haka Zulu narrows his eyes and surveys the valley. The rolling plains are barren and heavily trodden by the wild beasts who once grazed here. In the valley below, the Mvuzane flows through the foothills and the familiar sounds of the river make him smile.
Dingane, Shaka’s half-brother, once tried to tame an elder buffalo on these same hills, when it became angry and chased him. Screaming louder than any female child in the tribe, Dingane fled to the river to escape. The buffalo ran after him, quickly lost its footing and was swept away by the Mvuzane. The beast never had a chance.
Shaka clutches the iklwa in his hand and raises a cowhide shield with the other. A thousand voices chanting his name overcomes the valley. Taking one step forward and then another, each quicker than the last, Shaka Zulu begins to run.
From the other side of the Mvuzane, riflemen of the 71st British regiment take aim at the mass of a thousand Zulu warriors storming towards them.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Amazing work Clarence! This is going to be one heck of a journey my friend. I can’t wait to be there for the whole thing…
Brave Clarence. You are brave. This is going to be really really interesting. Looking forward.
good opening scene. filmic.
attention grabber with a bit of intrigue.
E