There can be few authors more expert in their field than John Laband. Some impression of his influence may be gained from the fact that the bibliography for this book lists no less than 27 individual pieces of writing that Laband has contributed to the study of warfare in Southern Africa. This is no mere indulgence on the part of the author, but a reflection of the immense body of work he has produced during his career.
His latest volume studies the conflicts that marked the closing of the South African frontiers, starting with the Boer-Pedi War of 1876–7 and ending with the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. This is a work that synthesises a great deal of previous research into an accessible format rather than a book of groundbreaking new scholarship, but this should not be taken as a criticism. The book admirably condenses this complex period into a broad chronological narrative. Such an approach runs the risk of oversimplification, but Laband's descriptions are nuanced and insightful. His understanding of the cultural sensitivities of African warriors underpins much of the book and is complemented by a keen eye for the importance of terrain.
This is primarily a book of military history, but Laband understands that armies are products of their culture and that wars are often clashes of societies. A running theme of the work is the tension between African martial culture that emphasised bravery in close combat and the growing recognition of the power and value of European firearms. Although commonly associated with Anglo-African and Boer-African warfare, this contrast was also found in inter-African warfare. For example, as Laband recounts, in 1869 the Bopedi bloodily repulsed a major amaSwazi raid by luring the attackers into broken terrain and engaging them with gunfire from concealed positions. The more familiar story of African warriors charging into the face of Boer or British volley fire is also a common feature of the book. The tragic story of the amaXhosa attack against the British position at Ibeka in 1877, where a female war doctor called Nita assured the warriors that she would catch the bullets of the defenders in her mouth, is a particularly striking example. Predictably, Nita was shot down at the head of the attackers and her people suffered dreadful casualties.
The great strength of the book lies in Laband's vivid prose. His enthusiasm for the subject leaps from the page and carries the reader along at a brisk pace. The result is a footnoted, academically rigorous history that is written in such a way as to be accessible to a wide audience. It would be especially suitable for undergraduate readers seeking an introduction to this period of often confusing conflict, or for professors looking to broaden their knowledge of African warfare. For those desiring greater depth, the thorough bibliography points the way to many excellent sources. Further, the work is supported by some fine maps and a detailed, professional index.
If a complaint can be made about the book it is that the title, Zulu Warriors, is misleading. This is a book studying a broad range of conflicts involving numerous African kingdoms. One suspects that the publisher chose the name to appeal to a popular audience, but readers may be disappointed to find out that the book is not quite as they expect. Similarly, scholars seeking a wider discussion of African warfare may pass over this book believing that it only deals with the amaZulu.
Overall Laband's work offers an excellent introduction for those new to the topic and a fine point of reference for readers seeking a concise account of a complex period of South African history. Military historians will appreciate the nuanced understanding of combat, while those concerned with cultural studies will find useful material in the descriptions of African society. This is a book that deserves a wide audience amongst scholars of African history and is further evidence, were any needed, that a book is not less important just because it is popular, and it is not more scholarly just because it is dull.
