Shaka kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka (“power”) Zulu, was the son of the Zulu King  kaJama. He spent his childhood in his mother's settlements, where he was initiated into an ibutho lempi (fighting unit), serving as a warrior. He became king of the Zulu Kingdom in 1816. Shaka was an ambitious and influential monarch who defined, united, and expanded the Zulu Kingdom by transforming his clan's military from a largely ceremonial force into a powerful army. He is the founder of the Zulu empire in South Africa. In 1828, he was assassinated by his two half-brothers Dingane and Mhlangana. The Shaka Memorial is a provincial heritage site in Stanger, in the KwaZulu-Natal province and it marks the resting place of King Shaka. Until today, he remains a symbol of national pride, power, and independence.