What is "inkatha"

iNkatha may refer to:

• the iNkatha grass coil
• Inkatha Freedom Party

The iNkatha (plural: iziNkatha) was the magic and sacred 'grass coil', a symbol of unity of the Zulu nation. The sacred item was normally kept under guard, and Zulu kings sometimes seated themselves on it when going to war. The preparation of an iNkatha can be traced back to the time of king Senzangakhona, the father of Shaka. The last inkatha yezwe (grass coil of the nation) was destroyed in 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War.