Shaka Zulu One day his father was in the kraal bathing, surro unded by his elders. It was in the forenoon so that Senzangakhona’s back through a sharp shadow on the opposite side of the sun. Shaka was amused to see his fathers shadow. To test his own ability as a sportsman he leapt over the shadow. The grown-ups were furious. A persons shadow was held so sacred by the Nguni; it was regarded as he soul. For anybody to leap your shadow it implied he wished death for you. It was misconduct of this sort that deprived Shaka of fatherly love. What is worse, whenever Senzangakhona tried to correct his son’s manners and behaviours he found Nandi taking Shakas side, defending anything the boy did. So over Shaka, Senzangakhona and Nandi would exchange bitter words. The climax in the conflict between Senzangakhona and Nandi came one day when Shaka went out to herd sheep with a dog behind him. The dog attacked one of the sheep and killed it. Back home Senzangakhona scolded Shaka for being so neglig ent of duty as to let the dog killed the sheep. “Where were you?” thus asked the father who ha d had enough of Shakas shortcomings. Before Shaka could offer self defence, Nandi his mother and advocate once more spoke strongly in his favour. She questioned the fathers sense of judgment. How could he blame Shaka for what a dog had done? Senzangakhona now felt he could no longer stand th is alliance between mother and son against him. He ordered them to clear out of Esiklebeni, his village.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 07:23:37 +0000
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