Anglo-Zulu War: What do they think of the British now?

the Zulus we see them in the films we read about them in the books but we don't often get to hear their perspective on the anglo-zulu war of 1879. well on today's episode of Redcoat history I'm joined by Lindsay and gabesi whose ancestors fought in the War Lindy's way is now a tour guide and is here at The Clash of Empires exhibition currently happening at the Royal philatelic Society we stood here you're carrying what looks like and is it an Assa guy another could you tell us a little bit about what this is well this is one of the weapons these little Warriors we're using during this uh hard times this one I think it looks very very authentic these are the powerful weapons Zulu warriors were using okay those Martini rifles very very dangerous weapons but because of their bravery and their determination they stood against the British army they defeated the medicine board so how does it feel for you as a Zulu when you hold weapons that would have been used by your people against the British do you feel a sense of connection yes I do it touches me because I believe that you know they use these weapons defending that Kingdom oh here I've got another one they are different the long one is called so this one is one of courtesy Chula here but also fun enough the noise whenever they step this and pulling out it makes the terror noise and there's a result so the name will be given to the asicot as from you know putting that's what happened on the belly phase of the sunshine the bridge had no idea when they hear this noise and they're together with the shouting meaning I have eaten pulling the thing out someone will be on the crowd those weapons are the ones they used in these ways family connection to the war is strong his ancestorsulu were instrumental in the Zulu Victory is Antoine he is part and person of what we call the zoo left and Horn and he is a junior commander of the regiment called ing Obama course they are fighting on the left-hand side he fights there he survives as they were coming up against darnford's guys yes and he is coming from mulund having joined the army to londi therefore he fights his son he survives did not go to rock Swift when you look back now obviously you've got a strong family connection to the war how does that make you feel are you proud that your family played such a big part in such an important battle that's still remembered across the world very very proud because fighting with this Android or throughout to this Zulu the anger Zulu was it meant that people stood before they believed was right or was they are right and also doing this you feel like you do this on behalf of the king defending the kingdom those of Pride you know for those who stood against the British throughout with this Zulu was and how are those Wars remembered now what is the legacy of the anglo-zulu war how is it remembered both positively and negatively lot of Pride because some of them they feel like they were the brave men who may need to stand in front of such a powerful army in the world the British army lots of Pride you know is there still any lingering anger and hatred towards the British for the war and how it changed the Zulu Nation for forever no no long gone remember I used to believe that a Reconciliation between the two happened when his matches the king's the joyo came to England to meet their Queen I think that itself now changed the whole of you know the the belief of what was going on because meeting you know the queen it made people now to look at him now in a different way rather than you know because he traveled to England yeah I like that that was now A Beautiful chapter wrote an end to this now that oh he's not this bad you know as he was you know described So today we're very very very close remember when you commemorate these events January 22nd they come in numbers shaking hands you know taking photos together and apart from anything else we need these people to come just to visit those benefits tourism the employer and many people are involved there and they buy the stuff from the Zulu people dead things long chord it's a problem this way obviously we've got the famous film Zulu Zulu Dawn how realistic was the portrayal of the Zulu people in those films well a little bit of exaggeration on important feelings but the main thing behind the films both of them they keep the story alive otherwise it would have been forgotten easily apart from this well few mistakes like the old one Mike that one film Zulu was not short on the battlefields were the battle really happened creating some kind of you know confusion people will come and they get there and they say it doesn't look like short further you know to the place called The Dragon's big mountains well there are some reasons but anyway it keeps you alive and here in London or England as a whole every 25th of December each and every year which is their Christmas is now on their television screens only found that they keep watching this at the end they feel like they want to come and see these famous battlefields so you know that on the other hand it's the best marketing tool therefore the young one of 1979 Zulu Dawn take space easy of your sun god behind the mountain called the easy pays yes also we've got those mistakes because totally different ways really happened but again keep the store alive just that kind of you know giving you an idea as to what happened yours is to come to the battlefields and learn over the events that happened on the battlefields not relying on the films the films I think I like them because they keep this story alive but you need to come for yourself and learn what happened on the battlefields [Music] so obviously at the end of the film Zulu there's that moment where Zulu warriors sing a song for their British opponents how realistic is that no I don't I don't believe this thing ever happened no you know having given themselves having afford you know throat you know the night I can't see this a reason why they could sing you know the uplifting they've been disgraced it defeated the only thing now for them is to go back home and the big home remember the king is very angry and I don't think that ever happened they were just you know they shouldn't have been there in the first place right he had ordered them not to cross the river yes there were a lot of mistakes but I can't see them singing you know and yeah having lost so many warriors on the ground no when King it's wire returned home to zululand after being in the UK and meeting the queen all he found was Division and more war unfortunately when it comes back home the kingdom had been split up into 13 reserves saw the Chiefs who had been occupying those territories were told that he will never come back so when he comes back home it made bad news to them therefore he Sparks off a civil law yeah that breaks out in July of 1883 whereby many of the survivors of the English law was the cream of the Zulu Nation will die having stood against the British for such a long time yeah I think that's what a lot of people who read about the Zulu War don't realize is that it actually led to to more disruption and a civil war afterwards it's very very bad I must say so that's where this is looking also found himself now in trouble whatever he was hiding he got wounded and it was very sad because this is now Zulus versus Zulus princess the people okay he is King so I think that you are getting down the sport even after he go to wounded on his side this looking passes away on the 8th of February 1884. and uh must be someone is mid 50s not not very old so his grave is found in a place called so there you have it guys another fascinating slice of history from the anglo-zulu war thanks to Lindy's way The Clash of Empire's exhibition is currently happening at the Royal philatelic Society and is going on until the end of July

Channel: Redcoat History

Views: 15,390

Keywords: military history, British army, war, redcoats, tactics, battlefield guide, zulu war, zulus, zulu warriors, zulu chants

Id: pmIsrberK7I

Length: 8min 42sec (522 seconds)

Published: Wed Jul 12 2023