Isivivane SikaShaka Heritage Site

About Isivivane SikaShaka Heritage Site

The Isivivane SikaShaka Heritage Site is a historical monument in Umzumbe, KwaZulu-Natal, marking the location of the last military expedition led by King Shaka Zulu in May 1828. The site is centered around a traditional isivivane—a large heap of stones—created when Shaka and his estimated 50,000 warriors passed through the Qoloqolo hills on their way to attack King Faku in Pondoland. The Ritual: According to Zulu tradition, an isivivane is a traveller’s cairn. Each soldier would pick up a stone, spit on it, and add it to the pile to ask for the blessing of the spirits and ensure a safe journey. The Expedition: This was Shaka’s final campaign before his assassination later that year in September 1828.