African Kingdoms

Zulu Nation
c.AD 1781 - Present Day

The Zulus were descended from the Nguni, a racial group which established itself in Southern Africa in the seventeenth century. Originally a relatively unimportant tribe, Shaka was sponsored as the new Zulu king in 1816. He revolutionised Zulu warfare and established an empire.

(All details by Mick Baker.)

c.1781 - 1816

Senzangakhona

Chieftain. Killed by Zwide of the Ndwandwe.

Senzangakhona sends his son, Shaka, away from the tribe. Shaka finds refuge with King Dingiswayo of the neighbouring Mthethwa tribe. When his father dies, Dingiswayo puts Shaka forward as Zulu king.

1816 - 1828

Shaka

Son.

1816 - 1828

Shaka creates a Zulu empire that surpasses anything his father or the neighbouring tribes had envisaged. One of his allies, the Lifaqane, face resistance from the new Bakwena clan of later Lesotho.

1828 - 1840

Dingane

Half-brother of Shaka.

1840 - 1872

Mpande

Half-brother of Dingane.

1872 - 1879

Cetshwayo

Son. Exiled after being defeated.

1879

After war is declared between the Zulus and Britain in 1878, Cetshwayo gains himself an everlasting reputation as his forces inflict upon British troops one of their worst colonial defeats at Isandhlwana (as depicted in the feature film, Zulu Dawn ). A secondary action at nearby Rorke's Drift is not so successful (the essential details are depicted in the feature film Zulu). Between 1879-1883 Zululand is divided into thirteen 'kinglets'.

1883 - 1884

Cetshwayo

Restored to a buffer reserve territory but defeated by rival.

1884 - c.1916

Dinuzulu

Son.

1887 - 1910

Zululand is annexed by Britain. The formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 replaces this.

Ndabuko

Regent.

Mnyanama

Regent.

c.1916 - 1933

Maphumazana (Solomon)

Son.

1933 - 1968

Cyprian Bhekezulu

Dinuzulu's grandson.

1933 - 1945

Regency.

1968 - Present

Goodwill Zwelithini

Dinuzulu's great-grandson.

1968 - 1971

Prince Israel Mcwayizeni

Regent.

Chief Mangosutho Buthelezi

Current Chief Minister.