The Zulus are the latest fighting force in Niue’s Warriors of History silver coin series

Impi is a Zulu word for any armed body of men. The Zulu impi is popularly identified with the ascent of Shaka, ruler of the relatively small Zulu tribe before its explosion across the landscape of southern Africa. During the time of the Anglo-Zulu wars in the late 19th century, the Zulu warrior was not a professional solider, but men were required to do military service between the ages of 19 and 40.

Despite popular belief, their military organisation was far from primitive, with an Impi made up of Regiments called Amabutho, each formed of similar age warriors and wearing their own identification like a headdress, for example. This allowed the Zulu commander to identify different units on the battlefield. They were equipped with large cowhide shields and carried a 45 cm long, wide-bladed heavy stabbing spear with a 75 cm wooden shaft and a longer throwing spear with a 18 cm blade on a 1 m shaft. It’s a myth that firearms were rare, as many as 60% of warriors carrying one, but they suffered from little training and very poor gunpowder, so they were not considered an effective weapon.

Zulu armies moved fast, often up to 20 miles a day (double that when needed) and could engagae in battle at the end of a march. Their main fighting formation was the’Beasts Horns’, two flanks (the horns) of the fastest troops supported a heavier central force and they could surround an enemy to prevent retreat. Working well against local opposition, it was a tactic that was comprehensively defeated by more disciplined and heavier armed British army units in most cases.