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* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: When Shaka returns to his hometown after his father's death to claim the throne of the Zulus, he orders his cowering half-brother Sigujana to kill his advisor and submit to him. After he does, Shaka calls him a fool and kills him as well.
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* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: When Shaka returns to his hometown after his father's death to claim the throne of the Zulus, he orders his cowering half-brother Sigujana Sigujana, who had been crowned king upon their father's death, to kill his advisor and submit to him. After he does, Shaka calls him a fool and kills him as well.
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* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: When Shaka returns to his hometown after his father's death to claim the throne of the Zulus, he orders his cowering half-brother Sigujana to kill his advisor and submit to him. After he does, Shaka calls him a fool and kills him as well.
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* HistoricalFantasy: Some of the flashbacks of Shaka's early life seem to take the supernatural myths surrounding him seriously. Justified, since this is set within a FramingDevice where one of the European hostages is putting the embellished stories from the Zulu tribesman about the king down to paper.
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* HistoricalFantasy: Some of the flashbacks of Shaka's early life seem to take the supernatural myths surrounding him seriously. Justified, since this is set within a FramingDevice where one of the European hostages is putting the embellished stories from the Zulu tribesman tribesmen about the king down to paper.
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* HistoricalFantasy: Some of the flashbacks of Shaka's early life seem to take the supernatural myths surrounding him seriously. Justified, since this is set within a FramingDevice where one of the European hostages is putting stories from the Zulu tribesman about the king down to paper.
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* HistoricalFantasy: Some of the flashbacks of Shaka's early life seem to take the supernatural myths surrounding him seriously. Justified, since this is set within a FramingDevice where one of the European hostages is putting the embellished stories from the Zulu tribesman about the king down to paper.
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* HistoricalFantasy: Some of the flashbacks of Shaka's early life seem to take the supernatural myths surrounding him seriously. Justified, since this is set within a FramingDevice where one of the European hostages is putting stories from the Zulu tribesman about the king down to paper.
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* OedipusComplex: Shaka Zulu grew up loving his mother Queen Nandi but hating his father King Senzangakhona, as the latter only married her to save face after impregnating the young woman out of wedlock, and mistreated her out of spite, earning Shaka's hatred.
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wolves don't live in africa. they were hyenas
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* LuredIntoATrap: Nandi is summoned out into the forest, presumably to meet up with Prince Senzangakhona. She is strangled by someone presumably by a man loyal to King but is subsequently rescued by Setayi and her wolves.
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* LuredIntoATrap: Nandi is summoned out into the forest, presumably to meet up with Prince Senzangakhona. She is strangled by someone presumably by a man loyal to King but is subsequently rescued by Setayi and her wolves.hyenas.
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* DeadGuyOnDisplay: The witch doctors' village is full of these unsanitary displays both at the perimeter and inside the village, some with scavengers eating away at them.
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* DeadGuyOnDisplay: DeadGuyOnDisplay:
** The witch doctors' village is full of these unsanitary displays both at the perimeter and inside the village, some with scavengers eating away at them.
** The witch doctors' village is full of these unsanitary displays both at the perimeter and inside the village, some with scavengers eating away at them.
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* TrainingMontage: After being humiliated by equipment problems during a war games exercise, Shaka has a montage showing him refining his equipment and fighting technique. Traditional but upbeat South African music plays in the background.
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* TrainingMontage: TrainingMontage:
** After being humiliated by equipment problems during a war games exercise, Shaka has a montage showing him refining his equipment and fighting technique. Traditional but upbeat South African music plays in the background.
** After being humiliated by equipment problems during a war games exercise, Shaka has a montage showing him refining his equipment and fighting technique. Traditional but upbeat South African music plays in the background.
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* VillainProtagonist: Shaka himself. Although he is given a very [[FreudianExcuse sympathetic backstory]] to put his behavior into context, he's still an utterly ruthless, megalomaniac warlord whose brutal actions cause endless misery both for himself and everyone around him.
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* VillainProtagonist: Shaka himself. Although he is given a very [[FreudianExcuse [[DarkAndTroubledPast sympathetic backstory]] [[FreudianExcuse to put explain his behavior into context, in context]]; he's still an utterly ruthless, megalomaniac warlord whose brutal actions cause lots of endless misery misery, both for himself and everyone around him.
