Original subtitles

We have a chance to win the king's favour!

If we control Shaka's soul.

We control the whole of Southern Africa!

That's the game isn't it?

we have every reason to believe that Shaka has been murdered.

Murdered?

One miserable report tells you Shaka is dead

and you believe him.

All he needed was a dose of Power.

Christ had to die

so that the Heavens would pass that power onto me.

He thinks we've rejuvenated him! Not just aesthetically.

Physiologically.

Look at these men!

From now on

you will pay them the respect due to kings.

The Great Elephant wishes to see you and Mbuyazi immediately.

[theme song playing]

[vocalizing]

[singing in Zulu]

I We are growing higher J‘

J‘ Growing higher I

I have been giving a great deal of thought

to the mistakes made by your...

King of Kings.

He obviously didn't have the foresight of a great leader.

And that's why his people betrayed him.

And why... Mr. Abrahams wisely doesn't follow him.

This man Christ... had the multitudes in his own hands,

yet he was afraid to govern them.

Hanging from a tree... was easier.

How'd you get us into this one?

Unintentionally, I assure you.

Joji and I mustn't make that mistake.

We must have more courage.

Perhaps a nation could be built,

where the Whites and the Zulus would live together in harmony.

A Council of Elders would be formed

with the wisest men of each kingdom.

And these men must be given eternal youth

so that the heart of the nation would be immortal.

Do you think this could be possible?

Yes, nothing is impossible...

if two kingdoms truly wish to live in harmony.

You're starting to sound like Gulliver.

I am glad that you are so open minded.

That is why you should not object if I ask you

to join in me the campaign against the Ndwandwes.

[speaking Zulu]

Nkosi... I must tell you

that it is not King George's policy that his subjects

should be involved in the internal Affairs

of other nations.

The Great Elephant wishes to remind you, Febana,

that we have an agreement.

As my chieftain, you owe your allegiance to Shaka,

as well as to Joji.

Or does Febana wish to go back on his word?

Can a man... serve two kings?

Nothing is impossible...

if two kingdoms truly want to live in harmony.

It's quite startling what he has been able to do with a Bible

and a drop of Macassar oil.

He's far too clever for us, Francis,

it's time you realized that.

[Francis laughing]

I fear that despite my flippancy over his whole affair,

our situation was ridiculous,

for our contribution to this battle

would have to be superfluous.

Zwide was, in past years,

one of Shaka ’s most formidable adversaries,

and it was apparent, from the ever increasing movement

of troops towards the capital that, for Shaka,

he remained a dangerous enemy.

Shaka had begun to realize the importance of the diary,

And so the king would summon me to his hut

And with apparent relish,

relate the violent episode of his conflict with Zwide.

who soon would be our misfortune to confront.

The enmity between Shaka and Zwide began years ago.

In the north, Zwide was consolidating his paramountcy.

He fought bloody battles, defeating all in his path

and ruthlessly crushing any resistance to his authority.

I cannot believe all I 'm told of this history,

for so much of it, once again, hinges on witchcraft

and tales of the supernatural.

But recount it I will, for it's a story worth knowing.

Zwide had achieved another major victory

and as armies returned victorious with their prisoners

Zwide and his feared mother, the witchdoctor, Ntombazi,

began to set their sights on

Dingiswayo's empire in the south.

And so, my son... Soshangane has returned victorious.

All the northern tribes are now firmly under your control.

And Dingiswayo controls the south.

All we have to do now is step in and take it over.

[chanting]

[speaking in Zulu]

[music playing]

The old witch had her own plans for getting rid of Dingiswayo.

MziIikazi, a prince of the newly defeated tribe

was to be part of her plan.

What they had not reckoned with was that Shaka was at that stage

one of Dingiswayo’s generals.

The battle against the south would not be such a pushover

as they expected.

The entire region was now in turmoil.

While Zwide and his demented witchdoctor mother

were ravaging the north, Shaka was in the south,

himself carrying out a desperate war of attrition,

using it to avenge himself an those

who had victimized his family years before,

while at the same time incorporating

the subjugated tribes into Dingiwaya’s Paramountcy.

