WHEN THE ZULUS SMASHED THE BRITISH ARMY

In January 1879, three columns of British colonial forces invaded the Zulu kingdom. This followed King Cetshwayo KaMpande's refusal to adhere to a ridiculous order by the British High Commissioner for South Africa, Bartle Frere, demanding that the Zulu monarch dismantle his army and submit to the colonial settler administration. In their usual colonial arrogance, the British strolled into the kingdom, expecting an easy victory over the Africans; however, they could not have been more wrong. On the morning of 22 January, a 20,000-strong Zulu army under the command of Ntshingwayo kaMahole Khoza and Mavumengwana kaNdlela Ntuli attacked and annihilated the colonial forces that had established camp at Isandlwana mountain. They killed at least 800 British soldiers and more than 500 Africans serving under the colonial army. The defeat sent shockwaves all the way to London. The Zulus were eventually defeated months later when the British sent reinforcements, but one thing had been made clear: Africans were not going to accept colonialism lying down.