Last weekend I attended a meeting of the descendants of those who had fought at the Battle of Rorke's Drift 130 years ago.
Watching this amicable mingling of Zulu and British descendants, made me recall a poignant moment some years ago, also at an occasion held to honour the men who fought and fell in the Anglo-Zulu campaign.
I had travelled to Isandlwana to watch a re-enactment of that famous battle, which happened the day before the Battle of Rorke's Drift.
The main event, attended by royalty, government officials, and the press, had taken place on the Friday, with a dramatic and successful recreation of the Battle of Isandlwana.
Re-enactment
On the Sunday the battle was to have been re-enacted again, this time for the public, and it was this that had brought me to the area.
The Dundee Diehards, resplendent in their red jackets, were there to represent the British fighting force. We waited, and we waited ... but the Zulu impi never pitched.
As people grew restive, the Diehards decided they would stage a replica of the battle and pretend to be fighting their enemy. With the opposition being non-existent, this was a rather a hollow re-enactment.
Then, suddenly, there he was, an old man resplendent in full regalia, waving his spear and beating on his shield. He started calling out to the Diehards, who stopped firing at their imaginary enemy.
Glory and honour
Stalking up and down in front of the "British soldiers", he continued to cry out in Zulu. Somebody started translating. It went something like this: "Today the impis have shamed us. But I am here to fight the battle for them, to bring glory and honour to my ancestors. I am the mighty Zulu army. Let us fight," he called challengingly.
For the next 10 minutes, that lone man pretended to be shot, lie down and die, leap up, race to another spot in the line, and stab a British soldier. He pranced, he killed dozens, and died dozens of times. In the end he fell exhausted to the ground.
The Diehards were in awe. People had lumps in their throat, some dried a tear.
I will never forget that amazing man who, single-handedly saved the day. I salute you, sir.