The Natal Native Contingent in the Anglo-Zulu War

The author has stated that so little has been said or written about the African soldier in the Anglo-Zulu war that he is virtually its unknown soldier. About half of the British army which invaded Zululand in 1879 consisted of African soldiers, yet the ample literature on the war contains very little about them. And the reason for this is partly political, partly cultural.

In the heyday of empire the Europeans had no time to glorify the feats of indigenes, unless they were the reflective ones of a foe. In the wake of empire the African had no desire to glorify them, unless they were feats of resistance. In popular historical perspective the Natal Native Contingent, as the Africans in the imperial service were collectively called, represented collaboration in colonial rule, egregiously incorrect politically and best forgot. It is fairly safe to say the new history textbooks for South Africa are hardly likely to mention the contingent at all.

Pale green wraps to trade paperback format-vii plus 394 pages detailed text with numerous maps, some folding. Very clean copy.