The Zulu Kingdom in South Africa was known for military innovations that mostly happened during the reign of Shaka. The assegai, the age-grade regimental system and encirclement tactics helped to make Zulu powerful. “The assegai is a throwing spear and is a narrow, lead shaped blade and long, slender tapering shaft” (Assegai).  “The age grade groupings used by the Zulu were guarding the camp, to cattle herding, to certain rituals and ceremonies” (Zulu Kingdom). “The encirclement Attack Strategy is when your army attacks a competitor on several fronts at the same time to disrupt them and take market share” (Encirclement Attack Strategy Guide). All these tactics are still being sued today by the Zulu people and have set up standards for other armies in the world today. The economy of the Zulu people was depended upon cattle and a considerable amount of agriculture. However, the resources most abundant in the Zulu kingdom were gold, salt, ivory, nuts cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads. This explains why the Zulu people are also known for their “weaving, craft-making, pottery, and beadwork” (Zulu | South African History Online). The Zulu Kingdom is on the edge of South Africa and has readily access to the Indian ocean. The economy of the Zulu Kingdom was good where women tended to the agriculture and tended to the cattle. The wealth of a person was determined by the number of cattle that they had. “Cattle provided the mainstays of the diet, hides for clothing and shirls, as well as the means of acquiring wives through gift-giving” (Zulu-Economy). Like in the novel, Chaka sacrifices many things to keep his power, the sacrifice of cattle was the principal means of propitiating the ancestors. This background knowledge on the Zulu Kingdom’s location in South Africa can help the reader to get a better understanding of the Zulu people and their work ethic, background, and traditions. The reader can see the true meaning of language and events that take place inside the novel.

“Assegai (1966.1.114).” Web.prm.ox.ac.uk, http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/weapons/index.php/tour-by-region/oceania/africa/...

“Encirclement Attack Strategy Guide.” Lucidity, https://getlucidity.com/strategy-resources/encirclement-attack-strategy-...

Mukungurutse, Karen. “Political Organisation of the Zulu State.” Free ZIMSEC & Cambridge Revision Notes, 15 Sept. 2022, https://revision.co.zw/political-organisation-zulu-state/. 

“Zulu - Economy.” Countries and Their Cultures, https://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Zulu-Economy.html. 

“Zulu Kingdom.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Dec. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_Kingdom. 

Zulu | South African History Online. https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/zulu.