The Zulus and Matabele: Warrior Nations

by Glen Lyndon Dodds

In the beginning was the glorious warrior king Shaka Zulu -- but this most celebrated fighter did not battle alone, nor did the struggle of the southern African nations end with his death. Lucid, authoritative, and enjoyable, this account chronicles the history of the Zulu and Matabele, their spectacular rise to power in the first half of the nineteenth century, and their bloody downfall at white hands as the century drew to a close. Meet the characters who spurred the people to greatness, follow the civil ways and rebellions with the "colonial masters" that afflicted them, and assess their effect in the evolving history of South Africa. Excellent maps and illustrations throughout -- an ideal introduction to the history of this reign.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Michael Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book in that the author provides detailed knowledge and research on the Zulu and Matabele point of view, as opposed to a singular focus on the European. The challenge with reading this book is dealing with the hundreds of Zulu/Matabele and European character names. Another challenge was my utter ignorance of the geography of what is now modern day South Africa and Zimbabwe. I was fascinated by the military system and tactics of the Zulu and Matabele.