In order to ensure the success of his new tactics, he is said to have ordered his warriors to discard their sandals and harden their feet so that they could run barefoot, as well as introducing new weapons which further ensured the success of the Zulu army.Īn assegai (or assagai) is the general name used on the African continent for a light spear designed for throwing. He instituted a system of total war, employing his famous ‘Chest, Horns, Loins’ formation which surrounded and completely annihilated an enemy force. Almost no one was ever killed and the battle usually ended when each side had used up all their spears.

Prior to Shaka’s ascent to the Zulu monarchy, battles between the various tribes had consisted of warriors standing at a long spear-throw from each other and hurling their light, throwing assegais at the enemy formations. It was this army, forged by Shaka and maintained by his brother Mpande and nephew Cetawayo, which faced the white soldiers at Ishandlwana and then Rorke’s Drift.

The Zulu army was initially brought into being by T’Shaka, first King of the Zulus, who introduced a number of innovations which had not been seen in warfare between Nguni tribes before.

Blade of the tribes