Factors that led to the collapse of the Zulu state

Factors that led to the collapse of the Zulu state

Shaka's harsh one- man rule based on continual conquest and capture of cattle and the killing of those who disagreed with him was a political system that ate away at its own foundations.

The death of Shaka. The state was created around his personality of strong military leadership and his death meant loss of organisation and effective leadership.

His successors lacked his ability as a strong military leader, e.g. Dingane, Mpande and Cetshwayo were not strong military leaders and this lack of effective command and inspiration explains the poor performance of the Zulu impi in battles. People were tired of wars, e.g. Dingane's warriors deserted the army, which gradually reduced the Zulu military strength.

The once conquered and vassal states broke away from the Zulu and under Shaka the state had expanded and became independent like the Ndwandwe, Fingo, Ngwane, Ndebele, Ngoni and the Tlokwa.

Internal civil wars due to succession disputes led to the collapse of the state, for instance Dingane and Mhlangane killed Shaka, and then Dingane killed Mhlangane while the two sons of Mpande namely, Cetshwayo and Mbulanzi fought each other.

Natural calamities also contributed to the collapse of the state. Rinderpest and anthrax epidemic that claimed most of the livestock struck the state, which depended on cattle; thereby causing decline of the state.

The breakaway of Vassal states weakened and caused the fall of the state.

The period of the M'fecane had depopulated many parts of the Zulu states. Many refugees escaped out of the Zulu state regrouping in Central, South and East Africa including the Ndebele, Ngoni, and Kololo.

The Zulu state was militarily weak in the 2^nd half of the 19th Century. The discipline of army had deteriorated; the fighting tactics has been copied by neighbors and could not march the maxim guns of the Europeans.

The collaboration of the Zulu state with the Boers and the British led to the collapse of the state. They were isolated, weakened and defeated which caused more movement of the Boer trekkers into Zulu provinces.

The Boers destroyed Dingane's military strong hold of the state at the close of 1838 at the battle of the Blood River, which made Mpande collaborate with the Boers.

The final defeat that broke the camel's back and collapse of the Zulu state was when the British destroyed it in 1879 in the famous Anglo - Zulu war in which Cetshwayo was destroyed. Never again did the Zulu regain their military strength. After the defeat of the Zulu, Din Zulu succeeded Cetshwayo.

Similarities and differences between the Zulu and Ndebele kingdoms

Similarities

Both societies were centralized with an absolute figure head who was the King.

In both societies, the Kings were assisted by appointees.

They were all military states where the army played a key role in the political organization. Both had a standing army (ies) where the age regiments were important.

To allow formal efficiency, the Kingdoms were divided into viable administration units.

The throne was patrilineally inherited through a system of primogeniture (that is where the first son inherits his father), but later on 'merit '.

They both had a centralized economy where the king played a key role.

Predominantly pastoral and were dependant on raiding their neighbors for cattle and other treasures.

Both societies carried out some internal and external trade with the local people, neighbors, and the Portuguese and Dutch merchants.

Cultivation of crops in which the regiments were important was done.

Tributes were obtained from vassal states, for example the Tsonga, Shona, Basuto, Tlokwa, Swazi, Sotho, and Lozi. Their regiments (army) were very important basic social units.

They all believed in African traditional religion and their divinities.

They both had important cultural ceremonies, for example the ceremony of the first harvest, circumcision.

They were socially stratified into castes, for example for the Ndebele they had the Zansi, Enhla and the Holi castes and for the Zulu superior chiefs and the commoners.

They survived on militarism and raiding neighbours.

Differences

Religion in the Zulu land state was state controlled and the King was the chief priest, while among the Ndebele state it was the Shona priests and not the state that controlled religion.

The Ndebele were more militaristic because they were 'occupier' state unlike the Zulu. For the Ndebele everybody belonged to a regiment for life.

The Ndebele were more socially stratified in the Zansi, Enhla and the Holi castes while the Zulu castes were not as district as the Ndebcle system.

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.

Factors that led to the rise and growth of the Zulu nation

Population growth in the area, which created shortage of land and led to the establishment of the defensive Zulu state.

Favourable climate in the east of the Drakensburg Mountain for cultivation and settlement.

