uestion: Discuss how Shaka was portrayed differently, throughout the various sources. SOURCE 1A: This source explains the different interpretations about the start of the Mfecane. Earlier historical explanations of change emphasised the military talents of ambitious rulers like Dingiswayo, Sobhuza, Zwide and Shaka. Within this perspective Shaka, the leader of a small chiefdom under the Mthethwa, rose to prominence through fighting and diplomacy; he is seen as the cause of the Mfecane. This version of events claims that, between 1818 and 1828, Shaka conquered most of present day Kwazulu-Natal. He is credited with defeating the Ndwandwe and driving them north to the Pongola river. After this, Shaka began to conquer and incorporate most of the Nguni people between the Thukela river and Delagoa Bay. Between 1818 and 1828, shaka bolt a powerful, centralized and militaristic Kingdom. Some historians believe that the emergence of the Zulu state did not start the process of the political transformation known as the Mfecane, but was itself a product of a chain of events which had started earlier. It is these earlier processes that have given rise to states such as the Ndwandwe and the Mthethwa... These historians say that the role of the Zulu state in the Mfecane has been exaggerated. SOURCE 1B This source is an Oral history Source. The story focuses on Shaka and was told by Madikane kaMlomowetole. Shaka was a very good actor and could sing and dance well. Shaka sang a song about Lubedu (a visiting chief Shaka wanted to show tribute too). This song was performed the next day by Shaka. Lubedu laughed at him. "So, the little, fat frog laughs at me! Take him away!” Shaka said. Lubedu was killed by Shaka’s men because he laughed. It was later discovered that he laughed because he enjoyed the show, and not because he found it funny. SOURCE 1C This source details the change in military practices within the Zulu nation. Fighting techniques devised by Shaka were revolutionary and played a significant role in the rise of Zulu military and political power. The first thing Shaka did was to change traditional fighting tactics. Prior to his reign, opposing armies had lined up and lobbed their spears at each other. Shaka introduced close hand-to-hand combat using long bladed, short-shafted stabbing spears. He reduced shields to more manageable proportions and trained his men to use their shields to hook their opponent's shield and wrench it aside, thus exposing his left flank to the Zulu warrior's spear. Shaka also developed a strategy of concentrating his soldiers into a fighting formation resembling a buffalo head. In the centre or 'chest' was the greatest concentration of men, comprising the most experienced fighters. They were deployed in two parallel formations, so that the soldiers in the front would engage the enemy, while those in the rear would be hidden from sight. This strategy was designed firstly to deceive the enemy into believing that they were being opposed by a relatively small force, and secondly so that the soldiers held in reserve would be able to reinforce the frontline soldiers if necessary. As they would be fresh, they could also chase and outdistance the defeated enemy in retreat. Emanating from the chest were two horns whose purpose was to encircle the enemy. When attacking, a common tactic was to feint with one horn, while the other, concealed in the bush and long grass could sweep around unseen to surround the enemy. These tactics proved to be a decisive factor in the Zulu kingdom's dramatic rise to power. When a regiment had accomplished a certain period of service to the king, which could be up to 10 years, the king would decree that the members of a particular ageset could marry and sew on the head-ring. One of the results of controlling the age at which men could marry was a balance in Zulu society between population growth and available resources.
Question: Discuss how Shaka was portrayed differently, throughout the various sources.
SOURCE 1A:
This source explains the different interpretations about the start of the Mfecane.
Earlier historical explanations of change emphasised the military talents of ambitious
rulers like Dingiswayo, Sobhuza, Zwide and Shaka. Within this perspective Shaka, the
leader of a small chiefdom under the Mthethwa, rose to prominence through fighting
and diplomacy; he is seen as the cause of the Mfecane. This version of events claims
that, between 1818 and 1828, Shaka conquered most of present day Kwazulu-Natal.
He is credited with defeating the Ndwandwe and driving them north to the Pongola
river. After this, Shaka began to conquer and incorporate most of the Nguni people
between the Thukela river and Delagoa Bay. Between 1818 and 1828, shaka bolt a
powerful, centralized and militaristic Kingdom.
Some historians believe that the emergence of the Zulu state did not start the process
of the political transformation known as the Mfecane, but was itself a product of a
chain of events which had started earlier. It is these earlier processes that have given
rise to states such as the Ndwandwe and the Mthethwa... These historians say that the
role of the Zulu state in the Mfecane has been exaggerated.
SOURCE 1B
This source is an Oral history Source. The story focuses on Shaka and was told by
Madikane kaMlomowetole.
Shaka was a very good actor and could sing and dance well. Shaka sang a song
about Lubedu (a visiting chief Shaka wanted to show tribute too). This song was
performed the next day by Shaka. Lubedu laughed at him. "So, the little, fat frog
laughs at me! Take him away!” Shaka said. Lubedu was killed by Shaka’s men
because he laughed. It was later discovered that he laughed because he enjoyed
the show, and not because he found it funny.
SOURCE 1C
This source details the change in military practices within the Zulu nation.
Fighting techniques devised by Shaka were revolutionary and played a significant role
in the rise of Zulu military and political power. The first thing Shaka did was to change
traditional fighting tactics. Prior to his reign, opposing armies had lined up and lobbed
their spears at each other. Shaka introduced close hand-to-hand combat using long
bladed, short-shafted stabbing spears.
He reduced shields to more manageable proportions and trained his men to use their
shields to hook their opponent's shield and wrench it aside, thus exposing his left flank
to the Zulu warrior's spear. Shaka also developed a strategy of concentrating his
soldiers into a fighting formation resembling a buffalo head. In the centre or 'chest' was
the greatest concentration of men, comprising the most experienced fighters.
They were deployed in two parallel formations, so that the soldiers in the front would
engage the enemy, while those in the rear would be hidden from sight. This strategy
was designed firstly to deceive the enemy into believing that they were being
opposed by a relatively small force, and secondly so that the soldiers held in reserve
would be able to reinforce the frontline soldiers if necessary. As they would be fresh,
they could also chase and outdistance the defeated enemy in retreat.
Emanating from the chest were two horns whose purpose was to encircle the enemy.
When attacking, a common tactic was to feint with one horn, while the other,
concealed in the bush and long grass could sweep around unseen to surround the
enemy. These tactics proved to be a decisive factor in the Zulu kingdom's dramatic rise
to power. When a regiment had accomplished a certain period of service to the king, which
could be up to 10 years, the king would decree that the members of a particular ageset could marry and sew on the head-ring. One of the results of controlling the age at
which men could marry was a balance in Zulu society between population growth
and available resources.
SOURCE 1D
This source is an oil painting by artist W H Dugan depicting the Siege of Rorke’s Drift,
Natal in January 1879. The first painting depicting Anglo-Zulu war to be placed on
public display in 1880. Attached in files.
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