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* WitchDoctor: Setayi is a witch doctor and portrayed as a crucial advisor to Shaka. Another witch doctor is a little person, who bloodlets child Shaka and drinks his blood.
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* VillainProtagonist: Shaka himself. Although he is given a very [[FreudianExcuse sympathetic backstory]] to put his behavior into context, he's still an utterly ruthless, megalomaniac warlord whose brutal actions cause endless misery both for himself and everyone around him.
* WitchDoctor: Setayi is a witch doctor and portrayed as a crucial advisor to Shaka. Another witch doctor is a little person, who bloodlets child Shaka and drinks hisblood.blood.
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* WitchDoctor: Setayi is a witch doctor and portrayed as a crucial advisor to Shaka. Another witch doctor is a little person, who bloodlets child Shaka and drinks his
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Useful Notes/ pages are not tropes
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* TheApartheidEra: This series was made during the last years of the apartheid state in South Africa when the country was slowly beginning to liberalise and reform its attitudes towards its black population - and even to acknowledge that Black Africans had history too. It would not have been possible to do this sort of TV in this form ten years previously - and twenty years previously, UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica did not have a TV network ''at all''.
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Background to the show
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* TheApartheidEra: This series was made during the last years of the apartheid state in South Africa when the country was slowly beginning to liberalise and reform its attitudes towards its black population - and even to acknowledge that Black Africans had history too. It would not have been possible to do this sort of TV in this form ten years previously - and twenty years previously, UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica did not have a TV network ''at all''.
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Improving the summary.
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Shaka Zulu is a 1986 South African historical TV drama, mostly set between 1823 and 1828. An [[TheEpic epic]] tale with thousands of extras, it was partially funded by the American company Harmony Gold USA, and entered syndication in the US as well as South Africa.
The series is based on the actual writings of traders who lived with the Zulus for a period and presumably the Zulus' verbal traditions. It covers the circumstances surrounding Shaka's birth, his childhood, and his rise to prominence. However, the most attention is given to the five year span from when traders began living with the Zulus to Shaka's downfall and death.
The series is based on the actual writings of traders who lived with the Zulus for a period and presumably the Zulus' verbal traditions. It covers the circumstances surrounding Shaka's birth, his childhood, and his rise to prominence. However, the most attention is given to the five year span from when traders began living with the Zulus to Shaka's downfall and death.
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Shaka Zulu is a 1986 South African historical TV drama, mostly set between 1823 and 1828.1828 but with some focus on Shaka's formative years as well. Henry Cele stars as the titular King of the Zulu. An [[TheEpic epic]] tale with thousands of extras, it was partially funded by the American company Harmony Gold USA, and entered syndication in the US as well as South Africa.
The series is loosely based on the actual writings of traders who lived with the Zulus for aperiod and presumably period, as well as the Zulus' own verbal traditions. It covers the circumstances surrounding Shaka's birth, his childhood, and his rise to prominence. However, the prominence, though most attention is given to the five year span from when traders began living with the Zulus to Shaka's downfall and death.
The series is loosely based on the actual writings of traders who lived with the Zulus for a
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Episode 10 and miscellany. Finished at last. :D
** Shaka never led an army with the intention of attacking Cape Town, as was depicted in Episode 10.
* BuriedAlive: Numerous Zulu are buried, injured but still breathing and writhing, along with Nandi.
* CanonImmigrant: The witch doctor Setayi does not appear in any historical records. She is easily the most ahistorical character in the series, having mystical powers and never aging through the narrative's 42 year span.
* CanonImmigrant: The witch doctor Setayi does not appear in any historical records. She is easily the most ahistorical character in the series, having mystical powers and never aging through the narrative's 42 year span.
* {{Dehumanization}}: Many of the Brits who didn't stay with the Zulus, particularly Lord Charles of Cape Town, have a dehumanizing and dismissive attitude toward the natives.
* DownerEnding: While YMMV whether or not Shaka's death was for the better, his entire capital was razed to the ground.
* EtTuBrute: The assassination of Shaka was portrayed as a very open and public coup, giving Shaka a chance to give final words to his half-brothers and former advisors. In reality, it was a far more cloak and dagger affair.
* ExcessiveMourning: When Nandi, Queen of Queens, dies, Zulu citizens are subjected to a harsh year of mourning, where crops may not be harvested and children may not be conceived for an entire year -- punishable by death.