The rise of ambitious leaders like Dingiswayo, Zwide and Shaka who introduced reforms- social, political and economic. This made the Zulu state powerful and capable of defending itself.

Shaka's alliance with Dingiswayo and Mzilikazi against Zwide who was later defeated finally made the state powerful and rise to prominence.

The Zulu state grew through strong military personage and heroism of Shaka.

It also rose due to language that had created unity among the Zulu leading to the rise of the Zulu state.

After the defeat of Dingiswayo by Zwide, Shaka soon defeated the latter at Mhlatuze River. This victory opened way for the Zulu kingdom.

New youth were incorporated into the original Zulu regiments to form a permanent army.

The military and administrative reforms introduced by Shaka in Zululand led to its growth.

Why the Zulu nation declined after

The kingdom came into existence as a result of wars. After Shaka's death, the Zulu nation had a lot of internal enemies who attacked it, e.g. the movement of the Boers northwards and other Bantu groups.

The state was created by absorbing many conquered, states of different cultures and customs. Therefore after Shaka’s death, such people couldn’t live together because they wanted their independence.

Lack of cultural unity that had been created by Shaka. Because of the different ideologies, the state was not stable, hence decline after Shaka.

Shaka's successors had many problems e.g. the Trek Boers who were for long demanding for land forced Dingane to surrender the Natal province, which weakened the Zulu state militarily and economically.

Boer interference in the politics of the Zulu state. The Boers allied with Mpande who promised to give them more land if they had helped them to defeat Dingane. This created succession wars and conflicts that led to the collapse of the Zulu.

Misunderstandings between leaders that followed Shaka for instance King Dingane and Mpande.

Problems of the Zulu State under the reign of Shaka (to 1828)

Shaka succeeded his father Sezangakone in about 1816, some problems under his reign included.

His military reforms led to death of many people.

His hostile neighbours remained a threat like Zwide of the Ndwandwe.

The unlimited expansion of the Zulu state caused misery and suffering among the Zulu.

Traditional chiefs no longer had separate chiefdoms paying tribute to the King as they had had under Dingiswayo.

All powers were now concentrated in the hands of the king.

Many able leaders broke away or freed the stale like Mzilikazi (1821), Zwangendaba, Shangane, Sebitwane, among others.

Many Nguni people fled north wards as they escaped the times of troubles in the state.

To the North and South of the state, the Zulu regularly raided the Nguni living between the Tugela and uMzimkhulu Rvers, Mpondo of Faku.

Many Europeans like the Portuguese, and English had interests in colonizing the state or other clandestine intentions/ interests.

The state lacked a formal style of cultural unity.

The Ndwandwe Chiefdom in the Upper Nkomati Valley 1819-26 recovered some of the former strength until they defeated by a much larger Zulu army under Shaka assisted the English traders.

The death of Shaka's mother (Nandi) led to the death of many Zulu people who violated his Mourning rules/ Reforms. Shaka's rule was a harsh one-man rule based on continued conquest and capture of cattle, and upon them killing of these who disagreed with him

Shaka's political system ate away at its own foundations.

Many people were discontented with Shaka's rule as they migrated to other areas of South, Central and East Africa.

Shaka by 1827 was obsessed with death after surviving many assassination attempts on his life.

It is believed by historians that by 1827, Shaka was mental\y ill executing subject after subject who flouted his orders in any way.

On Sepetrnber, 22nd 1828 Shaka's two brothers, Dingane and Mhlangane together with an Induna in charge of Shaka's household assassinated him.

Dingane who succeeded Shaka created a civil war situation in Zululand when he killed his brother Mhlangane.

Many white settlers, coloureds with firearms, horses and wagons began to take away parts of ZuluIand.

Achievements of Shaka- Zulu

His achievements were political, economic and social.

He is remembered for creating and uniting the Zulu nation. This survived until 1887 when it was finally colonized.

He created a powerful spirit of Zulu nationalism through the organisation of age- regiments. This explains why the Zulu resisted the Boers and the British for a long time.

He laid a strong foundation for the Zulu militarism through his military reforms; these were later copied by his neighbors. He created an effective centralized administration for the Zulu state, which enabled him to maintain an effective control over the state.

He gave the Zulu a strong and common culture, language and religion. This created unity during crises. So long as his armies were fighting, Shaka had complete loyalty and discipline among his Subjects.

