King Shaka’s lost palace is coming back to life

By Celani Sikhakhane

  • The KwaZulu-Natal government teams up with heritage experts to rebuild King Shaka’s historic palace. which was destroyed nearly 200 years ago.
  • The palace site in eShowe was once home to 1,500 families and could bring tourism money to local people once restored.

The KwaZulu-Natal government is working with the province’s heritage agency Amafa Heritage to bring King Shaka’s KwaBulawayo Royal Palace back to life. 

The palace was one of Africa’s largest settlements in the 1830s.

The historic site was destroyed after King Shaka was killed by his half-brothers in 1828.

KZN Sports, Arts and Culture MEC Mtomuhle Khawula said the plan to restore KwaBulawayo Royal Palace is the first step to returning the site to its former glory.

KwaBulawayo, King Shaka’s second palace, was the Zulu capital in the 1830s. It had more than 1,500 homes in eShowe and was built on uMlalazi hill overlooking the uMhlathuze valley.

The area where it is currently situated is called eBhekeshowe and the tombstone of the remains of Shaka’s mom, Queen Nandi, is found nearby.

During Operation Siyahlola, Khawula met with stakeholders as the Amafa Research Institute shared plans to highlight the site’s heritage value. The site was previously a cultural centre that attracted tourists before it fell into disrepair.

Khawula asked the community to protect the site.

“It’s a disgrace that the Zimbabwean Government has overtaken us by honouring King Shaka with the KwaBulawayo. It should be remembered that when Mzilikazi kaMashobane fled KwaZulu, he went to Zimbabwe and settled there. 

Mzilikazi kaMashobane built a KwaBulawayo residence in what was then Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.

“To keep his home memories, he built the KwaBulawayo residence and when Zimbabweans received their freedom, they named one of their biggest cities KwaBulawayo. Therefore it’s high time in KZN to do the same and revive the original residence of KwaBulawayo here in eShowe,” said Khawula.

Critics say the modern reception centre built on King Shaka’s former home has been well designed to blend with the recreated huts and traditional cattle kraal. 

However, these few buildings don’t show visitors how vast KwaBulawayo was in its prime. The Zulu capital later moved to Ulundi under King Cetshwayo kaMpande.

Prince Siyabonga Zulu of the eHabeni Royal House welcomed the plan to restore the KwaBulawayo Royal Residence, saying it already brings in money from tourists.

Pictured above: The KZN government plans to restore the KwaBulawayo Royal Residence of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona that was destroyed after his death in the 1830s.

Source: Supplied

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