It was a bloody episode

in this part of Africa's extraordinary history.

[music playing]

When I spoke of that nation, I wanted the name 'Mtetwa'

to stand for peace! Not total war!

I wanted my armies to bring subjugation, not destruction!

To subdue another tribe... you must strike it once and for all.

Total war! Total subjugation to the paramount king.

And total destruction

to anyone who raises even a whisper against him.

Never leave an enemy behind,

or it will rise again... to fly at your throat.

There 'it no other way!

Yes, Shaka. There is. Faith!

In what?

The human being... Reason.

In each man's desire... to believe in himself,

and his fellow man.

Zwide of the Ndwandwes is preparing an attack.

His army is as large, if not larger, than yours.

He has heard of our battle tactics.

and has devised others which I fear are just as effective.

He has only one wish, Baba.

To crush you and your paramountcy into oblivion.

And, believe me, Baba, he won't do it with faith and reason.

But if you say I have abused my freedom,

I'll ask you to accept my resignation...

as commander of your regiments.

Bayete!

He knows we can't accept.

Our survival is now dependent on his method.

Ngomane!

Nyambose!

Shaka!

You've played your hand well. Now what is it you want, Shaka?

Complete control of the armed forces,

without interference from the King or the Council.

But that would virtually give you

complete control of the State!

If Zwide defeats us, Ngomane, there will be no state!

Winning the campaign against the Ndwandwe confederacy

is a matter of life... and death!

For me... For you... For Dingiswayo.

Ngomane, Zwide wants our blood, not our humanity!

[music playing]

[witch doctor chanting]

Do I have it?

Yes, Shaka. You have it... Complete control.

[witchdoctor chanting]

[woman screaming]

I cannot bring myself to believe the hocus-pocus

surrounding the events which supposedly followed,

and explanations more practical must be responsible.

But so Vivid is the myth recounted

that once again I feel obliged to set it down,

for if you can believe in the concept of power of thought,

then undoubtedly this episode will make chilling reading.

[woman wailing]

[slow dramatic music playing]

[witchdoctor laughing]

[woman screams]

[wolves howling]

[gasp51

[slow dramatic music playing]

[song playing]

[woman singing in Zulu]

[men chanting in Zulu]

Bayete!

And what have we here?

I bring you news of Zwide.

Take him out.

[man choking]

25,000 troops?

Why are you telling me this?

They killed my father!

And you were close to him?

Very.

[melancholic howling]

[witch doctor laughing]

What will your people do Aow, Dingiswaya?

How will their minds explain... that which a mind cannot grasp?

[witch doctor laughing]

[woman screaming]

[crowd cheering]

[crowd cheering]

[buffaloes bellowing]

Wena weZu.

Mzilikazi.

The Ndwandwes. Queen Ntombazi.

Ngomane.

A mystery Shaka.

As usual, guards were posted at the gates of the kraal,

and at the entrance to the king's hut.

They swear that no one was anywhere

near the king last night,

apart from his private... maidservant,

and I don't think a woman could have the strength to inflict--

The guards are lying, Ngomane!

I doubt that Shaka.

They are your men. You trained them!

No one could have slipped past them unnoticed.

What are you saying, Ngamane? That it didn't happen?

I am merely suggesting... that the way it happened

may have nothing to do with human error.

-Nonsense! -[spits]

What we think, Shaka... is of little importance.

What matters now... is what the people are thinking!

And what is their reaction, Ngomane?

Fean

They won't even enter the hut

to prepare the body for burial.

It's true, Shaka.

They feel that whoever had the power to kill Dingiswayo

under the noses of our best guards,

has the power to put a curse on all our armies!

Ngomane!

Assemble the people, Ngomane.

We will not be defeated by witch doctor's illusions.

[clicking sounds]

[chanting in Zulu]

[chanting in Zulu]

[crowd chanting]

We must avenge his death!

Wipe the Ndwandwes from the face of the earth!

Zwide would like us to believe

that witchcraft was involved in the death of Dingiswayo.

Yet the truth lies elsewhere.

