As a new city, Bulawayo, the capital of the Ndebele people, had not even been established as long ago as many cities founded by the Kingdom of East Africa.
Lobengula and his father, Mzilikazi, had mobilized large numbers of slaves to build their capital. Though the city was not large, it bore everywhere the marks of Arab and European architectural styles intertwined.
On one hand, Arabs had exerted a profound influence along Africa's eastern coast. Even the Zulu people at the southern tip could not escape it, and the Ndebele people, as a branch of the Zulu people, were no exception.
On the other hand, the Ndebele people had learned from their old rivals, the Boers. However, when the Boers conquered the Republic of the Transvaal, they had neither the time nor manpower to construct luxurious buildings. They had mostly built simple fortresses in Dutch, German, or French styles.
The Ndebele people had thoroughly absorbed the Boers' experience, constructing firing ports, watchtowers, and other facilities throughout their capital. The entire city had practically become a small military fortress, sharing the same ingenious charm as Hohenzollern Castle, which also suited the Ndebele people's militaristic nature.
At that moment, Lobengula was inspecting his army outside the castle. More than six thousand Ndebele warriors armed with muskets made for an absolutely awe-inspiring sight.
They wore traditional Zulu garments like those of primitive tribes, yet carried muskets as tall as a man. Savagery and "civilization" set each other off.
Besides their own men equipped with "advanced" weapons, more than ten thousand Shona people auxiliary troops also participated in this parade. Although there were far more auxiliary troops than this, they were scattered throughout the Matabele Kingdom, and Bulawayo alone could not support so many people.
Looking at the high-spirited Ndebele warriors brimming with fighting