* ExcessiveMourning: When Nandi, Queen of Queens, dies, Zulu citizens are subjected to a harsh year of mourning, where crops may not be harvested and children may not be conceived for an entire year -- punishable by death.
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* FreezeFrameEnding: As was the custom in TheEighties, all episodes end with a a freeze frame as the credits roll, often setting the tone for the next episode.
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* FreezeFrameEnding: As was the custom in TheEighties, all episodes end with a a freeze frame as the credits roll, often setting the tone for the next episode. The last episode lets a poignant scene roll during much of the credits, but then freezes as well.
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* {{Gorn}}: The scenes involving witch doctors are easily the most graphic of the entire series, to the point where scenes with battle wounds are tame in comparison...typically only featuring fake blood and a bendable prop spear.
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* GoingNative: Played with, as far as Francis Farewell goes. Although pretty resistant overall, he arrives at Cape Town in culturally mixed dress, and identifies himself as Zulu in an effort to get them an audience.
* {{Gorn}}: The scenes involving witch doctors are easily the most graphic of the entire series, to the point where scenes with battle wounds are tame in comparison...typically only featuring fake blood and a bendable (or retractable) prop spear.
* {{Gorn}}: The scenes involving witch doctors are easily the most graphic of the entire series, to the point where scenes with battle wounds are tame in comparison...typically only featuring fake blood and a bendable (or retractable) prop spear.
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* OffingTheOffspring: Under the delusion of his own immortality, brought on by hair dye, Shaka has is own newborn son killed so he can't rise up against Shaka.
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Episode 9 and miscellany.
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* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Generally averts history being written by the victors, as there are some rather unflattering portrayals of the British -- particularly George IV. That said, due to the lack of writings by the Zulu at the time, artistic license is to be expected.
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* ArtisticLicenseHistory: ArtisticLicenseHistory:
** Generally averts history being written by the victors, as there are some rather unflattering portrayals of the British -- particularly George IV. That said, due to the lack of writings by the Zulu at the time, artistic license is to beexpected.expected.
** Despite being set in the mid 1820s, Dingiswayo (who was assassinated in 1817) was alive and kicking well into the period where Shaka had Englishmen in his inner circle.
** The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gqokli_Hill Battle of Gqokli Hill]], which here was depicted as being won much due to a small group of Englishmen confusing the enemy with their technology, actually occurred many years before the English arrived in the Mthethwa region.
** The mere existence of Shaka's son is apocryphal at best, and yet the miniseries depicts him as not only having one, but having him killed so he can't threaten Shaka's power.
** Lord Charles was only governor until 1826, but he is depicted as being governor for the duration of the series.
** Generally averts history being written by the victors, as there are some rather unflattering portrayals of the British -- particularly George IV. That said, due to the lack of writings by the Zulu at the time, artistic license is to be
** Despite being set in the mid 1820s, Dingiswayo (who was assassinated in 1817) was alive and kicking well into the period where Shaka had Englishmen in his inner circle.
** The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gqokli_Hill Battle of Gqokli Hill]], which here was depicted as being won much due to a small group of Englishmen confusing the enemy with their technology, actually occurred many years before the English arrived in the Mthethwa region.
** The mere existence of Shaka's son is apocryphal at best, and yet the miniseries depicts him as not only having one, but having him killed so he can't threaten Shaka's power.
** Lord Charles was only governor until 1826, but he is depicted as being governor for the duration of the series.
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* {{Bookends}}: Shaka himself was an illegitimate son of a king, and was exiled in lieu of being killed. When Shaka had his own unwanted son, due to a twisted notion that the Whites had made him immortal, he had the baby killed. Since the kill was in no way depicted on-screen, garnering only a mention, it's up to the viewer to decide if it truly went full circle.
* TheCaptivityNarrative: Downplayed, but present. The British who crash onto the beach near Mthethwa are effectively political hostages who resist assimilation. This is finally confirmed in Episode 9, where Shaka allows two Brits to leave with a group of Zulu to open up a dialogue, with the other 15 or so remaining as hostages.
* TheCaptivityNarrative: Downplayed, but present. The British who crash onto the beach near Mthethwa are effectively political hostages who resist assimilation. This is finally confirmed in Episode 9, where Shaka allows two Brits to leave with a group of Zulu to open up a dialogue, with the other 15 or so remaining as hostages.
