impi
Noun
Meaning
impi (plural impis)
A group of Zulu (or other Bantu) warriors; a detachment of armed men.
Anagrams
Examples
Although size distinctions were taken account of, any grouping of men on a mission could collectively be called an impi, whether a raiding party of 100 or horde of 10,000.
Any grouping of men on a mission could collectively be called an impi, whether a raiding party of 100 or a horde of 10,000.
Bloukrans (Weenen) Massacre main On 17 February 1838 Dingane sent an impi against the Voortrekkers which resulted in the Blaauwkrans Massacre where over 500 Voortrekkers were killed by Zulu warriors.
In terms of numbers, the operations of the impi would change- from the Western equivalent of small company and battalion size forces, to manoeuvres in multi-divisional strength of between 10,000 and 40,000 men.
"John Dunn was at the head of his impi.
Mzilikazi would eventually fall out with Shaka, and in fleeing, would extend the concept of the impi even further across the landscape of southern and eastern Africa.