1. ZWANGENDABA'S LONG JOURNEY
A short thread...
Mzilikazi, Soshangane & Zwangendaba are the most prominent leaders to emerge out of the Mfecane wars during the reign of King Shaka (Sgidi kaSenzangakhona). Of the three I find Zwangendaba's journey as the most fascinating.
A short thread...
Mzilikazi, Soshangane & Zwangendaba are the most prominent leaders to emerge out of the Mfecane wars during the reign of King Shaka (Sgidi kaSenzangakhona). Of the three I find Zwangendaba's journey as the most fascinating.
2. Zwangendaba was the founding king of the modern day Ngoni people who are found in Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi & Tanzania. (Also called Angoni, Abangoni, Mangoni & Wangoni). He was the younger brother of Somkhanda kaZiguda Jele who remained with the Gumbi clan in KwaZulu.
3.After being attacked by the Zulu armies in 1819 whilst in the eastern parts of South Africa, near Swaziland, Zwangendaba who was a chief then, led his Jele people on a long pilgrimage of 1600km to Tanzania over a period of about 20 years (1820-1840).
4. They went through Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and finally settled in Tanzania. In Zimbabwe his niece Nyamazana remained in charge after defeating the last Rozvi /Lozwi king.
5. After his death in 1845 at his royal town Maphupho, the Ngoni split into two. Then each of these groups split up. In the end there were 5 separate groups of the Ngonis. Some are in Tanzania, Malawi Mozambique & Zambia.
6. His niece Nyamazana who remained in modern Zimbabwe forged a political alliance & married Mzilikazi who established his Ndebele kingdom in the south-western parts of modern day Zimbabwe.
7. The Ngoni language is a product of an evolved original one spoken by the Gumbi clan. Some Ngoni words :
What is your name – Lihina laku yani?
My name is – Lihina langu ni
Yes – Ena
Goodbye – Nihamba
School – Shuli
Father – Dadi
Mother – Mawu
Water – Manji etc
What is your name – Lihina laku yani?
My name is – Lihina langu ni
Yes – Ena
Goodbye – Nihamba
School – Shuli
Father – Dadi
Mother – Mawu
Water – Manji etc
8. The Ngoni leader in Zambia Mpezeni is called : Nkosi yamakhosi & presides over the annual iN'cwala (inxwala) ceremony. Some of the Ngoni surnames include common Nguni surnames like Masuku, Maseko, Jele, Masina, Zulu etc.
9. Zwangendaba is revered in Tanzania, Malawi & Zambia as the father of the Ngoni people.
10. Nkosi Zwangendaba Hotel in Tanzania.
11. SOURCES
-The Ngoni of Malawi (A History Revisited) : Sunduzwayo Madise (University of Malawi)
-The origind, migration & settlement of the Northern Ngoni : T. J Thompson
-The Zwangendaba succession:
C. J. W. Fleming
-The Ngoni of Malawi (A History Revisited) : Sunduzwayo Madise (University of Malawi)
-The origind, migration & settlement of the Northern Ngoni : T. J Thompson
-The Zwangendaba succession:
C. J. W. Fleming
