In 1823, warriors from the Zulu Empire headed by Shaka, a brilliant but ruthless military strategist, begin to encroach on the outskirts of the colonial South African colony of Capetown, South Africa. In desperation, Capetown's Governor requests assistance from King George IV of Great Britain to bolster their tenuous position, but the British have no more resources to send. Instead, Lt. Francis Farewell, Dr. Henry Fynn and a volunteer cadre of mercenaries, explorers, and professionals are recruited and sent to Zululand to try to make contact with Shaka and assess the real threat of his storied army.

After being shipwrecked off the coast of Zululand the British are escorted to Shaka's Capitol, Kwa-Bulawayo where they meet Shaka (Henry Cele) and his mother Nandi (Dudu Mkhize). Shaka then demonstrates his power over his people and proves to Farewell he is not a man to be under estimated.

Dr Fynn chronicles Shaka's life and rise to power starting with the meeting and affair between Nandi and Prince Senzangakona of the Zulu's. In spite of Senzangakona's marriage to another and Nandi's fathers attempts to marry her off they continue to meet and Nandi becomes pregnant. She gives birth to a boy who she names Shaka - the beetle.

Nandi's father demands that the Zulu's recognize Nandi and the baby, Shaka. Senzangakona, now king of the Zulus takes her as his wife. However, he continually abuses Nandi until one day Shaka can take any more and threatens to kill his father. Nandi and Shaka flee and return to her people, but find themselves the object of scorn. Due to this they flee once again.

Shaka has grown into a fine young man. Senzangakona invites him to return to Zululand and become the heir apparent. Shaka returns, but disrupts a ceremony and is forced to flee for his life. He is taken in by another tribe and trains as a soldier. However he clashes with the generals over how to fight.

Shaka goes deep into the Nkandla forest and has a blacksmith forge a stabbing spear, given magical powers and named "Ixwa". Shaka returns to his regiment and convinces the king that his new method of warfare is woth trying. His new regiment are used against the Zulu's and win the day. Soon after Senzangakona dies and Shaka takes the throne for himself.

Farewell and his men become Shaka's guest's. Shaka is severely wounded during an assassination attempt and Fynn saves his life. In gratitude Shaka gives land and permission to hunt for ivory to Farewell. However in Cape town both Shaka and Farewell are both proclaimed dead.

Farewell and his men establish Port Natal on the coast. However, the men are restless and wish to return home. Shaka then forces them to join him in a war against another tribe. He uses them and there cannon to force the enemy into making the first move. This results in an overwhelming victory for the Zulu's.

After burying the dead, Farewell asks for help in building a boat to return to Cape Town. Shaka agrees but keeps most of the party (including Fynn) as hostages. On returning to Cape Town Farewell and the Zulu delegation are imprisoned by Lord Somerset. Shaka learns that his wife has given birth to a son. He has the child killed so he can never threaten Shaka's reign. Nandi however falls ill and Shaka begs Fynn to save his mother.

As a long-ago foretold prophecy comes to pass with the scuttling of a proposal to negotiate a peaceful alliance between the Zulus and Great Britain and the death of the Zulu Queen Mother Nandi, Shaka, knowing his own fate was sealed, goes into a self-destructive rampage. Farewell returns to Zululand and meets with Shaka, who abandons his reign of terror. Shaka's empire falls apart and his kingdom enters its final demise.

Interviews with Director William C. Faure and Actors Dudu Mkhize and Henry Cele.