<human>:  What is the history of the Zulu people?
<bot>: The Zulu people are a Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa. They are the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated 10-12 million Zulu-speaking people. The Zulu originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu migrations. The Zulu formed a powerful state in 1818 under the leader Shaka. His militaristic reforms transformed the scattered villages into a centralized kingdom with its capital at Bulawayo. After Shaka's death in 1828, the Zulu kingdom continued to expand, incorporating smaller ethnic groups along the way. The kingdom later fell apart in the late 19th century after its defeats at the hands of the British and Boers. The Zulu people remain a major political and cultural force in South Africa, and their language, isiZulu, is recognized as one of South Africa's 11 official languages.