Queen Nandi, also known as Nandi kaBhebhe, was a pivotal figure in Zulu history as the mother of Shaka Zulu, the founder of the Zulu Empire. Her life story is one of resilience, strength, and profound influence on one of Africa’s most legendary leaders.

Queen Nandi, also known as Nandi kaBhebhe, was a pivotal figure in Zulu history as the mother of Shaka Zulu, the founder of the Zulu Empire. Her life story is one of resilience, strength, and profound influence on one of Africa’s most legendary leaders.

Queen Nandi, also known as Nandi kaBhebhe, was a pivotal figure in Zulu history as the mother of Shaka Zulu, the founder of the Zulu Empire. Her life story is one of resilience, strength, and profound influence on one of Africa’s most legendary leaders.

Early Life and Background

• Birth and Family: Nandi was born around 1760 in Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to Bhebhe, a chief of the Elangeni (Mhlongo) people, and Mfunda of the Qwabe clan .

Relationship with Senzangakhona and Birth of Shaka

• Pregnancy and Initial Rejection: Nandi became pregnant by Senzangakhona kaJama, the Zulu chief, after engaging in ukuhlobonga (a traditional courtship practice). Initially, Senzangakhona denied paternity, claiming Nandi’s pregnancy was caused by an intestinal beetle (ishaka), a myth later used to name their son, Shaka.
• Marriage and Exile: Despite eventually marrying Senzangakhona as his third wife, Nandi faced ostracization and abuse within the Zulu homestead. She fled with Shaka to her Elangeni people but was later exiled again during a famine .

Exile and Struggles

• Life Among the Mthethwa: After enduring hardship among the Qwabe, Nandi and her children found refuge with the Mthethwa people under Chief Dingiswayo. Here, Shaka developed his military tactics, which later revolutionized Zulu warfare .
• Second Marriage: Nandi married Gendeyana, with whom she had another son, Ngwadi, but this inter-clan union also brought societal scorn .

Rise to Power and Influence

• Shaka’s Ascension: After Senzangakhona’s death, Shaka seized the Zulu throne and appointed Nandi as Queen Mother (Ndlovukazi, “The Great She Elephant”). She became his closest advisor and a key political figure .
• Symbol of Strength: Nandi’s resilience and leadership inspired Shaka’s governance. She reportedly commanded female warrior regiments and rode an elephant, symbolizing her authority .

Death and Mourning

• Cause of Death: Nandi died of dysentery on October 10, 1827. Her grave is located near Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal .
• Shaka’s Extreme Grief: Shaka declared a year of mourning, ordering mass executions, the destruction of crops, and the killing of pregnant women—though some historians argue these accounts were exaggerated by colonial writers .

Legacy

• Cultural Icon: Nandi is celebrated as a symbol of motherhood, perseverance, and defiance against oppression. Her story resonates with single mothers and marginalized women .
• Modern Recognition: Efforts to memorialize her grave and legacy continue, with disputes between the Zulu royal family and government over its preservation .