Shaka Zulu

A 10-part dramatization of the life of the great Zulu warrior (1787-1828) whose military innovations helped build a nation he ruled through tyranny. In Part 1, the British send an emissary to Shaka, hoping to intimidate him into an alliance and cancel the threat to their colony at Cape Town.

Vegte arrives at Shaka's capital and meets the king. While the others are en route, Fynn saves a girl who was believed dead, giving the Zulus the impression he has magical powers.

Fynn chronicles the love affair between Shaka's parents, Prince Senzangakona and Elangeni maiden Nandi, and the divine prophecy for their illegitimate child.

Senzangakona makes Nandi a royal wife, but his later humiliation of her brings a death threat from the teenage Shaka.

Shaka rejects an overture from his father and aligns himself with the Mtwetwa tribe, where he clashes with the general Bhuza over fighting techniques.

Shaka instills a tough training regimen to prepare the Mtwetwas for a battle with the Zulus, which precedes the death of Senzangakona and Shaka's ascension to the Zulu throne.

Shaka cedes Port Natal to Farewell and his men after Fynn helps him recover from an assassination attempt. Meanwhile, Farewell's wife learns that both Shaka and Farewell have been declared dead.

Fynn traces the history of Shaka and the Ndwandwe king Zwide after Shaka orders the Britons to help fight Zwide, who was responsible for the death of Dingiswayo.

Shaka agrees to help build a boat to carry Farewell and a Zulu delegation to Cape Town, where they are imprisoned by Somerset; Shaka is furious that Pampata has borne him a son.

Nandi's death sends Shaka into a frenzy of destruction; Farewell and the Zulu delegation are banished from the colony after Somerset learns Shaka's troops are advancing on the Cape.