Shaka Ilembe
Its been over a year since the premiere of the dramatised historical series retelling the story of King Shaka of the Zulu Kingdom and his quest to fight for his throne; Shaka Ilembe.
For the longest time my recollection of Shaka have been largely from a 1986 series I watched in the 90s on ZBC with Henry Cele becoming imprinted as my idea of what Shaka looked like.
We learnt about Shaka in history class, but I paid more attention to the details because my own history is entangled in that story as my ancestors fled from the time of trouble during Shaka’s reign and eventually settling in the southern part of now Zimbabwe.
The series Shaka Ilembe gave a different perspective to the Zulu icon, showing how he grew up and the rejection that shaped him into the king he would become. I have sort of always perceived him as villainous, but like every villain’s origin story watching it from their perspective one might see how they were doing what they thought was right and just given the circumstances.
While the TV series might not be entirely historically accurate and took some creative liberties in the storytelling, it gave a close enough approximation of the history. Watching the series had me looking up history texts.
What does Shaka Ilembe mean?
One thing I wanted to know after watching the show was what the iLembe in the name meant as its never explicitly explained, if it was it got lost in translation.
“iLembe” as a word means “axe”. However, in reference to Zulu kings it finds origin to the praise name of King Shaka, who was; “ILembe eleqa amanye amaLembe nkokukhalipha” (The axe that surpasses other axes in sharpness) It’s a title which means “The Greatest,” “The Champion,” or “The Conqueror.”
In the series we see young Shaka battle a giant of a warrior known as Lembe, feared by the Mthethwa people in a David and Goliath type of battle that earns him the reputation of being a giant slayer… Shaka iLembe.
Shaka Ilembe Theme Song- Ungowamakhosi lyrics and translation
I still have the Shaka iLembe theme song as my ring tone and if you call me and I might not answer this is what I am dancing to:
Ungowamakhosi
The one who belongs to the kings
Gugu lami
My treasure
Wena waseNdulo
You, you are from the Ancient Ones
Yee abaseNdulo
Yes, the Ancients
Khula khula
Grow up Grow up
Eyi
Khula wena waseNdulo
Grow up, you are from the Ancient Ones
Ah waseNduuuulo
Ah from The Ancients
Khula mntwana omncane
Grow up, little one.
There series is in production of a season 2 which should be released in 2025.
Do share any tidbits you might have. ^_^
~B
Becoming The Muse 
Your thoughts.. if you will?