Paul Weinberg South African, b. 1956
eMakhosini, the valley of the Kings, is a site that embodies the connection between Zulu
royal ancestors and their “Zulu spirit”. This is exemplified by the praise poem dedicated to
King uSenzangakhona: “He plaited a long rope, son of Jama, he plaited it until it reached
heaven.”10 It is at this site where Nkosinkulu, a forefather of the Zulu royal lineage, arrived in
the late 17th century and where seven of the Zulu kings lived over a period of 200 years. In
the 19th century, the valley saw much conflict — first among neighbouring clans during the
Mfecane and then with the Boers and the British. At the time, Zulu kings like Shaka had their
royal kraals here while other kings were buried in the valley. Nearby are the famous battles of
Isandlwana, where the Zulu army defeated the British, and Ulundi, where the British finally
defeated the Zulu nation.
