powerful white people.
First of all Shaka was not gay. He actually fathered a son whom he had killed. His reasoning was that he would come after him (Shaka) at some point. Shaka believed he would live forever. Secondly, the short stabbing spear with a wider blade was the Assegai not the one you mentioned in the piece. Thirdly, Shaka Zulu did not come up with the cattle hide shields. He just modified them by making they longer and wider to cover the entire body of the warriors
Hold Up
CZ was so upset about the death of his mother he had the
:::pregnant women:::
in HIS OWN village murdered and their husbands ….
pause
that doesn’t disturb you but him being insinuated gay does ? WTF !!!
What honored Soldier does THAT kind of Sht .. frfr
Shaka was one of greatest general of all time. His invention of the assegai revolutionized hand to hand combat and caught the British by surprise. However, he caused the defeat of the Zulus by his method of recruitment. He raided the villages of their young men and left the villages easy prey. There were no warriors left in the villages to defend against the British. He was not a homosexual only conjecture.