Shaka Zulu

1986 - 1986

Part 1

24th October 1986

Episode 1

In 1823, warriors from the Zulu Empire, headed by Shaka, a brilliant but ruthless military strategist, begin to encroach on the outskirts of the British colony of Cape Town, in South Africa. In desperation, Cape Town's governor requests assistance from King George IV of Great Britain to bolster their tenuous position, but the British have no more resources to send. Instead, Lt. Francis Farewell, Dr. Henry Fynn and a volunteer cadre of mercenaries, explorers, and professionals are recruited and sent to Zululand to try to contact Shaka and assess the real threat of his storied army.

Part 2

24th October 1986

Episode 2

After being shipwrecked off the coast of Zululand, the British are escorted to Shaka's capital, Kwa Bulawayo, where they meet Shaka and his mother Nandi. Shaka then demonstrates his power over his people and proves to Farewell that he is not a man to be underestimated.

Part 3

31st October 1986

Episode 3

Dr. Fynn chronicles Shaka's life and rise to power starting with the meeting and affair between Nandi and Prince Senzangakona of the Zulu tribe. Despite Senzangakona's marriage to another and Nandi's fathers attempts to marry her off, they continue to meet, and Nandi becomes pregnant. She gives birth to a boy who she names Shaka, meaning “beetle.”

Part 4

7th November 1986

Episode 4

Nandi's father demands that the Zulu recognize Nandi and the baby Shaka. Senzangakona, now king of the Zulu, takes her as his wife. However, he continually abuses Nandi, until one day Shaka cannot take it anymore and threatens his father to kill him. Nandi and Shaka flee and return to her people, but find themselves the object of scorn, so they flee once again.

Part 5

14th November 1986

Episode 5

Shaka has grown into a fine young man. Senzangakona invites him to return to Zululand and become his heir. Shaka returns but disrupts a ceremony and is forced to flee for his life. He is taken in by another tribe and trained as a foot soldier. However, he clashes with the generals over how to fight.

Part 6

21st November 1986

Episode 6

Shaka goes deep into the Nkandla forest and asks a blacksmith to forge a stabbing spear, named “ixwa.” Shaka returns to his regiment and convinces the king that his new method of warfare is worth trying. His new regiment are used against the Zulu and win the day. Soon after, Senzangakona dies and Shaka takes the throne for himself.

Part 7

26th November 1986

Episode 7

Farewell and his men become Shaka's guests. Shaka is severely wounded during an assassination attempt and Dr. Fynn saves his life. In gratitude, Shaka gives Farewell both land and permission to hunt elephants for ivory. Meanwhile in Cape Town, Shaka and Farewell are both proclaimed dead.

Part 8

5th December 1986

Episode 8

Farewell and his men establish Port Natal on the coast. However, the men are restless, and they wish to return home, but Shaka forces them to join him in a war against another tribe. He uses them and their cannon to force the enemy into making a first move. This results in an overwhelming victory for the Zulu.

Part 9

12th December 1986

Episode 9

After burying the dead, Farewell asks for help in building a boat to return to Cape Town. Shaka agrees, but he keeps with him most of the party —including Dr. Fynn— as hostages. On returning to Cape Town, Farewell and a Zulu delegation are despised by Lord Somerset. Shaka learns that his wife has given birth to a son. He orders to kill the child, so he can not threaten Shaka's reign in the future. Nandi falls ill and Shaka begs Dr. Fynn to save her.

Part 10

19th December 1986

Episode 10

A long-ago foretold prophecy comes to pass when a proposal to negotiate a peaceful alliance between the Zulu Empire and Great Britain fails. Zulu Queen Mother Nandi finally dies, and Shaka, knowing his own fate is sealed, goes into a self-destructive rampage. Farewell returns to Zululand and meets with Shaka, who abandons his reign of terror. Shaka is finally murdered and his empire falls apart.

Top Cast

Henry Cele•Dudu Mkhize•Edward Fox

Drama Action & Adventure War & Politics

South Africa, 1823. The Zulu Empire, headed by King Shaka, a brilliant but ruthless military strategist, begin to encroach on the British colony of Cape Town. A volunteer cadre of explorers, mercenaries and professional soldiers are sent to Zululand to try to make contact with Shaka and assess the real threat of his army.

