by Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali The Birth of Shaka by Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Shaka Zulu (1787-1828) Shaka Zulu was born in 1787. Shaka established the Zulu Empire and revolutionized warfare in Southern Africa in the early 19th Century.  In 1828, Shaka was assassinated by his half brothers, Dingane and Mhlangana.  MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

His baby cry was of a cub tearing the neck of the lioness because he was fatherless. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

The gods boiled his blood in a clay pot of passion to course in his veins. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

His heart was shaped into an ox shield to foil every foe. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Ancestors forged his muscles into thongs as tough as wattle bark and nerves as sharp as syringa thorns. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

His eyes were lanterns that shone from the dark valleys of Zululand to see white swallows coming across the sea. His cry to two assassin brothers: MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

"Lo! you can kill me but you'll never rule this land!" MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Title, subject and theme There is a difference between the subject of a poem and its theme. Explain why the title 'The birth of Shaka' refers to the subject and not the theme The might of Shaka as a great leader is presented and his prowess as a warrior and ability to predict the future is examined. From the three sentences below, select the one that you feel best describes the theme (or central idea) that the poem communicates to the reader, and write it into your workbook: .•. Shaka's prowess as a warrior is examined. .•. Shaka's ability to predict the future is shown. .•. The might of Shaka as a great leader is presented. Notice that we always state the theme in a complete sentence. The title serves to announce the beginning of the mighty warrior – it merely introduces the subject. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Diction The poet's diction (or choice of words) is very important in creating clear and appropriate images. pawing the neck becomes tearing the neck cooked his blood becomes boiled his blood flow in his veins becomes course in his veins shaped his muscles becomes forged his muscles MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Imagery The poet uses vivid imagery to summarise Shaka's life: 'a cub' (line 2: his birth and ancestry) 'a clay pot of passion' (line 8: the gods gave him a dominant personality) 'an ox shield' (line 10: his military prowess) 'Ancestors forged/ his muscles' (lines 12-13: his chieftainship and traditional beliefs) 'white swallows' (line 21: his death and the future) MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Let’s examine the poem in detail. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

The opening stanza focuses on his birth and his pride and aggression. Metaphor His cry was savage The child is compared to a small lion – his actions are immediately aggressive Shaka was an 'illegitimate' child. His shamed mother was driven out of her homeland with her son. His baby cry was of a cub tearing the neck of the lioness because he was fatherless. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Alliteration Metaphor The next four lines describe him as a passionate, shrewd, strong, wise leader. Stanza two focuses on his blood, and how the gods contributed to his hot-tempered nature. Metaphor Repetition of plosive sounds creates a harsh violent effect to emphasise the intensity of Shaka’s power. This image emphasises his aggressive and dominant nature The gods boiled his blood in a clay pot of passion to course in his veins. b b p p MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Metaphor Alliteration His heart was shaped into an ox shield to foil every foe. Metaphor foil This image emphasises his aggressive and dominant nature halt in its tracks Alliteration foe Enemy adversary Stanza three focuses on his heart and how it helped him become a courageous leader. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Shape by hammering – usually after heating Narrow strips of leather forged Simile Ancestors forged his muscles into thongs as tough as wattle bark and nerves as sharp as syringa thorns. Shape by hammering – usually after heating The sharpness of his nerves is compared to the sharp thorns of the syringa tree, emphasising endurance. These comparisons are particularly apt because they are associated with Shaka’s African background. His muscles are compared to leather strips – used for whips. The toughness of the leather is in turn compared to the bark of the wattle tree – this suggests his considerable strength thongs Narrow strips of leather The fourth stanza looks at his nerves and muscles and how his ancestors shaped them to improve strength and sharpen his reflexes. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

Metaphor His eyes were lanterns that shone from the dark valleys of Zululand to see white swallows coming across the sea. His cry to two assassin brothers: Lantern symbolises intelligence and insight – he could see into the future – just like lanterns cast a light ahead of you. Metaphor Swallows refer to the European immigrants who arrived in Africa Swallows refer to the European immigrants who arrived in Africa The theme of the fifth stanza is his eyes, symbol of his wisdom and perceptiveness. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH

"Lo! you can kill me but you'll never rule this land!" An exclamation or interjection used for calling attention to a surprising thing Lo! - This stanza focuses on the prophecy that the white man will rule and not his brothers who have murdered him in order to claim power. MADE BY RONEL MYBURGH