The iNkatha (plural: iziNkatha )
was the magic and sacred 'grass coil', a symbol of unity of the
Zulu nation.
The sacred item was normally kept under guard, and Zulu kings sometimes seated themselves on it when going to war.
The preparation of an iNkatha can be traced back to the time of king
Senzangakhona
King Senzangakhona kaJama (c. 1762 – 1816) was the king of the Zulu Kingdom, and primarily notable as the father of three Zulu kings who ruled during the period when the Zulus achieved prominence, led by his oldest son King Shaka.
Biography ...
, the father of
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona ( – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that ...
. The last ''inkatha yezwe'' (grass coil of the nation) was destroyed in 1879 during the
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Following the passing of the British North America Act of 1867 forming a federation in Canada, Lord Carnarvon thought that a similar political effort, cou ...
.
[
]
Preparation
Specialized iziNyanga (or medicine men)[ initiated a ritual vomiting exercise when the Zulu army prepared for battle,][ by administering an ]emetic
Vomiting (also known as emesis and throwing up) is the involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose.
Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenteritis ...
to the soldiers. Each soldier of the impi
is a Zulu word meaning war or combat and by association any body of men gathered for war, for example is a term denoting an army. were formed from regiments () from (large militarised homesteads). In English is often used to refer to a ...
would vomit into the straw-filled pit,[ and the medicine men would bound the contents into a thick, coiled mat. The woven coil also included rags of the garments of foreign royals, material drawn from the regimental huts and other substances of metaphysical significance.][
]
Mundane use
Besides the ''inkatha yezwe'', an inkatha may also be a grass coil that is placed on the head as a support when a heavy object is carried on the head.[
]
Meaning and purpose
The iNkatha was a visible expression of the Zulu nation's unity,[ and the continuity of its royal line.][ As it was bound round and round it was considered to represent the binding together of the Zulu people,][ and symbolised political integration and authority.][ It also signifies "support under stress," due to its everyday use as a head support.][ Due to its potency in the collective imagination, the iNkatha's imagery was invoked in the 20th century political movements of king Solomon, chief ]Buthelezi
Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi (born 27 August 1928) is a South African politician and Zulu traditional leader who is currently a Member of Parliament and the traditional prime minister to the Zulu royal family. He was Chief Minister of the ...
and others.[
]
See also
* Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party ( zu, IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko, IFP) is a right-wing political party in South Africa. The party has been led by Velenkosini Hlabisa since the party's 2019 National General Conference. Mangosuthu Buthelezi founded ...
References
{{DISPLAYTITLE:iNkatha (Zulu artifact)
Zulu culture