Shaka Zulu TV mini series

Sorry if this subject has already been done to death, but other than 'Zulu' and 'Zulu Dawn' this 10 part TV mini series circa 1986 is the only other film I have.

Would anyone care to comment on it? Good, bad or indifferent?

N.B.Forrest

Good afternoon, N.B., Its all a matter of opinion!, i personally really
looked forward to the production of this mini series..i am very
interested in the early development and settlement of Natal and the
interaction with the Zulu..it brought a little known epic story to the
attention of a wider audiance, names i was well familiar with, were there
before my very eyes..Farewell, Issac's, Gardiner, Bigger, Halstead,
Ogle, cane, Fynn, Ross ect..

To see the whole of the Zulu Nation unfold before my very eyes was quite
a thrill..but it was a commercial enterprise and used all the slick
production values that were applied to many American mini series of that
time..so it relied heavily on ' special effects ', and over reliance on the
sub plot involving the superstition and overwhelming influence of one
witch doctor which to my mind drew massively on Rider-Haggard..the story
of the Zulu Nation needs no such embellishment it stands alone as a truly
marvellous saga in its own right..that's is just my own view, there are other
view's in this place each to their own.. i enjoyed it for what it is!. there is
an overall grandeur to the piece which i think would be impossible to rep-
licate today.

By the way there are a lot of obscure titles available on dvd today which was
not the case even five years ago, all averaging about a tenner. cheers xhosa.

Thanks Xhosa,

I have to admit that I am enjoying it, just wanted to know if the depiction of the Zulu in it is historically accurate or just Hollywood!

N.B.Forrest

N.B.F.,

A dear departed friend of mine appears in the series as an actor, he also wrote part of the script.  As he would put it "The good bits."  If it is on when I'm channel-surfing I'll watch it to see and hear him again.

There is no Hollywood depiction it was a South African production, with the director, Bill, raising most of the money himself.

It had the opportunity to be an epic, but in my opinion it falls wide of the mark.  I agree with Les, the story didn't need the embellishment as the truth - as far as we know - was a far better story.

I also know that there were complaints that some of Zulu male costumes were a bit too skimpy, but that's a story all of its own.

John Y.

Hello John,

Yes, I know it was not made in/by Hollywood; I just used the word as a symbolic metaphor for 'not real'!

A quick question though....how do current Zulus feel about the Zulu wars and what do they think of us Brits as a result?

N.B.F.,

To my knowledge the British only fought one war against the Zulu.

Not being a Zulu I can only answer from personal knowledge.

The stance of His Majesty King Goodwill is that he is anxiously seeking compensation from the British sovereign and her Government for the wrong done in 1879. Despite the fact the war was started without the sanction of the British Government.

To my knowledge there are others who go out of their way to encourage reconciliation and respect between Britain and KwaZulu by encouraging joint ventures.

Personally I have only ever experienced a mutual respect and understanding between Briton and Zulu. Which is something I always attempt to encourage.

John Y.