Our beloved paramount chief met his death in treachery,

not witchcraft.

[crowd murmuring]

His royal guards and the maidservant

have confessed to their betrayal.

And for that crime, they'll suffer the maximum punishment,

Impalement!

Their bodies will hang over there as a testimony to all,

of what awaits those who betray us.

Now, return to your training

and let there be no more talk of witchcraft! Niyangizwa!

[speaking Zulu]

Congratulations, Shaka. You won the day.

Hah! Even with our new recruits we still number 9,000,

so it's nine against 25!

[speaking Zulu]

[music playing]

[woman screaming in Zulu]

What good is your magic now?

Mzilikazi.

[dramatic music playing]

[witch doctor screaming]

Shaka had won the day,

Zwide's power had been broken and his territory gained,

but Zwide himself had escaped.

Now more than ever Shaka's philosophy would prove correct.

Never leave an enemy behind

or it will rise again... to fly at your throat!

Indeed, for once I wished with all my heart that Shaka

had at that time been able to exercise that cruel philosophy.

For the next day we were to march out

as Zulu warriors to face an even stronger Zwide.

I prayed that God would be merciful

and that the 12th of April 1827

would not be the last entry in my diary.

[chanting]

[army marching]

Zwide has chosen his battlefield well.

Whoever moves first... will fall into a trap.

You and your men will march against them.

Alone.

We will cover you... if and when you need assistance.

[Shaka] Your aim, will be to draw the enemy... into his own trap.

Nkosi.

If you send us into that gully, alone... we're dead men.

Why? Why are you doing this?

Do you not have Christ in your heart, Febana?

Mbuyazi had told me that a man with Christ in his heart...

is stronger than all the regiments on earth.

Did you say that?

I'm afraid so.

Is that not true?

Yes, Nkosi. Of course it's true.

Absolutely true. It's... it's true.

But the meaning in Mbuyazi's words...

the meaning... must be taken differently.

-Differently? -Yes, Nkosi.

Mbuyazi... did not mean...

real... regiments. Real regiments!

Mbuyazi... meant...

he...

he meant, well... he--

You will march against them. Alone.

We will see who is the true King of Kings.

Who is Power!

If your Christ... wants to be the Lord of the Zulus,

he must deserve it...

as I have.

Who taught you your scripture?

Dr. Patrick Mulligan. Holy Trinity Church, Dublin.

Oh.

Well, blast him!

[army chanting]

All right. Mr. Wilkins. Mordechai.

You both get down here. Cover our advance from above.

Soon as you see us move off, you give them everything you've got.

You know, create as much confusion as you can.

Could we not just perhaps surrender Sir?

It has been done before, you know. Honourably, of course.

Well, yes, Tim. I suppose we could.

and as you say, it's been before.

But I have the slightest suspicion that

these gentlemen don't take prisoners.

All right! Move off!

[army marching]

[chanting]

D'you think he really means it, Sir? Us fighting them alone.

Yes, it would appear so, Henry.

We saved his bleedin' hide?

Where's his sense of appreciation?

Ask Mr. Fynn.

Hasn't it become a matter of faith?

Well, next time that the emperor requires you prove your faith,

you would do well to refrain from mentioning the Colosseum.

If there is a bleeding next time.

What absurd strategy is this?

Send down a handful of warriors...

Let's see if their blood is the same colour as ours.

Ayihlasele!

And I think they have, Sir!

Good grief!

Thomson. Tonino.

Ridge halfway up. Move!

Mr. Ogle advance your cannon 40 paces.

Rifle party forward! Vegte! Hotcliffe! Popham! Zach!

Rifle party, halt!

Here we go, Wilkins!

[army chanting]

Have her ready to fire, Sir!

Hold your fire!

The Ndwandwes are too scared to advance.

Hold your Fire. Steady...

Steady.

It would appear that Somerset was right, wouldn't it.

It all comes down to blowing their heads off.

Fire!

[shots firing]

Reload! Reload!

Send in more men.

Ayihlasele!

Aim!

Fire!

-Reload! Fire! -Reload!

