Organization of the Zulu State

Organization of the Zulu State


Political organization

The kingdom was highly centralized with the king as the top administrator. He was assisted by traditional chiefs and military Indunas for effective control of society.
Traditional tribal councils played an important role in the society. The council advised the king in all matters of the state. However under Shaka, the councils were weakened and finally destroyed.
The king had powers to appoint and dismiss all traditional chiefs and also military Indunas. Therefore they were directly answerable to him.
The Zulu had a strong standing army with the king as the Commander-in-Chief of the regimental forces. The army was well-trained, equipped and lived in barracks. It was ever on alert
The army was divided into age regiments each headed by an Induna. The Induna was appointed by the king himself and usually was promoted on merit.
Each military settlement -barrack contained a section of royal women under a senior woman and these acted as spies on the Indunas and the age- regiments. The spy network helped the king to maintain effective control of the society.
The youth played the most active role of the Zulu army. They weren’t allowed to marry during the period of military service. They stayed in military camps until the age of 40 when they were to retire and marry.
Succession to the throne was hereditary and matrilineal meaning that the Icing's eldest son could inherit the throne.
The kingdom was composed of conquered areas, which formed vassal or tributary states of the Zulu. There were also outer provinces.

Economic Organization

The economy was highly centralized for instance the king controlled all major economic activities in the kingdom and all wealth belonged to him.
The Zulu practiced mixed farming, cultivated crops including millet, beans, peas and pumpkins. They kept cattle, goats, sheep, hens and dogs.
The main economic activities were raiding neighboring tribes. They raided them for cattle, goats and slaves -women. Therefore raiding was their main source of wealth.
Each regiment kept cattle, which belonged to the king to be used for feeding members of the royal family, giving out rewards to courageous people and paying bride puce. Therefore each regiment was supposed to be self sufficient with food and livestock
All captured property plus war booty was handed over to the king including cattle, Ivory, slaves and skins.
The Zulu exchanged ivory, hides, slaves, gold, copper, skins for European, Indian and Arab goods like cloth, ammunitions, glassware, porcelains.
Trade was an important economic activity. They occasionally traded through the Delgao Bay in Natal for firearms. Between 1850 - 1870, Cetshwayo, the Zulu King obtained firearms from as far as Mozambique.
The Zulu had black smith industries, which produced weapons and tools like spears, arrowheads, hoes, pangs, axes, knives, etc. These were important to defend the society and to some extent Agricultural activities.
Retired soldiers at the age of 40 formed a reserve force, which produced food to support active warriors. Even during the times of peace, the army was useful in increasing food production.

Social Organization

The King had both political and social influence on the society. He was a spiritual leader. He presided over all traditional and religious ceremonies like the fruit harvest ceremony, which was attended to by all people in Zulu land.
Initiation ceremonies were organized to mark entrance into age- regiment and manhood, but during Shaka's reign, circumcision was abolished.
Marriage was restricted until one served in the army up to the age of 40. Military warriors could be retired at the same time with female age- group of appropriate ages to marry as wives.
The Zulu were divided into social discriminative clans. Traditionally the royal family provided kings, while warriors came from commoner class. Each class had its own privileges dominated by warfare and the age- regiments were the bonds of social life or socialization.