Religious reflections and ideologies

The Zulu state was formed by Shaka, who ruled as the king from 1816 to 1828.

Shaka was the stuff of legends, and subsequent tales of his life include a prophecy that foretold of a child that would make the Zulu the most feared of nations. Shaka’s success was due to the modifications he made to the traditional weapons (spear, club, and shield) as well as to new battle strategies. He took the traditional circumcision schoolage sets and turned them into more effective military regiments or impis.

Zulu regiments could cover up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) a day and still be able to fight a battle at the end of the march, while E.uropean armies of the day could barely cover 20 miles (32 kilometers) in a day and rarely were able to engage an enemy at the end of a day’s march.