Hundreds gathered on Thursday at King Shaka International Airport in Durban for the unveiling of a 12-metre statue of the renowned Zulu monarch, King Shaka.
Story Summary:
- A statue honouring the legendary Zulu leader King Shaka was unveiled outside King Shaka International Airport, with President Cyril Ramaphosa and King Misuzulu KaZwelithini present.
- This statue replaces an earlier 2010 sculpture that critics said misrepresented Shaka’s image as a powerful warrior.
- The figure commemorates Shaka’s legacy as a pioneering military leader who unified the Zulu people.
King Shaka statue: A new symbol of a Zulu king’s legacy
Among the attendees were President Cyril Ramaphosa and King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, who jointly celebrated this tribute to one of South Africa’s most iconic leaders.
The statue, situated prominently outside the airport named after Shaka Zulu, aims to better represent the historic king’s fierce warrior legacy.
The unveiling of the statue comes as a replacement to a controversial 2010 sculpture that depicted King Shaka surrounded by cattle.
This earlier representation faced backlash from the Zulu royal family, including then-King Goodwill Zwelithini, who argued that the statue failed to capture Shaka’s warrior image.
The new statue, which has taken years to finalise, aims to more accurately reflect his strength and strategic vision as a unifying leader of the Zulu nation.
Shaka’s influence in Zulu and South African history
The legacy of King Shaka, whose reign spanned from 1816 to 1828, is marked by his transformative leadership in forging the Zulu kingdom into a formidable military power.
Shaka introduced military innovations such as the short stabbing spear, or iklwa, and the disciplined, regimental organisation of Zulu warriors.
His unique tactics, including the famed “bull horn” formation, allowed the Zulu to triumph over rival tribes and defend their territory effectively.
Born around 1787, Shaka grew up under the influence of the Mthethwa Paramountcy and went on to unite various tribes into a single, cohesive Zulu state.
His rule also coincided with the Mfecane, a period of social upheaval and conflict in southern Africa.
Shaka’s dominance left a powerful legacy, creating a ripple effect that influenced not only Zulu history but also neighbouring regions.
