MDLAKA

Mdlaka (d. circa 1829) was the commander-in-chief of the Zulu army during most of Shaka’s  reign (1816-1828) and occasionally served as deputy chief when Shaka was absent from his capital.

Mdlaka was born into the Gazini ‘clan,’ a Zulu subgroup. He reputedly left his birthplace in Nishangase because he was attracted by Shaka’s fame as a leader of warriors. He was one among the small group of councillors who were dependent on Shaka because Shaka alone had elevated them to positions of power. Shaka appointed Mdlaka to serve as commander of the Fasimba regiment, the youngest regiment at the time Shaka came to power and reputedly Shaka’s favorite corps of soldiers. Between 1817 and 1819, Mdlaka’s popularity may have won him the enmity of Nobela, the head of the Zulu diviners whose support Mdlaka did not court.

From 1819 until Shaka died in 1828, Mdlaka’s serious enemies appear to have been external. Mdlaka led Shaka’s forces twice against the Ndwandwe before defeating them in 1819, in 1820 he led an unsuccessful two-flank attack on Ngoza’s Tembu. Two years later Shaka gave Mdlaka a division of seven regiments with the instructions to restore order in the region by subduing these Tembu, Macingwane’s Cunu, and Matiwane’s Ngwane: this time Mdlaka succeeded.

In 1825 Mdlaka served as Shaka’s deputy during his absence and then, accompanied by Shaka’s half-brothers Dingane and Mhlangana, led seven regiments to Thaba Bosiu where he aided Moshoeshoe against the Ngwane. By 1826 Nawandwe power had revived under Sikhunyana.

Mdlaka successfully commanded 20,000 warriors against them at the Battle of Ndolowane, north of the Pongela River. Later that year, Mdlaka led the younger regiments against Sobhuza’s Swazi in the first major campaign to take place after the arrival of white traders in Shaka’s polity. The campaign fared so poorly that Shaka had the remnants of the defeated regiment executed, against Mdlaka’s wishes.

Mdlaka had but two campaigns in his remaining year of life. The first was against Faku‘s Pondo along the coast; Mdlaka’s forces contained one section of Khoi musketeers. The second and final campaign was waged against Soshangane by nearly the entire Zulu military force. It was plagued by disease, failure, and loss of life.

Shaka was assassinated by Dingane and Mhlangana before the expedition could return. Mdlaka allegedly criticised Dingane for his act and was known to favour either Mpande or Mhlangana as Shaka’s successor; he was also known to disapprove of Dingane’s murder of Mhlangana. For this reason and because Dingane needed to establish his own loyal body of councillors, Mdlaka was probably one of the earliest victims of the new regime.

Mdlaka is generally considered to have been second only to Shaka in his brilliance as a military strategist and leader.

DIANA WYLIE