Publisher's Synopsis
Presents a compelling African "hero"--Shaka, king of the Zulus--in an edgy, cool, interesting way. Turns the story of Shaka up on its head. Previously, Shaka has been presented by historians via the lens of white colonial officials, who interpreted him as a vicious, blood-thirsty and savage king. In light of new sources and new understandings of the bias of old sources, we are re-presenting him in a truer historic light--as a shrewd and sometimes violent diplomat who sought to protect his people first from the expanding slave trade and then second with European colonization. Shaka worked diplomatically with European colonizers, attempting to accommodate them without threatening his kingdom; his successors went to war with the British and subsequently were thoroughly colonized. Deals with forces of globalization, colonialism, and the slave trade in a fresh and exciting way. Materials on African history and geography--specifically ones that place Africa's history in the context of its links to the rest of the world--are rare and often poorly produced. This book, and the series in general, aims to change that and provide teenagers, parents, educators, and others a way "in." Second in the African Graphic Novel Series, King Shaka: Zulu Legend concludes the story of Shaka, which was started in Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince. We will continue the series with other African heroes/heroines. Discussion guide/teaching guide available.Book will be leveled and Lexiled and aligned with Common Core.