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* GentlemanSnarker: Par for the course, given the number of British nobles and professionals at Cape Town. Francis gets a special mention for wittily dressing down Lord Charles for his unwillingness to speak with the Zulus, as well as for not recognizing his intellectual authority on the natives given his multi year captivity.
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* InMysteriousWays: Often invoked by Henry during his theological discussions with Shaka, particularly regarding why the King of Kings was allowed to "die on a tree". Shaka, not particularly liking the many loose ends of ''Literature/TheBible'', tends to come up with interpretations that elevate his station.
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Whoops.
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poorly tried to talk their way out
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Episode 8 (the rest)
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* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Shaka does not differentiate the morality of warfare and executions the way that the English do, and this is difference in values is brought forth when Shaka tasks one of the Brits with executing the enemy King Zwide on the battlefield and he refuses. Shaka effectively calls him a hypocrite and proceeds to execute Zwide himself.
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* EliteArmy: DoubleSubverted with the tiny British regiment when Shaka's army pushed on Zwide's forces. By western standards, the British "troops" were far from elite as they were aged civilians, but they had technology that the Ndwandwe had never seen. In spite of multiple opportunities where they could have rushed the British and slaughtered them while they were reloading, the Ndwandwe kept backing off and allowing the British to kill several times their number. Eventually, the Ndwandwe caught on and the Zulus had to back the regiment up, but the panic and disorder helped lead to the Ndwandwe's downfall.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Ndlela kaSompisi, Shaka's top general, effectively warns Shaka of what will happen later in the century, saying of the British, "Then I can only hope that their knowledge is not a fabrication of lies, or all that you have built will become theirs."
* FreezeFrameEnding: As was the custom in TheEighties, all episodes end with a a freeze frame as the credits roll, often setting the tone for the next episode.
poorly tried to talk their way out
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Ndlela kaSompisi, Shaka's top general, effectively warns Shaka of what will happen later in the century, saying of the British, "Then I can only hope that their knowledge is not a fabrication of lies, or all that you have built will become theirs."
* FreezeFrameEnding: As was the custom in TheEighties, all episodes end with a a freeze frame as the credits roll, often setting the tone for the next episode.
poorly tried to talk their way out
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Episode 8 (partial)
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* ArtifactDomination: If events of Episode 8 are to be believed, the Ndwandwe witch doctor, through a gory ritual, cast a spell on an artifact that made one of Dingiswayo's maidservants assassinate him.
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* {{Gorn}}: The scenes involving witch doctors are easily the most graphic of the entire series, to the point where scenes with battle wounds are tame in comparison...typically only featuring fake blood and a bendable prop spear.
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* RegentForLife: Shaka seeks, and gets full control over the military from Dingiswayo so he can retrain them to counter a threat from the Ndwandwe Kingdom. Naturally, he never planned to return said power, though it was made moot by Dingiswayo's assassination.
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[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
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Found a promo image.
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shaka_zulu_tv_series.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
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One more for E7
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* PlaceboEffect: While not explicitly mentioned by the Brits as doing anything, the black hair dye left Shaka and many others under the false impression that it had rejuvenation properties, since it made them appear younger. This served as a major factor toward Shaka signing a lopsided contract for land, ivory, and mining rights.
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Episode 7 tropes.
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* ConspicuouslyPublicAssassination: A sensible variant, where one of Shaka's rivals attempted to assassinate him during a party, shortly after the British group is delivered to the tribe. Despite being somewhat inconspicuous in the large crowd, he was discovered and executed.
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* {{Determinator}}: After Shaka's assassination attempt, and with a considerable fever along with a wound slowly healing, Shaka forces himself to make a public display so as to leave no questions as to the Zulu Kingdom's leadership.
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* DramaticallyMissingThePoint: After a several minute long discussion about Jesus Christ, Shaka comes to the determination that Jesus Christ died so Shaka could inherit his power. This only [[ConfirmationBias reaffirms his resolve]].
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* KeepingTheEnemyClose: Shaka believes that Dingane is behind the assassination attempt, but Shaka plays dumb for the sake of ferreting out others who would try to go after him.
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* MakeAnExampleOfThem: In retaliation for the assassination attempt, ten uFasimba were impaled in front of the cattle fold and left in [[DeadGuyOnDisplay public display]] as a warning to future would-be assassins.
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Hey, next time you delete something, list a reason. Assuming zero context (which it wasn't, I listed the trigger) so here's a bit more.
