King, warrior and statesman: the story of Cetshwayo KaMpande

We Go Way Back

In this episode, We Go Way Back brings to life the amazing story of Cetshwayo KaMpande. To do so, Tom speaks with Dr. T.J. Tallie, an assistant professor of African History at the University of San Diego in California. Cetshwayo became King of the independent African state of Zululand in 1873 and the episode follows his gripping story covering an incredible victory over colonial British forces, painful losses, imprisonment, and a high-profile trip to London in 1882. Ultimately, this is a profile of a man who traversed class dynamics, racial attitudes and gender norms in a time of strict social hierarchies. Dr. Tallie's research is focused on the history of Southern Africa and he is the author of 'Queering Colonial Natal: Indigeneity and the Violence of Belonging in Southern Africa'. He's an expert on this topic, an important voice to listen to, and an incredibly fun interviewee.