Chapter VII, Mfecane Summary

Nxumalo, like his distant ancestor lives by the belief his chief is law, even when his father, Ndela is put to death by the diviner for possessing evil spirits. Knowing the stigma would follow him, he flees and joins a tribe where he finds a Zulu prince who has been cast out of his own tribe. Shaka, son of the chief of the Zulu tribe, is confident he'll return one day as ruler. When his father dies, he does so with a group of warriors to take his rightful place, and creates an army enabling him to absorb many of the smaller tribes in the area. The Zulu tribe grows powerful in the wake of Shaka's reorganization. Each member of the tribe has his place and purpose. One tribal leader, Mzilikazi believes he can stand up to Shaka, but...