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* BerserkButton: Do NOT insult Shaka's mother while Shaka is around. Special mention goes to during his first exile, where a village kid insulted Shaka's mother, only for Shaka to knock him down and hold a spear to his neck. [[spoiler:This set off a feud that indirectly caused Shaka's maternal grandmother's death, and ultimately the boy's own a decade later.]]
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* BerserkButton: Do NOT insult Shaka's mother while Shaka is around.
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11 more examples - Episode 6, misc other
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* DeadGuyOnDisplay: The witch doctors' village is full of these unsanitary displays both at the perimeter and inside the village, some with scavengers eating away at them.
** Invoked again when Shaka captured those who burned down his maternal grandmother's granary. He piked them from the rear, while still alive, stood them up and left them to hang as a warning.
* DoesNotLikeShoes: Shaka, for the reason that they impair his movement. His callused soles certainly justify his point of view.
* HiddenElfVillage: A village closed to the Mtetwa capital is this, rife with fantasy elements and inhabited by witch doctors (the blind, little poeple, anyone who's different) and oddly enough a mild-mannered top-notch [[HermitGuru blacksmith]]. This is a grim version of this trope, with bodies out in the open being pecked by scavengers, and in many other ways an overall foreboding motif.
** Invoked again when Shaka captured those who burned down his maternal grandmother's granary. He piked them from the rear, while still alive, stood them up and left them to hang as a warning.
* DoesNotLikeShoes: Shaka, for the reason that they impair his movement. His callused soles certainly justify his point of view.
* HiddenElfVillage: A village closed to the Mtetwa capital is this, rife with fantasy elements and inhabited by witch doctors (the blind, little poeple, anyone who's different) and oddly enough a mild-mannered top-notch [[HermitGuru blacksmith]]. This is a grim version of this trope, with bodies out in the open being pecked by scavengers, and in many other ways an overall foreboding motif.
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* HungryWeapon: The spear that Shaka orders from the witch doctors' village at the beginning of episode 6 is stated to be this. Shaka, however, was cool with it.
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* NeckSnap: This is invoked a couple times during the series, used on both the deceased and the terminally ill as part of funeral rituals. Naturally, it's your standard "turn the head 90 degrees" Hollywood nonsense.
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* PlayingGertrude: Nandi qualifies for this when she ascends to the throne as Queen of Queens (Queen Mother) after Shaka captures the Zulu capital. In fact, her actress Dudu Mkhize is actually younger than Henry Cele.
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* ReluctantRuler: As the King died before Shaka could have his revenge, Sigujana was named his successor. During his short tenure, he was seen quivering upon accepting the role and easily willing to give it up to Shaka. [[spoiler:Shaka killed him anyway.]]
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* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Episode 6 treats us to Shaka and his armies essentially mowing down anyone who ever wronged him or his mother's family.
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* TheStrategist: Shaka, who essentially redefined southeast African warfare with his more up close and personal tactics. Before, warfare was more dictated by an honor code and involved throwing spears back and forth until one side submitted.
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** Then again for Shaka's fifty volunteer regiment. They are shown running barefoot through all sorts of terrain, carrying large roads, forging weapons to perfection, and learning new formations and patterns.
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Five more tropes as I get back to watching this rare gem.
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* ChekhovsGunman: Around the end of Shaka's first exile, he stopped to help a distressed traveler -- salving a wound on his back. It turned out to be Mtetwa prince, Dingiswayo the Wanderer, and Shaka just happened to stumble upon his territory while escaping capture. Not only did Shaka gain asylum, but Dingiswayo was also an important mentor to him.
* ClimbSlipHangClimb: Invoked when Shaka climbed a cliff to get away from his Zulu pursuers, who were looking to capture him for trial regarding him threatening his father, the King.
* ClimbSlipHangClimb: Invoked when Shaka climbed a cliff to get away from his Zulu pursuers, who were looking to capture him for trial regarding him threatening his father, the King.
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* IAintGotTimeToBleed: Perhaps mixed with {{Determinator}} when Shaka is pursued for trial. He suffers a considerable injury to his left leg, yet manages to outrun pursuers over rough terrain that includes a harrowing rock climb. Only once he found seclusion under a minor waterfall did he finally pass out.
