Cetshwayo’s grave in Nkandla Forest is considered a sacred site for the isiZulu-speaking
people, who hold him in high esteem for defeating the British army at Isandlwana in 1879.
With the annexation of the Boer Transvaal Republic in 1877, British strategy was to federate
white-ruled provinces and destroy the autonomy of self-sustaining black kingdoms. The
Zulu nation was an identifiable threat, and Theophilus Shepstone, Governor of Natal, and
Bartle Frere, Governor of the Cape, waged a propaganda war against the Zulu Kingdom,
which set up the inevitable war against it. During his reign, Cetshwayo militarised his
people in preparation for war. Given an ultimatum to de-militarise his troops within 30
days, Cetshwayo refused. The British-Zulu wars followed. While a high-water mark in the
resistance to the British empire, the battle at Isandlwana was followed by defeat at Ulundi.
After Cetshwayo’s capture, the British parcelled off the now-defeated Zulu territory between
themselves and Cetshwayo’s enemies. Nkandla forest was a significant place in Cetshwayo’s
life where he sought sanctuary and retreat in various battles. Local communities believe that
the forest is alive with spirits and refer to it as Amahlathi Amnyama (Dark Forest).