Shaka stressed annual national ceremonies to hold the nation together. The Inkhta, an important symbol of the nation was kept safe.

He expanded the Zulu territories through his aggressive and ambitious foreign policy. Therefore the conquered neighbors were absorbed into his state. He effectively assimilated the conquered tribes into the Zulu state. The youth from these states were often absorbed into his fighting regiments.

He centralized all the economic activities of the Zulu state to ensure constant supply of food to the warriors in the battle- field.

He introduced new weapons like the short stabbing spear and the large cowhide shields together with the new tactics, which stood the test of time.

His rise to power set off the M'fecane, depopulation and he became a powerful figure over his neighbors like the Mthethwa, Ndwandwe, Ngwane, among others

His reforms resulted into general famine, neglect of Agriculture since people lost land.

Shaka's rise to power led to the rise of defensive states, like the Basuto state under Moshoeshoe and the Swazi state. So long as his armies were fighting, Shaka had complete loyalty and discipline among his subjects.

Shaka's rise to power helped to stimulate a chain of work that set off the whole of South Africa into wars and anarchy.

His rise to power led to M'fecane, which was a period of trouble, killing of people and agony especially among tribes escaping to other areas. Their settlements were destroyed as other societies went on the move.

Shaka united the entire Zulu under one leader and one nation. This reform introduced lasted up to 1879 and when the state disintegrated, the British finally colonized it.

The Zulu kingdom became militarized, as neighbors feared it like the Sotho and the Swazi. It was organized militarily and politically.

Shaka united the Zulu people under one language and founded a Zulu culture based on his own principles - Amazulu .

His rise to power led to depopulation, as many people were killed and others were not supposed to produce especially women in his Mourning Reforms after the death of his mother.

Shaka became a powerful figure, for instance he had defeated all the powerful neighbors especially the Ndwandwe and the Ngwane.

His reforms resulted into general famine as a result of neglect of Agriculture, loss of land in the South East of South Africa.

There was destruction of property as a result of wars against the neighboring states.

Most of the tribes feared the Zulu state since they had been defeated and they gave respect to Shaka. These included the Kololo under Chief Sebitwane, the Shangane under Soshangane, and the Ngwane under Sobhuza.

His rise to power led to the rise of defensive nations like the Basuto nation of Moshoeshoe and the Swazi state.

People were forced to move long distances in search of empty lands where they could get safer places for their lives.

Shaka and the establishment of the Zulu Nation

Shaka, a son of a Zulu leader Sezangakona and his mother Nandi founded the Zulu nation. Shaka's birth is estimated to be around 1780’s where he is regarded as the unwanted child. Before his birth- his father had not completed the circumcision ceremony as per the Zulu customs.

Before the birth of Shaka, Senzangakona in his youthful age struck up a friendship with Nandi, a younger girl of the neighboring society and gave birth to a baby boy called Shaka.

Among the Zulu traditional leaders, Shaka's birth was not welcome. And as the unwanted child, Shaka grew up with his mother's people where he distinguished himself as a great warrior. He was ambitious, had a magnetic personality, tempered and charismatic among his followers and was very intelligent. Shaka had a heroic personality and because of being the word unwanted, he joined Dingiswayo's army, in the nearby Mthethwa community. He also served as an Induna.

The Zulu where he was born form part of the largest Bantu tribes that settled in the Eastern coastlands of Southern Africa; presently this region is called Natal.

By 1850 the Zulu emerged as the one of the most organized, large and powerful societies.

During the days of Shaka, the Mthethwa, Ndwandwe and the Ngwane only rivaled the Zulu state.

The Zulu were highly centralized and in the second half of the 19th Century, the Boers and the British destroyed it gradually.

As an Induna, he introduced a number of military reforms and this helped him over run some of his enemies or opponents like Chief Zwide.

As Dingiswayo's officer, he distinguished himself in the battlefield such that he became one of Dingiswayo's top trusted Commanders despite his origin. Probably between 1816 - 1818, it is believed that Shaka's father died.

After the death of Chief Sezangakona he was succeeded by Shaka's half brother -Seguyane, This did not make Shaka happy and with the assistance of Dingiswayo forces, Shaka attacked his brother and killed him with a few traditional leaders.

