All language subtitles for S01E03 - Part 3

From now on,

you are a Zulu.

[Shaka] And you shall
act as my interpreter.

[Henry] Put her down, will you!

Fynn, what the devil do
you think you are doing?

She's alive I saw her moving.

Now, will you tell
them to put her down!

Put her down!

If what they say is true,

then their isangoma possesses
powers we cannot ignore.

I want those powers
at my service.

We've got to stop him!

[Vegte] "Here, life
belongs to Shaka."

[Vegte] "Her life
belongs to Shaka."

[fanfare]

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

♪ We are growing higher ♪

♪ Growing higher ♪

[Henry] Having survived
the horrendous ordeal

of the Gift Ceremony,

we began to settle
into the daily life

of Kwa Bulawawayo.

which I must say was not at
all an unpleasant experience

if one could turn a blind eye

to the often terrifying events

surrounding the life
of the royal court.

We, however, contrary
to our fears

were treated with the
greatest courtesy.

We had miscalculated the
man's intelligence.

It was clear that he knew enough

about the Cape Colony
and the Whites

to make him suspicious
of our motives.

From the start he adopted
a conciliatory attitude,

while at the same time

making us fully aware
of his ability

to destroy us and possibly

the Cape Colony,
if he so desired.

[chanting]

Every day we witnessed
extravagant ceremonies

performed with the kind
of military precision

the likes of which
would be the envy

of the British War Office.

It was perfectly obvious
that Shaka knew the value

of carefully planned
dramatic events.

His citadel, ominously
named Kwa Bulawayo,

the "Place of the Killing”,

was the centre of all
important events.

Every morning, the people were
summoned in their thousands

to attend court proceedings.

[crowds chanting]

Carefully guarded by his
Ufa Simba regiment,

his feared personal bodyguard,

he underwent a ritual
morning anointing.

His body being greased down
with a mixture of red ochre

and sheep's tail fat.

While outside in the royal area,

in front of the
King's huge hut,

the people were assembled.

He then appeared

preceded by half a dozen
or so praise singers

all recounting the
heroic deeds of the king

from boyhood to the present.

[man shouting Shaka's praises]

The people with one voice would
echo the praise-singers

shouting and crashing
their shields.

This terrifying and indeed,
awe-inspiring spectacle

being sustained entirely
at the king's pleasure.

Should anyone tire before the
king's signal to cease,

they would be slaughtered at a
whim by the Ufasimba regiment.

We noticed that the people

remained untiring in
their admiration.

[chanting continues]

At the king's signal the
daily court was constituted

and in front of all present,

the law according to Shaka
would be dispensed.

He was the ultimate
call to the pew,

the sole source of law

and like a Solomon, settled important
disputes arbitrarily.

[chanting and dancing]

The most important
member of the Council

was Ngomane, his Prime Minister

whom he frequently did consult
and appeared to respect.

It was however, the
military side,

which, as we had already seen during
the trek to the capital,

was the most impressive.

Regiment upon regiment of
highly disciplined warriors

trained in the apparently unique

"Shaka battle method."

His generals, drawn
from those early days

when he was training
his men himself

were his most trusted friends

and were the only
people in his domain

to whom he really
gave a full ear.

And indeed they were the ones

trusted with the expansion
of the empire's borders.

In these ranks, Shaka could not
afford any form of treachery

which brings me to Dingane,

the king's half-brother,

a man who few at Kwa
Bulawayo trusted.

We share the same blood, Ufoyi.

Few men know you as well as I.

[Henry] Dingane had managed
to survive only because

the king was using him
to lead him ultimately

to the most dangerous
traitors in his midst.

Indeed, unbeknown to us,

Dingane was planning
with Shaka's enemies.

One of them, the most powerful

and dangerous of
them all, Zwide.

These so-called Zwalos have
almost reached Kwa Bulawayo.

That is the time to strike.

Let the people think that
his death was caused

by the curse of these white men.

But Shaka's network
of bodyguards

is impenetrable and
incorruptible.

Nothing is impenetrable
and incorruptible.

See to it.

[chanting]

[Henry] So it was that day
by day we were to be drawn

deeper and deeper
into the intrigue

surrounding the king.

Francis was determined to play
the game in any way he could.

And as long as it was
advantageous to our venture.

He almost recklessly
indulged the king's belief

in our supernatural powers

despite the fact
that with every move

our position became
more precarious.

And what was more important
it would become

increasingly difficult for
us to extricate ourselves

from the complicated situation we
were getting ourselves into.

Steadfastly, I disciplined
myself into setting down

the events and intrigue
taking place around us.

