When the Europeans conquered Africa, it wasn’t always a cakewalk. One of the places where they were actually defeated was what’s now part of South Africa. It was at the Battle of Isandlwana, fought on 22nd January 1879, where the Zulus wiped out a substantial British force of 1200 soldiers – including the 1st Battalion, 24th Foot. The defeat rocked Victorian society!! As described by the Brits:
“The Zulu warriors were formed in regiments by age, their standard equipment the shield and stabbing spear (assegai) for close combat invented by Shaka. The formation for their attack, described as the ‘horns of the beast’ – also devised by Shaka, the Zulu King who established Zulu hegemony in Southern Africa. The main body of the army delivered a frontal assault, called the ‘loins’, while the ‘horns’ spread out behind each of the enemy’s flanks and delivered the secondary and often fatal attack in the enemy’s rear.”
Shaka Zulu, of course, was the founder of the Zulu Kingdom – from 1816 to 1828. He was one of the most influential Zulu kings – responsible for re-organising the military into a formidable force via a series of wide-reaching and influential reforms. Shaka’s hegemony was primarily based on military might, smashing rivals and incorporating scattered remnants into his own army.
He supplemented this with a mixture of diplomacy and patronage, incorporating friendly chieftains. These peoples were never defeated in battle by the Zulu; they did not have to be. Shaka won them over by subtler tactics, such as patronage and reward. The queen who visited on Emancipation is descended from one of these chiefs. Shaka was ultimately assassinated by two half-brothers, but the Zulu kingdom persisted.
And even though they were incorporated into South Africa, the tradition continues. While the Zulu king doesn’t have any political power, he has tremendous influence, since Zulus are the largest ethnic group in SA – constituting 12 million of its 55 million citizens. Like the British monarch, he’s given a stipend (there about US$4 million annually) and lives in a palace with his wives. (Zulus practice polygamy). The last king, Goodwill Zwelithini, ka Bhekuzulu, had six wives, and had ruled for more than half a century before passing away last year.
And therein lies the story that’s transfixing the Zulus right now. In the King’s disputed will, he named his third wife, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, as regent – a sort of caretaker role pending the appointment of a successor. She named her son Misuzulu, ka Zwelithini. And after a year-long family feud – which included applications to the Court – he was finally crowned Zulu king yesterday in a traditional ceremony.
He wore the skin of the lion he had killed last week!!
…of post-election riots?
And here is Guyana, the PNC have steadfastly upheld their tradition of rigging elections, and when that fails – inflicting “condign” violence – in the words of Burnham – on purported PPP supporters!! With the latter assumed to be Indian Guyanese, those who support the PNC are in a quandary to escape the said condign beatings – or worse. Back in the 2000s eruption, one PNC-candidate-talk-show-host – who’d egged on the violence after the PNC’s 2001 loss, advised Indian Guyanese supporters to take refuge at Congress Place. That challenged East Coast supporters, since they had to pass Buxton!!
Anyhow, after the last PNC rigging attempt, with Mingo’s stained bedsheets, the worm turned, and PPP supporters on West Berbice came out onto the Public Road and rioted!! Sadly, some schoolchildren were injured when they stoned a school bus with “David Granger” emblazoned on its sides. The riots ended after the Police shot and killed one young man (Devon) and injured a young woman (Anuradha) with pellets.
Is this going to be a new “tradition”??
…of incitement
The AG came out with a long denunciation of the Symposium at Buxton today, which is titled “Resisting the Emerging Apartheid State”.
He didn’t have to. It insults and devalues what Africans and Indians had to undergo in South Africa!!