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Full Cast

Henry Cele

Shaka

Dudu Mkhize

Nandi

Edward Fox Image

Edward Fox

Lt. Francis Farewell

Robert Powell Image

Robert Powell

Dr. Henry Fynn

Trevor Howard Image

Trevor Howard

Lord Charles Somerset

Fiona Fullerton Image

Fiona Fullerton

Elizabeth Farewell

Christopher Lee Image

Christopher Lee

Lord Bathurst

Roy Dotrice Image

Roy Dotrice

George IV

Gordon Jackson Image

Gordon Jackson

Prof. Bramston

Kenneth Griffith Image

Kenneth Griffith

Zacharias Abrahams

Conrad Magwaza

Senzagakona

Patrick Ndlovu Image

Patrick Ndlovu

Mudli

Roland Mqwebu

Ngomane

Gugu Nxumalo

Mkabayi

Tu Nokwe

Pampata

Khumbulani Cele

Shaka (6-11)

Glen Gabela

Shaka (15-19)

Daphne Hlomuka

Queen Ntombazi

Vuyisile Bojana

Mgobozi

Bingo Mbonjeni

Bhuza

Simon Sabela Image

Simon Sabela

Dingiswayo

Sam Williams

Jama

Alex Heyns Image

Alex Heyns

Vegte

Graham Armitage

Wilkins

Geoff Albert

Thomson

Sonke Buthelezi

Nqoboka

John Carson Image

John Carson

Lord Kimberley

Dabula Ciliza

Ghubela

Bill Curry

Popham

Terence Dlamini

Gazi

Thembinkosi Dlamini

Mevana

King Beaters Gabelah

Musi

Winston Gama

Mzilikazi

P.W.M. Gardner

Aithison

Keith Grenville

Shepstone

Zipathe Gumede

Nkalakata

Eugene Hlomuka

Dilikana

James Irwin

Gen. Chelmsford

Ian Jali

Sigiyana

Kerry Jordan

Rev. Bellow

Benedict Khambula

Witchdoctor

Charles Kinsman

Cane

Sokesimbone Kubheka

Cetshwayo

Robert Whitehead Image

Robert Whitehead

Simpson

Sean Taylor

The Prince Of Wales

Daniel Stewart

Tonino

Ron Smerczak Image

Ron Smerczak

Ogle

David Sherwood Image

David Sherwood

Captain Blair

Erica Rogers

Queen Victoria

Bruno Luthuli

Pungashe

Khulekani Magubane

Zwide

Victor Majavu

King Makedama

Phillip Majola

Ngwadi (9 yrs old)

Humphrey Makhoba

Dingane

Obed Makubane

Messenger

Africa Manqele

Ngazana

Africa Manqele

Ngazana

Sonto Mazibuko

Bibi

Grissel Mboni

Mfunda

Peter Mgaga

Nzobo

Eric Mcanyana

Godongwana

Dingeni Mhlongo

Nomcoba (child)

Precious Mkhize

Njani

Raymond Mkhize

Soshangane

Amos Mkhonza

King Kondlo

Louis Mtetwa

Ufasimba

Sally Mthembu

Majola

Lucky Mtshali

Nondumo

Sabelo Ndebele

Ngwadi

Daniel Ndlovu

Dlaba

Isabelle Ndlovu

Noliwa

Michael Nene

Mbopha

Shadrack Ngema

Joko

Elliott Ngubane

Mphepha

Peter Nkwanyana

Ufasimba

Alfred D. Nokwe

Kuta

Emily Nompumelelo

Mahlana

Adalbero Ntsele

Luthuli

Samuel Ntsini

The Nameless One

Horatius Ntuli

Njanis Father

Artwell Nyembe

Ufasimba Leader

Aletta Rabotapi

Maidservant

Michael Richard Image

Michael Richard

Mordechai Abrahams

Hugh Rouse Image

Hugh Rouse

Worthing

Cynthia Shange

Mkabi

Sibusiso Shange

Phakathwayo

Yule Simone

Gendeyana

Leonard Sithole

Mbuya

Washington Xisolo

Bhebhe

Sibongile Sokhulu

Nomcoba

Oliver Stole

Mbenghi

Reginald Matapi Ephraim Tsokolibane

The Lion Man

Sean Weir

Hockley

Ganza Zama

Mtonga

Vincent Zulu

Pakatwayo

V.E.M. Zulu

King Sodubo

Patrick Zungu

Igazi

Nomsa Xaba

Sitayi

Full Crew

Frank Agrama Image

Frank Agrama

Associate Producer

Derrick Bosch

Makeup Designer

Ettie M. Feldman

Editor

Roger Harrison

Sound Editor

Leon Rautenbach

Executive Producer

Joshua Sinclair Image

Joshua Sinclair

Associate Producer

Steve Sandrock

Editor

Bill Asher

Sound Editor

Derek Ward

Sound Editor

Alan Gerhardt

Sound Engineer

Brian Frost

Sound Editor

David Pollecutt

Original Music Composer

Alec Mills Image

Alec Mills

Director of Photography

Ed Harper

Producer

Hans Nel

Production Design

Anthony Shaw

Editor

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