Shaka Zulu(Shaka Kasenangakhona) born around 1787, is one of the most famous leaders in African history. He started life in a small and unimportant Zulu clan, but he helped turn it into a strong and United Kingdom that changed southern Africa.   Shaka’s father, Senzangakhona, was a minor chief. His mother, Nandi, was not the chief’s main wife. Because of this, Shaka and his mother were treated badly and faced many problems when Shaka was a child. Even so, Shaka was smart and brave. He joined the army of another chief named Dingiswayo. Dingiswayo saw that Shaka was a great warrior and a good leader.   After Dingiswayo died, Shaka became the leader of the Zulu clan. He made many changes to the army and the way people lived. Shaka is most famous for changing the way the Zulus fought in wars. He made a new short spear called the iklwa, which was better for close fighting than the old long spears. He also trained his soldiers very hard and made them work together as a team. Because of this, the Zulu army became very strong.   Shaka was smart, but he could also be very harsh. He used both peace talks and fighting to get other clans to join him. He became the ruler of a large kingdom, but he was sometimes cruel to people who did not do what he wanted. In 1828, Shaka was killed by his half-brothers, Dingane and Mhlangana. Even though he died, the kingdom he created stayed powerful for many years. Shaka’s new ways of fighting are still remembered and studied