Genre history
Narrator Hangwi Liphadzi
Language sesotho
Chaka (published in 1925 in Sesotho and translated into English in 1931) is a powerful historical novel by Thomas Mofolo that reimagines the rise and fall of the legendary Zulu king Shaka Zulu. Blending historical narrative, myth, and moral allegory, the novel explores the complex psychology of power, ambition, and destiny. The story follows Chaka from his troubled youth as an illegitimate and rejected child of a Zulu chief, through his transformation into a brilliant warrior and ruthless conqueror. Driven by a deep sense of injustice and a hunger for greatness, Chaka makes a pact with supernatural forces, gaining power and military success at the cost of his humanity. As Chaka’s empire grows, so does his cruelty and paranoia. Once a symbol of strength and leadership, he becomes feared even by his own people. His brilliance as a military strategist is matched only by his descent into tyranny, madness, and isolation, ultimately leading to betrayal and assassination by those closest to him.