Episode #3
EP 2 Queen Nandi - When Motherhood Made an Empire | Women And Resistance
This episode of Women in Resistance features Adesoji Iginla in conversation with Queen Nandi, with Aya Fubara Eneli joining the introduction and framing. The discussion traces Nandi’s life from marginalisation and exile to her role as Queen Mother, centring the political, cultural, and personal costs of raising Shaka and resisting shame. We discuss how women are written out of history, how colonial and patriarchal narratives distort memory, and why revenge can become its own trap. Queen Nandi also reflects on motherhood, lineage, exile, and the long reach of cruelty and resilience across generations. Key topics *Queen Nandi explains how her story was “forgotten by most,” preserved by oral tradition, and often written by men and colonial observers. *She situates her origins in a minor clan near the Tugela and Mlatuse rivers, before the region was named Natal or South Africa. *Nandi describes how women’s labour in cattle-keeping societies built wealth that men inherited, while women were often reduced to footnotes. *She recounts the courtship tradition of ukulobanga and the social danger of pregnancy outside marriage in Zulu custom. *Nandi tells the contested story of her pregnancy with Senzangakhona, including the accusation that she had a parasite rather than a child. *She explains how the insult “shaka” became attached to her son’s name, and how that rejection shaped his early life. *Nandi describes exile, famine, and the repeated rejection she and Shaka faced from both husband and clan. *She frames giving birth to Shaka as her first act of resistance, especially in the face of attempts to discredit her. *The episode explores how Shaka’s childhood humiliation, violence, and instability may have influenced the ruler he became. *Nandi reflects on her later role as Queen Mother, her authority at court, and her influence over political relationships and royal alliances. *She discusses the consequences of her death, including Shaka’s grief, the nationwide mourning, and the fragility of power after her passing. *The conversation closes with a warning against revenge, except in the context of resisting colonisers, and a call to nurture children who have been rejected or shamed. Chapters (00:00) Opening the series on women in resistance (00:51) Introducing Queen Nandi and her significance in Zulu history (02:08) “My story has been forgotten” - oral history versus colonial writing (04:43) Born not as a queen, but as a daughter of a minor chief (07:12) A woman without a throne, an army, or even a home (09:12) Early life, cattle-keeping, and women’s labour in Zulu society (11:44) Ukulobanga and the customs around courtship and intimacy (13:12) Meeting Senzangakhona and the politics of male heirs (14:49) Competing stories about the pregnancy and public denial (18:37) Why an unmarried pregnancy was a catastrophe (19:15) The accusation of a “parasite” and protecting the royal house (22:26) Negotiating 55 cattle for marriage (24:17) Shaka is born and the meaning of his name (25:15) Being sent home to recover and nurse the child (27:19) Rival wives, succession anxiety, and exile (30:46) Shaka learns to fight and the healer’s prophecy (32:27) Leaving the Ilangeni and finding refuge with the Kwabe (33:49) “My first act of resistance” - giving birth to Shaka (35:08) How humiliation shaped Shaka’s discipline and violence (38:11) Grief, exile, and surviving the famine years (42:43) Shaka rises under Dingiswayo and military transformation begins (44:42) Succession after Senzangakhona’s death (46:10) Short-stabbing spear, regiments, and the building of a regional power (50:18) Queen Mother authority, rituals, and her own court (52:44) Politics at court and rival centres of influence (54:05) Shaka’s grief after her death and the nation-wide mourning (56:25) Why she protected Shaka despite everything (58:53) Death, colonial storytellers, and distorted histories (63:41) How Shaka’s military system shaped later Zulu resistance (65:24) “No name given by others ever contains a woman” (68:49) Revenge versus justice, and why revenge is a dead spiral (70:37) What present-day leaders can learn from the story of Shaka (74:38) A closing message for women, rejected children, and mothers (77:31) Final call to nurture the child the world rejects Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Women and Resistance , a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla... You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation. That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance . Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!
