Zulu's King Goodwill Zwelithini has urged African academics to use the information gathered from research to rewrite history books.

The king was speaking at an event organised to commemorate the Battle of Isandlwana between the British and the Zulu in 1879. Zulu historians and academics had gathered to discuss the history of Zulu kings and their role.

The king claimed that the history being taught at schools was distorted and needed to highlight Zulu contributions. African National Congress' deputy president Jacob Zuma, also present at the event, said the liberation struggle "was just a continuation of the role played by our kings before us'. Zuma said colonialism had stripped South Africans of their pride and dignity, adding that the education acquired in schools should be complemented with indigenous knowledge.