Inkinga wena kaNdaba iseSandlwana

(The Complication, Son of Ndaba, is What Happened at Isandlwana) “… the Zulus … did what no European army can do. Armed only with lances and spears, without any firearms, they advanced under a hail of bullets from breech-loaders up to the bayonets of the English infantry – the best in the world for fighting in closed ranks – and threw them into confusion more than once, yea, even forced them to retreat in spite of the immense disparity of weapons …” – Friedrich Engels: The Origin of the Family Friederich Engels was marvelling at the victory of the Zulu impis of INgonyama uCetshwayo over the British Imperial Army at Isandlwana Hill on 22 January 1879. At that historic battle the entire central column of a British invasion army – the most modern and well-equipped that the world’s leading power could put into the field – was skilfully outmanoeuvred and wiped out by African warriors. Nine hundred British troop were speared to death as well as a similar number of African Native levies under British officers. The battle – as the heyday of British Empire and colonial might – is regarded as one of the most humiliating defeats in the annals of Britain’s military history, “the greatest disaster since the Crimean War”. New of INgonyama uCetshwayo’s unexpected and overwhelming victory stunned Victorian England and sent shockwaves throughout colonial South Africa. The arrogant British Commander, Lord Chelmsford, retreated to Durban in consternati