Indeed, it was a world so far
removed from our experience

that not even the most
imaginative storyteller

would have envisaged

what the court of
King Shaka was like.

As we peruse the situation,

three characters, three women,

began to emerge as important
forces of Kwa Bulawayo.

Nearly always present at important
ceremonies was Nandi,

the King's mother,
Mkabayi, the King's aunt

and Sitayi, the grotesquely old
and frail chief witch doctor

of the realm.

I suppose the best way
to describe her was that

she constituted the
spiritual arm of his court

like the Archbishop of
Canterbury, I suppose,

although I'm not sure he would
appreciate the comparison.

She wielded enormous power

and no one was able to tell
us exactly how old she was.

Fantastic figures of hundreds of
years were bound to develop

while her supernatural powers were
exalted by all I spoke to.

But it was Nandi
who was to emerge

as the most powerful
force in a story which,

as I began to piece it together

became increasingly
difficult to believe.

Tales of supernatural forces,

great prophesies and
magical witchcraft

surrounding a king's power
and the making of his spear

almost an Excalibur, as it were.

But such was the
conviction of the people

who told me these
fantastic events

that I felt obliged to
at least set them down

and let my readers
decide for themselves

what was truth and
what was fantasy.

It all started as far as I
could logically work out

somewhere in the mid 1780's.

The Zulus were a small and
insignificant tribe.

The king's son, the young,
arrogant and reckless

Prince Senzagakona,
out hunting one day,

was to set in motion
a chain of events

that would change the
course of Zulu history.

[singing in Zulu]

Shh!

[speaking in Zulu]

This is becoming very
risky, Ndabezitha?

The risk is half
of the fun of it.

Anyway, I'll tire of the law
before my father finds out.

[people singing in
Zulu]

Nandi, look, it's
Prince Senzagakona.

I know.

Now is your
chance to meet him.

I know.

Go now.
Take them with you.

Now Homa.

Go.

[speaking Zulu]

Ndabezitha. Ndabezitha.

[soft instrumental music]

[shouts]

[continues exclaiming]

Nandi!

[exclaims loudly and laughs]

I've watched you
from the bushes.

Your eyes told me you love me.

How can I love a
man I do not know?

Because I'm a king's son

and I cast a powerful shadow

wherever I go and you found
that shadow pass over you.

Shadow? I felt no shadow.

And my eyes lied to you.

A king's son cannot be lied to.

A king's son?

I'm not for the taking.

You play games with my feelings.

Let us at least enjoy
our time, again.

If I made love to you, it must
be much more. More than fun.

So be it.

What if someone sees us?

No one will.

Except the birds.

Do my eyes lie to you now?

No.

They show only the truth.

[ominous music playing]

[boy urging cattle along]

[cows mooing]

[whistling and
indistinct chatter]

[talking in Zulu]

Nandi.

[chuckling]

How was it?

[speaking in Zulu]

Hey Nandi. We've
been waiting for you.

[chuckling]

I've got good news. Gendeyana
has honoured our family

by asking to marry you.

And we have agreed.

There'll be a bride-price
of ten cattle.

Which we find most generous.

And being that you'll
be his first wife,

we have decided that no
matter how many others

he may marry in future,

you will remain his
principal wife.

And the first son you will
bear will be considered

principal heir to his
father's inheritance.

Upon your return

from the wedding of your
mother's relative,

to the House of Zulu

we will officially announce
your betrothal to Gendeyana.

- [chuckles]
- What's the matter?

Ten cattle, Gendeyana.

That is most generous.

And what do you expect
from me? Love?

- Nandi!
- Mother, no.

This is not what I want.

My apologies, Gendeyana.
She'll do as she's told.

[wind instrument playing softly]

Nandi.

I'm sorry, father.

So am I, Nandi.

I suppose no man has the
right to father a wild cat,

unless he has the
wisdom to tame it.

Nandi, Gendeyana is a good man.

He has the patience to
tolerate your temper,

because he loves you truly.

- What more do you ask for?
- Much more.

Much more, father.

[ululating]

[cheering and bowing]

[stomping and chanting]

[speaking in Zulu]

I want it ready for
the celebration.

Ndabezitha.

Fine looking animal.

Have you seen my bride-to-be?

Seen her? I chose her.

[ordering young woman
in Zulu]

And what is she like?

Senzagakona, dear brother.

Need I remind you
that the only reason

you are the heir to the
Zulu throne and not me

is because of what is
between your legs.

Is it asking too much
if you occasionally

used it for the betterment
of our kingdom?

