The Birth of Shaka Oswald Joseph Mtshali The

The Birth of Shaka Oswald Joseph Mtshali

The life of Shaka • • Mother was Nandi Born fatherless 1816 became leader Half brothers assassinated him

Oswald Joseph Mtshali • Vryheid, Kwa. Zulu-Natal • Attended Wits University • Colombia University

His baby cry • When Shaka was born, he cried

was of a cub • Metaphor: He sounded like a cub (baby lion), he cried

tearing the neck • The cub is tearing at the neck of the lioness. It is an aggressive baby.

of the lioness • The lioness is his mother Nandi.

because he was fatherless • The poet suggests the baby knew he was fatherless and that is why he cried so desperately.

The gods • Not Christian, pagan • The gods planned his life, he was an important person from birth. The gods knew he had potential.

boiled his blood • There is a saying: his blood boiled – which means the person is angry. • The poet suggests Shaka became aggressive and more determined because of this action.

in a clay pot of passion • The clay pot relates to the Zulu custom of making food and beer in clay pots. Shaka had more traditional passion.

to course in his veins. • If passion courses in his veins, he is very passionate

His heart was shaped into an ox shield • Metaphor: his heart is as strong as an ox shield. An ox shield is a traditional defensive shield. This means Shaka would be protected

to foil every foe • Alliteration: f. His enemies would be fooled.

Ancestors forged • Ancestors are very important in Zulu culture. Ancestors determine the prosperity of a family because they intercede in the spirit world. • Forged: when you make metal hot and hit it into a certain shape.

his muscles into

thongs as tough • Alliteration: t Thongs: leather strips. • Metaphor: His muscles is as strong as leather strips. Simile: His muscles that are as strong as leather strips is also as tough as water bark

and nerves as sharp as syringa thorns • Simile: his nerves is as sharp as syringa thorns. • The syringa has no thorns. It is poisonous to humans and the berries make birds drunk. • Maybe Shaka was

and nerves as sharp as syringa thorns • Simile: his nerves is as sharp as syringa thorns.

His eyes were lanterns • Metaphor: His eyes were as bright as lanterns, seeing into the future.

that shone from the dark valleys of Zululand • Dark valleys: Zulus lived there. Not enlightened by Western civilization • Contrasts with white swallows

to see white swallows • Metaphor: white swallows. Europeans coming from Europe. A swallow is a bird that migrates from Europe to Africa and the Europeans came from Europe to Africa

coming across the sea • The Europeans came by sea

His cry to two assassin brothers: • Shaka was assassinated by two of his half brothers

Lo! you can kill me

but you'll never rule this land!" • They were never as great a leader as Shaka.