Chaka Zoulou

Chaka Zoulou (http://geshakazulu)

Chaka, son of Senzangakhona Kagama, chief of the clan abatetwa and of Nandi Kabhebhe, was born in 1786 and died in 1828. Chaka, a member of the army of Dnguiswayo became Abatetwa clan chief after the death of his father.

Initially under the care of his father, his stepmother pressured his father to send Chaka back to his mother. This began a life of humiliation and oppression, mistreated by his comrades and treated as a bastard. It was these experiences that forged his personality and hardened him. 7 years after arriving at Ngoman, Chaka became a member of the army of Dinguiswayo and was transformed into a robust young man, a warrior. His strong character made him stand out and he quickly became the spokesman and the right arm of Dinguiswayo. Ckaka is endowed with a prodigious physical strength, is charismatic and excels in hand to hand combat. Chaka’s father, who had sent him to live outside his domain, became one of his most fervent admirers to the point of making his heir despite having been born of an illegitimate union. Yet at the death of the father it is Sijuana, one of his half brothers who takes the succession. Chaka organizes a coup and with the help of Dinguiswayo, takes the leadership of his clan back from the half brother.

As clan leader, Chaka’s ambition and conquering reshaped his people into a society that upset the traditional structures. He then revolutionized the military strategy of his army. In 1820, 4 years after the beginning of his first campaign Chaka conquered a territory larger than France. Before his arrival to the throne, his clan had less than 100,000km2.

As clan leader, Chaka’s ambition and conquering reshaped his people into a society that upset the traditional structures. He then revolutionized the military strategy of his army. In 1820, 4 years after the beginning of his first campaign Chaka conquered a territory larger than France. Before his arrival to the throne, his clan had less than 100,000km2.

Chaka was a charismatic leader, strategist and organizer of genius, a conqueror and founder of a nation. His action influenced the life and destiny of the entire regions of southern Africa. Ckaka has been compared to Napoleon.