Fat is what she's like.

[Henry] And so on the chosen day,
tribes from distant territories

converged on the Zulu kingdom
to witness the marriage

of Senzagakona to
his first wife.

It was an event of some
importance to the Zulus.

They were not a
particularly strong people

who needed to form alliances
with more powerful tribes

with whom they could
unite in times of war.

[announcer] King
Kondlo of the Kwabe.

Ndabezitha.

[people singing in Zulu]

King Makedama of Elangeni.

Ndabezitha.

King Sodubo of the Nzusas.

Ndabezitha.

[women ululating and singing]

Zulu! Zulu!

[announcer] His Majesty,
King Jama, of the Zulus

welcomes you and your families
to the house of Zulu.

May the festivities today
bind our clans in peace.

[speaking Zulu]

I welcome you to the
House of Zulu, Ndomozane.

Take care of us and we
will take care of you.

[speaking Zulu]

[announcer speaking in Zulu]

[exclaims in Zulu]

[ordering]

[speaking Zulu]

[chanting in loud voice]

[chanting loudly]

Zulu! Zulu!

[speaking in Zulu]

[King speaking in Zulu]

All the ancestors of AmaZulu,

please accept this new bride

as another child in your home.

Grant her happiness

and many strong sons.

Let there be noise.

Let there be laughter.

Sacrifice the bull.

[stomping and charging
towards the bull]

[shouting in Zulu]

When will that boy learn
to behave like a prince?

[people whistling and ululating]

[wind instrument playing softly]

[speaking in Zulu]

Yes, take this.

Why didn't you tell
me Nandi will be here?

I didn't know, Ndabezitha,
but be careful.

She can cause trouble.

What trouble can she cause?

I don't know, Ndabezitha. What
if your father finds out?

[speaks in Zulu]

[stomping and ululating]

[shouts]

[chanting in Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

Bring me beer.

You used me as a plaything.

- My little Elani.
- Stop it!

Marry me, Prince. Make
me one of your wives.

Where is my drink?

Get it yourself,

No, no, no!
Put me down! No! No!

- Leave me alone!
- [Nandi sobbing]

- No, no! Put me down! No!
- You'll make matters worse.

We've started this together
and we'll finish it together.

[ordering]

[people singing]

[King Jama] Why have you met
with her since your wedding?

Senzagakona, my son.

Your spies are my spies.

Now answer me.

Have the members of the Council
met to discuss a woman?

Answer me!

What of it?

Does that mean that you
intend to see her again?

- Perhaps.
- Perhaps.

And how would you define her
behaviour at your wedding?

Fiery.

Well, suppose you were
King Kondlo of the Kwabes,

or Sodubo of the Nzusas?

What opinion would
you have had of her?

[coughing]

That she is beautiful.

And disobedient. Dangerous!

Would you have felt being
Kondlo or Sodubo

that she had insulted you.
Humiliated you!

Your pride should
have prevented you

from ever wanting
to see her again.

There is already talk that
she has bewitched you!

[coughing]

By right, she should have
been executed for her act

of effrontery to a
prince of the AmaZulu.

So you will erase that
woman from your mind.

That is not a request.

It is an order.

[shouting]

Go on, kill him!

If it will make you feel any
better, go on, kill him.

Leave him!

[Henry] The prophesy
was about to begin

its determined path

as Sitayi wielded all the power at
her disposal to bring about

a series of events which would
ultimately fulfil the terms

of that prophesy.

[cow mooing]

[people talking]

[fire crackling]

- Oh!
- Help me.

[speaking Zulu]

[moaning in pain]

[bass drum reverberating]

[Henry] Meanwhile,
in the Zulu Kingdom,

Senzagakona's first wife
was also feeling the effects

of her pregnancy.

But all was not well.

It appears that forces
were working against her.

[chanting]

Have you hurt this bad?

Yes, baba. It will be
a boy, if it lives.

He must live.

It will be difficult, baba.

The life force is too weak
for both to survive.

What are you saying,
old woman?

When the time comes, you
might have to choose.

There is no choice.

- He must live. See to it.
- [chanting]

[Nandi's mother] Don't
you worry, my child.

Your father will go
to King Makedama

and Ngazana for advice

and demand justice.

[Henry] And so it was
that a messenger was sent

by Nandi's parents demanding
that Prince Senzagakona

should acknowledge
his responsibility

towards their daughter.

[speaks in Zulu]

[King Jama] Come closer, my son.

[speaking Zulu]

Have you disobeyed my orders?

No, baba, it is as you said.

The woman's dangerous.

