The grand defeat of British forces in the Zulu War of 1879 made both “Zulu” and their monarch Cetewayo [now Cetshwayo] household names in Britain. When he came to England with a small retinue in 1882 there was considerable interest – there were meetings with the great and the good including Queen Victoria. Accommodated at 18 Melbury Road in Kensington (the house now has a blue plaque), the Africans were sometimes a puzzle for British authorities. Just two police officers were posted outside the house “to prevent any inconvenient demonstrations” (Hull Daily News 5 August 1882, page 8).

Interested parties arranged to visit the Africans, including a deputation from the National Temperance League which wanted alcohol banned. The Newcastle Chronicle 26 August 1881, page 8 noted their “object was to urge upon the Zulu monarch the desirability of discouraging the use of intoxication in Zululand”. Speaking through his interpreter Cetshwayo said “as a nation his people were abstemious, and not accustomed to partake of spirituous liquors”. Their beer was like gruel, an important food. Spirits were not allowed in Zululand.

The monarch (some newspapers had ex-monarch) said “I think, however, that the right place to shut the door is the side from which spirits are to come. It is no good shutting the door on my side, for I have no distilleries”.

One suspects that the delegation was humbled.

For other sites detailing aspects of Zulus in Britain see pages 087, 115 and 280.