[shots firing]

I don't think I'm hitting anything.

-Then keep firing, man! -I'm doing my best!

Oooh, I got one!

-Reload! -Reload!

[shots fired]

Hold your fire!

Hold your fire.

Should we attack, Baba?

Not yet, Mgobozi.

They'll be massacred. Was that your intention?

Or do you still believe in their magic?

Steady...

Fire!

[cannon fired]

-Reload! -Yes Sir!

Their magic is working, Mgobozi.

Send in more regiments!

[speaking foreign language]

Not so, Ndabezitha.

Again they are advancing... and in greater numbers!

All right, Mr. Ogle. We may be in a packet of trouble.

Now, withdraw your cannon to our first position.

Yes, Sir!

Tonino!

Pull out there!

Thamson. Pull back!

Look at them, Ndabezitha.

Those who would give wings to the Great Leopard

are running like scared monkeys.

Rifle party! Pull back! No!

Get back you savages! Get back!

[shouting in pain]

Bastards!

-Mr. Ogle! -Thank you, Sir!

Send in more men.

We've only got enough powder left for four more blasts, Sir.

-Tilt the barrel 60 degrees. -Yes, Sir!

That will do it.

Ready, Sir!

Well, that singed their feathers for them.

What was that?

What sort of magic is this that can kill people

at such long distances?

Ready, Sir!

All regiments attack!

A yihlasel, madoda.

We've got them on the run. We're winning.

Give the order to attack, Mgobozi.

It's too late, Ndabezitha. They have made the kill.

We march only as scavengers.

I said attack!

Ayihlasele!

[opening theme playing]

Amazing, isn't it, Sir? What a bit of gunpowder does to 'em.

Yes, Mr. Ogle, quite amazing, isn't it!

As I once had occasion to note, a man without scruples could

very easily become a God in this country.

Well, what did you expect me to do?

Oh. I applaud the effectiveness Of our ingenuity.

What was worrying me just a little was

how much you were enjoying it.

[drums playing]

[chanting in Zulu]

[chanting in Zulu]

[speaking in Zulu]

Give it fire!

We'll not be your executioners, Baba.

And those dead?

In whose name did they fall?

Were you my executioners or your own?

And which king guided you in your killing?

Was it I...

or your Christ?

Francis.

[cannon fires]

[chanting]

[celebratory music playing]

[celebratory music playing distantly]

What is it, Ngomane?

You subjects await their king.

Tell them the Great Elephant is indisposed.

That may not be wise, Nkosi.

Already... the people are thinking the white 'creatures'

deserve glory for Zwide's ultimate defeat.

By being indisposed... you would confirm that.

And what else are they thinking?

They find it hard...

to understand the behaviour of the Great Elephant.

They are asking... how can the Conqueror of Nations

be bewitched by a handful ofjackals?

My subjects have become very daring, Ngomane.

Or could it be that it is your own question

that echoes in their hearts?

and the status of generals and chieftains.

All I am asking... is what is the Great Elephant

receiving in return for his generosity?

The power... of their knowledge.

Then I can only hope

that their knowledge is not a fabrication of lies,

or all that you have built... will become theirs.

Phuma!

Ndabezitha.

[celebratory music plays]

Has Ngamane sent you to persuade the king?

No. I long only to remain here alone with my king.

Let me love you, Shaka. Let me help you find love.

For what purpose, my little one?

Perhaps through that love

you will show me how to better rule my people?

No, your people have nothing to do with it.

I merely want to help take away the loneliness.

A man who builds a road to the heavens... must travel alone.

No... no.

[music playing]

[celebratory music plays]

[thunder rumbling]

You know, the longer we stay here

the more appealing these... girls become.

One could end up getting quite involved

with this country and it's people.

[both laughing]

Or dead.

[singing in Zulu]

J‘ You may not know Of my existence I

J“ And if you do You'll show no sign I

[singing in Zulu]

J‘ ...of my existence J‘

J“ And if you do You'll show no sign I

J‘ I 'll take you for worse I 'll take you better I

J“ I just want for you to be loved I

[singing in Zulu]