Shaka Zulu

In 1823, warriors from the Zulu Empire, headed by Shaka, a brilliant but ruthless military strategist, begin to encroach on the outskirts of the British colony of Cape Town, in South Africa. In desperation, Cape Town's governor requests assistance from King George IV of Great Britain to bolster their tenuous position, but the British have no more resources to send. Instead, Lt. Francis Farewell, Dr. Henry Fynn and a volunteer cadre of mercenaries, explorers, and professionals are recruited and sent to Zululand to try to contact Shaka and assess the real threat of his storied army.

Dr. Fynn chronicles Shaka's life and rise to power starting with the meeting and affair between Nandi and Prince Senzangakona of the Zulu tribe. Despite Senzangakona's marriage to another and Nandi's fathers attempts to marry her off, they continue to meet, and Nandi becomes pregnant. She gives birth to a boy who she names Shaka, meaning “beetle.”

Nandi's father demands that the Zulu recognize Nandi and the baby Shaka. Senzangakona, now king of the Zulu, takes her as his wife. However, he continually abuses Nandi, until one day Shaka cannot take it anymore and threatens his father to kill him. Nandi and Shaka flee and return to her people, but find themselves the object of scorn, so they flee once again.

Shaka has grown into a fine young man. Senzangakona invites him to return to Zululand and become his heir. Shaka returns but disrupts a ceremony and is forced to flee for his life. He is taken in by another tribe and trained as a foot soldier. However, he clashes with the generals over how to fight.

Shaka goes deep into the Nkandla forest and asks a blacksmith to forge a stabbing spear, named “ixwa.” Shaka returns to his regiment and convinces the king that his new method of warfare is worth trying. His new regiment are used against the Zulu and win the day. Soon after, Senzangakona dies and Shaka takes the throne for himself.

Farewell and his men become Shaka's guests. Shaka is severely wounded during an assassination attempt and Dr. Fynn saves his life. In gratitude, Shaka gives Farewell both land and permission to hunt elephants for ivory. Meanwhile in Cape Town, Shaka and Farewell are both proclaimed dead.