[2] In Zulu tradition, the poets (izimbongi) are definers of social values and celebrators of the nation and its successes.

They finally settle in the kingdom where Shaka grows, quickly showing himself as having a sharp mind and military prowess.

When Senzangakhona dies, Shaka, with pardon of the King whose kingdom he has lived in, leads a military force into Zululand.

Soldiers and the populace flock to this great warrior and Shaka ascends to the throne, usurping his more legitimate brothers.

With this new organization and the tactics he perfected with the short spear, Shaka begins expanding into neighbouring regions, suppressing kings and bandit armies and assimilating these peoples into the Zulu nation.

Kunene's approach to the Shaka epic appears to represent the position of the Zulu aristocracy during his rule.

[6] Malaba calls this book a "glorious technicolor," describing how beautiful Kunene makes the tale of Shaka[6] However, John Haynes suggests that many of these changes to historiographic approach are a result of portraying the "tension between Shaka's creativity and his destructiveness" from an aristocratic point of view and embodying Zulu values.

[5] The first edition of Emperor Shaka was published by William Heinemann Ltd in 1979 as part of the African Writers Series.

After its publication, the book was distributed to ANC guerrillas as a source of inspiration in their struggle against the apartheid government.