Isandlwana Zulu Memorial, KwaZulu-Natal
The Battle of Isandlwana occurred early in 1879 and was the first major encounter of the Anglo-Zulu War, in which the British Army was soundly defeated. For many years there were only grave cairns and memorials to the dead British soldiery. In 1999, the KwaZulu Monuments Council commissioned a memorial to commemorate the Zulu army involved the battle, unveiled on its 120th anniversary. The “isiqu” or necklace of valour was used in the design: deserving Zulu warriors were permitted to wear such a necklace, which they made themselves. The bronze monument is on a plinth and evokes bravery and also skill and reflectiveness. The earlier very conventional monuments to the British soldiers remain, and are countered by this.
