To this day the Zulu lineage consists of the royal house among the nation's numerous clans3. Since Malandela, the realm has had some 15 rulers including the present king, Zwelethini Goodwill4. .
At the turn of the 19th century, the Nguni people were made up of a number of sparse clans or tribes including the Ngwane, the Zulu, the Mthethwa, the Pondo, the Tembu, the Xhosa, and the Gona. Dingiswayo, chief of the Mthethwa, had set up a standing army, each with its own uniforms and colors, and then incorporated conquered tribes into his army as allies, rather than taking them into slavery. This included the Zulu tribe that numbered about 2,0005. .
Zulu's successors consist of men by the name of Punga, Mageba, Ndaba, and Jama6. Towards the end of the 18th century, Jama was succeeded by Senzangakona, who became involved in an "illicit" love affair with a young girl by the name of Nandi. Around 1787 Nandi bore the chief a son, and named him Shaka7. Young Shaka's childhood was not happy, and he and his mother were banished by Senzangkona, and they left to make a living as best they could. This had a dramatic effect on the life of Shaka and greatly influenced his very productive life. Shaka was highly intelligent, extremely strong, and ambitious. These were very lucrative attributes to have to be considered a great solider. The Dingiswayo, the chief of the Mthethwa, encouraged Shaka to join his army. When Shaka's father died, Dingiswayo supported Shaka in overthrowing Shaka's half-brother and natural heir to the throne8. .
Shaka refined Dingiswayo's methods. He split up the age regiments by district. Warriors were ordered to live in special camps under their commanders, and were not allowed to marry before the age of 409. The traditional throwing spear was replaced by the short spear used for stabbing called the "iklwa" by the Zulu because of the sound it made when pulled out of the enemy's body10.
