Since his death,
Shaka has become a symbol of great pride for the people of the Zulu tribe who stiU live in South Africa today
As a champion fighter and king to his warriors, Shaka realised he had to expand his kingdom in order to keep his prestige high among the men that he led into battle. He needed more fertile land, more cattle, more everything to satisfy his people. What's more his warriors would soon become restless if they weren't fighting anything. He decided to launch raids into the regions north of Natal, killing off rival warriors, murdering or enslaving the women and children that were left undefended. This created a mass migration of refugees out of the area and into the tribal lands in what is today central South Africa, causing famine and starvation in the wake of Shaka's conquests. He had no idea he was causing such a huge humanitarian disaster, but the consequences of his relentless pursuit of warfare is remembered as the Mfecane or 'crushing' of the African people.
The mass migration of refugees and the tales of destruction they brought with them into the lands north and west of Natal did not go unnoticed by the other great power that was beginning to show dominance in the area: the British Empire. Word had spread to London of an African king with a fearsome reputation for conquest in the eastern reaches of the cape - it was said he was unbeatable in combat. The British were too weak in the area to challenge Shaka openly, so instead they sent a delegation to negotiate with him.
Shaka was impressed by the men who saw him and offered generous trade agreements and peace with the British. He cared little for their firearms
Defining moment
World History
