Sathima Bea Benjamin was born in 1936 in Cape Town, South Africa. As a young woman, she had a gift for music and began singing everywhere—from church to the cinema to nightclubs. The radio was her teacher. While she listened, she learned from American jazz greats like Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald.

In her 20s, she met pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, and they made a jazz record together. It would have been the first jazz record in South Africa if it had been released, but apartheid stifled Black musicians. They faced discrimination and found it difficult to earn money. In 1960, Benjamin and Ibrahim fled to Europe. There, they recorded music with the jazz legend Duke Ellington. Benjamin eventually settled in New York, married Ibrahim, and made a name for herself as a singer. During this time, she fought apartheid by writing music and raising money. Sathima was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga to honor her contributions to jazz and struggle against apartheid. She died in 2013 at age 76.

In the late 1700s, a boy known as Shaka was born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He was the son of the Zulu ruler, Senzangakona, but was sent to live with his mother's people. As he grew up, the boy became a skilled warrior determined to prove himself. After the death of his father, Shaka fought to become king. He won, then turned his attention to his new army. Under his leadership, the Zulu became fierce warriors in battle.

Soon, Shaka started conquering other African peoples, forming an empire known as the Zulu kingdom. As his power grew, Shaka's rule became more brutal. Eventually, his people turned on him, leading to his assassination in 1828. Many stories and legends about this king spread during his life and after his death. Historians still need help understanding the true story of Shaka. But today, the Zulu people celebrate Shaka as a powerful leader who founded the Zulu kingdom.