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* RatedMForManly: Episode 5, where Shaka is a young man at the end of his first exile and at the beginning of his second, absolutely qualifies. Shaka's eight pack is prominently displayed, with feats including rock climbing, putting out a burning stick with his bare foot, and overall just being alpha enough to stand up to the Mtetwa general and even develop his own fighting techniques.
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* TrainingMontage: After being humiliated by equipment problems during a war games exercise, Shaka has a montage showing him refining his equipment and fighting technique. Traditional but upbeat South African music plays in the background.
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None
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The series is based on the actual writings of traders who lived with the Zulus periods, and covers the five year span from these initial interactions to Shaka's downfall and death.
to:
The series is based on the actual writings of traders who lived with the Zulus periods, for a period and presumably the Zulus' verbal traditions. It covers the circumstances surrounding Shaka's birth, his childhood, and his rise to prominence. However, the most attention is given to the five year span from these initial interactions when traders began living with the Zulus to Shaka's downfall and death.
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Adding and fixing tropes.
* BerserkButton: Do NOT insult Shaka's mother while Shaka is around.
* BilingualBackfire: At the beginning, three of Queen Victoria's advisors talk trash about the exiled Zulu King Cetshwayo, assuming that he can't speak English. Victoria, wisely, reserves herself until Cetshwayo diplomatically makes TheReveal, and subsequently excuses them before having a one-on-one with the King.
* BilingualBackfire: At the beginning, three of Queen Victoria's advisors talk trash about the exiled Zulu King Cetshwayo, assuming that he can't speak English. Victoria, wisely, reserves herself until Cetshwayo diplomatically makes TheReveal, and subsequently excuses them before having a one-on-one with the King.
* CompletelyUnnecessaryTranslator: King Cetshwayo feigns ignorance of English, presumably to get Englishmen to let down their guard and speak candidly.
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* InMediasRes: Episodes 1 and 2 take place after episode 6, presumably to jump straight parts that are most relatable to western viewers.
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* InMediasRes: Episodes 1 and 2 take place after episode 6, presumably to jump straight to the parts that are most relatable to western viewers.
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* TheProphecy: Setayi lays out a pretty accurate prophecy of Shaka after rescuing Nandi in the forest.
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* PintSizedPowerhouse: Preteen Shaka demonstrates his tenacity against a older tribesman heckling his mother, threatening him with a spear to his throat.
* TheProphecy: Setayi lays out a pretty accurate prophecy of Shaka after rescuing Nandi in the forest. It becomes quite important and controversial throughout the flashback episodes.
* TheProphecy: Setayi lays out a pretty accurate prophecy of Shaka after rescuing Nandi in the forest. It becomes quite important and controversial throughout the flashback episodes.
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* WitchDoctor: Setayi is a witch doctor and portrayed as a crucial advisor to Shaka.
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* TheStoic: Even as a child, Shaka handles heckling (when levied against him, at least) pretty well. He also barely reacts to a ritual bloodletting and acts as a pillar during his brief exile.
* WitchDoctor: Setayi is a witch doctor and portrayed as a crucial advisor to Shaka. Another witch doctor is a little person, who bloodlets child Shaka and drinks his blood.
* WitchDoctor: Setayi is a witch doctor and portrayed as a crucial advisor to Shaka. Another witch doctor is a little person, who bloodlets child Shaka and drinks his blood.
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Fixed two incomplete entries.
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* LuredIntoATrap: Nandi is summoned out into the forest, presumably to meet up with Prince Senzangakhona. She is strangled by someone presumably by a man loyal to King
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* LuredIntoATrap: Nandi is summoned out into the forest, presumably to meet up with Prince Senzangakhona. She is strangled by someone presumably by a man loyal to King but is subsequently rescued by Setayi and her wolves.
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* RebelPrince: During a flashback in the third episode, Senzangakhona, son of Jama and father of Shaka, had an affair with a common woman named Nandi -- much to the chagrin of his father. The real life Senzangakhona had children with sixteen.
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* RebelPrince: During a flashback in the third episode, Senzangakhona, son of Jama and father of Shaka, had an affair with a common woman named Nandi -- much to the chagrin of his father. The real life Senzangakhona had children with sixteen.sixteen women.
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Surprised this old but quality TV series lacks its own page. Will add more tropes as I go through more episodes.
Added DiffLines:
Shaka Zulu is a 1986 South African historical TV drama, mostly set between 1823 and 1828. An [[TheEpic epic]] tale with thousands of extras, it was partially funded by the American company Harmony Gold USA, and entered syndication in the US as well as South Africa.
