Jeqe, the Bodyservant of King Shaka

Jeqe, the Bodyservant of King Shaka is a historical novel by John Langalibalele Dube, first published in 1930. It holds the distinction of being the first novel written in the Zulu language by a Zulu author. The novel is set during the era of King Shaka, a pivotal figure in Southern African history who founded the Zulu Empire in the early 19th century. Shaka is renowned for his military innovations and his role in consolidating Zulu power, though his reign was also marked by significant conflict and upheaval, including the Mfecane. Dube, a prominent South African minister, educator, and journalist, wrote this novel as part of his literary contributions, which also include works on Zulu history and biography.12