She will resort to anything.

Even deceit for the
sake of her ambition.

[speaking Zulu]

Ndabezitha.

Send the messenger back.

He shall announce that

the son of Jama

remembers no one by
the name of Nandi,

daughter of Bhebhe.

If she says she is pregnant,

it is either the work
of another man

or the Ishaka,

the disease of the beetle.

Ndabezitha. Ndabezitha.
Ndabezitha.

Senzagakona, my son,

you send me to our ancestors

with a lie.

Leave me.

[Henry] Everywhere,
forces were beginning

to change the course
of Zulu history.

The king was dying

and Nandi's child could
be born of royal parentage

if Senzagakona became
King after his father.

Meanwhile, Nandi
had been summoned

to a mysterious meeting
in the Ntandla forest.

She thought it was
to meet her Prince.

But she did not know.

[Nandi] Senzagakona.

[birds chirping]

Senzagakona.

[speaking Zulu]

Yes, baba.

Will she go?

Yes.

She'll want to know what the
prince has to say to her

that is so private

- and so urgent.
- [both laugh]

Yes, of course.

- Watch over him.
- Yeah.

Protect him from those
who surround him.

He will need you

as I have needed you.

I shall, Jama.

[speaking Zulu]
I swear I shall.

[struggling to breathe]

[owl hooting]

Senzagakona.

Senzagakona, stop this.

[Nandi struggling and screaming]

[attacker screaming in agony]

[Sitayi] Daughter of Bhebhe.

From your womb shall come
the firstborn of a king

giving birth to a mighty nation

of blood-stained spears

and thundering black shields.

[people singing funeral
song in Zulu]

[neck snapping]

[soldiers stomping
to drill beats]

[commander addressing the
troops in Zulu]

Behold the everlasting spear
from generation to generation.

[speaking in Zulu]

Behold him, he of the clan,
who is your King today.

Zulu!

[crowd cheers]

Zulu!

[thunder crashing]

Nkosi. Nkosi. Nkosi.

What is it?

Baba.

Speak!

Your wife, baba. She
has given birth.

Go on! Out! Out! Go on!

Is it a boy?

The midwife said it
is quite common.

- It often happens that--
-Answer me, woman!

Is it a boy?

Yes.

What is it?

Baba.

No! No!

[screaming in agony]

[Nandi's mother] I'll call
for help.

Here, pass this around her feet.

Have you got the rope?

[assistant] I've got the rope.

Pull! Pull hard!

- Mother!
- Shh! All is well.

We'll get this beetle out
as soon as it's ready.

Out! Go away. You know
you're not allowed in

when the mother is in pain.
Go outside.

Take the rope.

- All is well, now.
- Hold it.

Please, pat her down.
Pat her down.

Right, now! Push, push!

It's killing me, mother!
It's killing me!

The more you and
your child suffer,

the greater your life will be.
Now push!

- It's fighting me, mother!
- No, it's not!

Just once more. Push!

Push!

We have the head here. Push!

[Nandi crying in terrible pain]

It's a boy, Nandi!

It's a boy! It's a boy!

[baby crying]

So, this is the beetle, mother.
This is Shaka.

[thunder rumbling]

It's a fine beetle, my child.

The son of a chief!

[breathing in heavy gasps]

He's much more, mother.

Much more.

[Henry] History
had cast its die.

And in Africa, a force
had been generated

that in time, would rock
the very foundations

of the African subcontinent.

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

♪ Be a man of greatness now ♪

♪ A man so tall A man so kind ♪

♪ Be a man of wisdom now ♪

♪ A man of mind A man of light ♪

♪ Be a man of kindness now ♪

♪ A man so big And
strong in mind ♪

♪ Be a man so humble now ♪

♪ A man of men Now
let it shine ♪

♪ This is what you are ♪

♪ This is how it
was planned now ♪

♪ This is what to be
Every kind of man now ♪

♪ This is what to see
With a kind of meaning ♪

♪ This is what to feel
With a kind of feeling ♪

♪ We are growing, Growing
higher and higher ♪

♪ We are growing, Growing
higher and higher ♪

♪ We are growing, Growing
higher and higher ♪

♪ We are growing, Growing
higher and higher ♪

♪ Hear the children
Hear the children ♪

♪ They are talking to you ♪

♪ Hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow ♪

♪ It is coming for you ♪

♪ See the grass grow
See the grass grow ♪

♪ It whispers his name ♪

♪ See the fire blow
See the fire blow ♪

♪ His heart in the flame ♪

[singing in Zulu]

[vocalizing]