The series is based on the actual writings of traders who lived with the Zulus periods, and covers the five year span from these initial interactions to Shaka's downfall and death.
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* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Generally averts history being written by the victors, as there are some rather unflattering portrayals of the British -- particularly George IV. That said, due to the lack of writings by the Zulu at the time, artistic license is to be expected.
* BilingualBonus: If you can speak Zulu, you're liable to get a lot more out of this series than most people.
* HollywoodVoodoo: Setayi, the witch doctor, is depicted somewhat unflatteringly and is portrayed as a manipulative creator of [[SelfFulfillingProphecy self fulfilling prophecies]]. She is blind, bald in the front half of her head, has hanging flesh, and wears decrepit robes. She is also shown exactly the same in 25+ year old flashbacks.
* InMediasRes: Episodes 1 and 2 take place after episode 6, presumably to jump straight parts that are most relatable to western viewers.
* {{Jerkass}}: King George IV is portrayed as a jerkass philanderer who clearly puts his own interests ahead of the nation's.
* LuredIntoATrap: Nandi is summoned out into the forest, presumably to meet up with Prince Senzangakhona. She is strangled by someone presumably by a man loyal to King
* NationalGeographicNudity: This series unabashedly attempts to make realistic depictions of the southeastern African dress at the time. Incidentally, we do get a few candid shots of the British characters as well.
* TheProphecy: Setayi lays out a pretty accurate prophecy of Shaka after rescuing Nandi in the forest.
* RealityHasNoSubtitles: There are no subtitles whatsoever for any of the (mostly Zulu) tribal languages. Presumably, this is done to put the viewer in the shoes of the traders, soldiers, and diplomats.
* RebelPrince: During a flashback in the third episode, Senzangakhona, son of Jama and father of Shaka, had an affair with a common woman named Nandi -- much to the chagrin of his father. The real life Senzangakhona had children with sixteen.
* RequisiteRoyalRegalia: The Zulus' Eternal Spear, which is a spear formed of an unstated metal, has been passed down to kings for untold generations.
* WitchDoctor: Setayi is a witch doctor and portrayed as a crucial advisor to Shaka.
The series is based on the actual writings of traders who lived with the Zulus periods, and covers the five year span from these initial interactions to Shaka's downfall and death.
----
* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Generally averts history being written by the victors, as there are some rather unflattering portrayals of the British -- particularly George IV. That said, due to the lack of writings by the Zulu at the time, artistic license is to be expected.
* BilingualBonus: If you can speak Zulu, you're liable to get a lot more out of this series than most people.
* HollywoodVoodoo: Setayi, the witch doctor, is depicted somewhat unflatteringly and is portrayed as a manipulative creator of [[SelfFulfillingProphecy self fulfilling prophecies]]. She is blind, bald in the front half of her head, has hanging flesh, and wears decrepit robes. She is also shown exactly the same in 25+ year old flashbacks.
* InMediasRes: Episodes 1 and 2 take place after episode 6, presumably to jump straight parts that are most relatable to western viewers.
* {{Jerkass}}: King George IV is portrayed as a jerkass philanderer who clearly puts his own interests ahead of the nation's.
* LuredIntoATrap: Nandi is summoned out into the forest, presumably to meet up with Prince Senzangakhona. She is strangled by someone presumably by a man loyal to King
* NationalGeographicNudity: This series unabashedly attempts to make realistic depictions of the southeastern African dress at the time. Incidentally, we do get a few candid shots of the British characters as well.
* TheProphecy: Setayi lays out a pretty accurate prophecy of Shaka after rescuing Nandi in the forest.
* RealityHasNoSubtitles: There are no subtitles whatsoever for any of the (mostly Zulu) tribal languages. Presumably, this is done to put the viewer in the shoes of the traders, soldiers, and diplomats.
* RebelPrince: During a flashback in the third episode, Senzangakhona, son of Jama and father of Shaka, had an affair with a common woman named Nandi -- much to the chagrin of his father. The real life Senzangakhona had children with sixteen.
* RequisiteRoyalRegalia: The Zulus' Eternal Spear, which is a spear formed of an unstated metal, has been passed down to kings for untold generations.
* WitchDoctor: Setayi is a witch doctor and portrayed as a crucial advisor to Shaka.