The Zulu Chiefdom became the community of Shaka a few years later as its Paramount chief.

Meanwhile, the Ndwandwe led by ChiefZwide attacked the Mthethwa and in the battle, Dingiswayo was killed.

Shaka organized the Mthethwa, Zulu and fought a wj.I with the Ndwandwe at the Mhlatuze River where he defeated them. Shaka created and maintained a powerful Zulu state using several military reforms. In 1828, he was murdered by his half brother in alliance with his sister, which led to the gradual collapse of the state.

Shaka’s administrative and military reforms

Administratively, he centralized the political, social and economic affairs of the state. He gained the loyalty from everybody. He also destroyed the traditional councils of chiefs and replaced them with his military Commanders called Indunas.

The Chiefs of the conquered states often lost their power and were replaced by Shaka's Indunas who gave advice on state matters through critical military reforms. The Zulu became one of the most powerful military societies in the region.

Shaka introduced a standing army. This was a great advantage because his warriors were always ready for war at anytime. He is therefore remembered for introducing the idea of military barracks.

He abandoned a traditional long throwing spear and replaced it with the short stabbing spear. This was more effective because during battles his men maintained the weapon since they fought at a close range.

He also introduced the methods of total warfare, for instance the Scorched Earth Policy where food and water was destroyed in order to weaken and leave the enemy defenseless.

Shaka introduced the use of large- hide shields, which covered the warriors from feet to the head.

High level of discipline was maintained among his warriors. There was training and drilling under conditions of hardship to ensure mastering the fighting tactics.

The. warriors were not allowed to marry until they reached the age of 40 or 50 years and only after finishing military service to the state. Those who retired from the army formed a reserve force. They could be recalled in times of trouble to be active in the army against the enemy. Hence the kingdom was ever strong.

The youth from the conquered states were often absorbed into Shaka’s army, which helped to strengthen the state military.

Shaka also introduced the cow horn military formation were the enemy could be encircled and crushed. Therefore the enemy was left with one way to escape and in the case of delay for escape he could be crushed.

Shaka also employed the boy scouts to carry food supplies and weapons for his warriors. Therefore the scouts helped to locate resources and move to sources of drinking water, food supplies. There were also local doctors who treated the wounded warriors.

Shaka introduced the idea of women regiments who at times fought and also served as spies. Shaka did not allow his warriors to put on heavy wooden and skin sandals, but they fought bare- footed for quick and easy mobility during battle. He appointed lndunas who lived in military villages called barracks, for example Bulawayo, Dikhuza, and lsikube, Mbelembele and Tixbhuza.

He appointed army commanders from common families (peasants and minor clans).

He also adopted a common dialect or language among the Zulu traditionally, which came to be called the Arnazulu dialect

He also created military towns with special cattle enclosures and huts for his soldiers

He centralized power under him, e.g. he appointed the military commanders or Indunas and chiefs to replace traditional chiefs.

He abolished the old traditional councils and no traditional meetings could occur without his information.

His army- the Zulu impi' became the main source of power and therefore his military commanders were his advisors. The Zulu state was highly centralized and became more militarized as traditional chiefs lost their powers.

In the social reforms, he abolished social ceremonies like circumcision on grounds that it could weaken his fighting forces and that it was circumcision that made him the unwanted child.

In his domestic life or private life, Shaka never fathered any child for fear of turning against him. He loved women but killed those who became pregnant.

He made people in the Zulu state to speak Zulu Language and follow the Zulu culture. Those who failed to learn were killed. He abolished religions and made himself the chief priest. He persecuted all the religious leaders in the kingdom and promoted his on merit.

After the death of his mother, Shaka didn't allow people to dig for whole year, not to drink milk for 3 months; women were to stay crying for a complete year and they were not to be pregnant for all the year. Such mourning reforms were accompanied by massive killings of pregnant women, migration of people, the death of Shaka and the final disintegration of the Zulu state.

Economically Shaka regarded cattle in the Zulu state as the state property. External trade was carried out to a small extent while production and distribution of food was centralized by Shaka. His neighbors were affected and those who failed to accept migrated away, which continued up to 1828 when Shaka was murdered in a plot by his brother, Dingane

The death of Shaka left two important aspects; a strong and organized Zulu state internally and a lot of external enemies who had been affected by wars waged by Shaka