Ian Hirschsohn was born, and grew up, in South Africa. As an intern engineer on the gold mines, Ian worked two miles underground in the heat of a sauna. He developed a deep respect for the sweat-covered Zulus who manned the bone-jarring drills in the crawl space of a house. He resolved to tell the remarkable story of Shaka.

As a student, Ian hitch-hiked around southern Africa. At night he walked into the nearest police station and asked for a cell. Later, Ian drove a beat-up jeep across the Kalahari Desert, shooting wild animals – with a camera.

Now retired in San Diego, California, Ian can fulfill his promise.