At the dawn of the 21st century, Southern Africa is changing in leaps and bounds. Readers can gain a deeper understanding of current seismic political, social, and cultural changes with this look at the lives of such pivotal figures as Angolan queen Nzinga Mbande (17th century), a fiercely independent ruler; Shaka, the Zulu king who consolidated numerous groups in the 1820s; and Moshoshoe, king of the Sotho who rallied those who had lost their land and their hopes. The book contains numerous pictures and historical illustrations.