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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

May 3

1. THE PRE-COLONIAL INXWALA CEREMONY OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼

Inxwala was a national ceremony for spiritual renewal and thanksgiving for the first fruits in the Ndebele kingdom. The main Inxwala came a lunar month after the conduct of the minor inxwala.

2. Once the date for the main inxwala was set, a clarion call was
was made at all kraals in the regions of the kingdom for people to attend the big ceremony. ‘Umthwakazi kagcobe!’, ‘Let the nation dress up for Inxwala!’ the town criers would announce with great excitement.

3. All roads would then lead to the capital. The people brought with them food, beer and oxen for slaughter. There were special oxen known as amamvubu, the hippo oxen. These oxen were regarded as sacred animals. It was believed that the king’s ancestral spirits lived in them.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

May 1

1. TIME - ISIKHATHI IN NDEBELE 🇿🇼

Ancient Ndebele people used celestial knowledge to chart seasons, regulate agricultural cycles and ritual calendars. Celestial bodies determined healing rituals, divination, social and political decisions.

2. The sun, ilanga, the stars, inkanyezi and the moon, inyanga, are the most significant celestial beings that affected several aspects of the Ndebele community. One day is known as ilanga or usuku and a month is known as inyanga.

3. One moon cycle makes up a month and thirteen moon cycles make up a year, umnyaka. Daily time is measured in relation to the movement of the sun and the stars. Different measures of time are divided as follows :

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

Feb 21

1. KING SOBHUZA'S KINGDOM🇸🇿

King Sobhuza I was born around 1788. He is considered as the founder of modern Eswatini. His father was King Ndvungunye Zikodze ruler of the Ngwane kingdom. Sobhuza I was also known as Somhlolo.

2. The name Somhlolo ('man of mysteries') is in reference to the mysteries, uncommon wisdom and prophetic gifts that were associated with his life. It is said that on the day that he was born his father was struck by lightning.

3. His reign in the early 1800s marked an important phase in the history of Eswatini. As Sobhuza began his reign, the Ngwane kingdom territory was centered along the Phongolo River to the south of modern ESwatini, and it's northern boundaries covered today's southern ESwatini.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

Feb 10

1. SOSHANGANA'S GASA KINGDOM 🇲🇿🇿🇼🇿🇦

King Soshangana was born in present day KwaNongoma in KwaZulu to Zikode kaGasa, a chief of the Ndwandwe empire under King Zwide kaLanga. The Gasa occupied the Mkhuze region around the eTshaneni mountain.

2. After the collapse of the Ndwandwe empire, Soshangana, along with his four brothers followed the example of other Ndwandwe parties by fleeing King Shaka. They took a route along the eastern foothills of Lubombo through Mngomezulu to the upper Tembe River.

3. In the Tembe area, King Soshangana lived for about five years, fortifying his group by constant raids. In about 1825, he crossed the Tembe River and marched north–west. Between 1825 and 1827 he lived on a tributary of the Nkomati River north of present-day Maputo.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

Feb 4

1. THE KALANGA CIVILISATION 🇿🇼🇧🇼🇿🇦

Present day Kalanga people of Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa are believed to be descendants of part of the Bantu people who migrated down south from the Great Lakes region around AD900.

2. The early Kalanga ancestors are believed to be the Zhizo farmers whose descendants subsequently established the Leopard's kopje culture between AD 420 and 1050 characterised by special stone architecture and decorative pottery.

3. The Kalanga, Venda and Bolubedu are believed to have established the kingdom of Mapungubwe around 1075-1220 in the area around the confluence of the Limpopo Rivers. The kingdom flourished and attracted many Bantu migrants including the ancestors of modern day Shona groups.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

Jan 7

1. MODERN NDEBELE MARRIAGE PRACTICES 🇿🇼

In the previous threads on Ndebele marriage customs we dealt broadly with the ancient practices. The ancient elaborate practices have however, been modernised, though the core foundations of marriage practices have been preserved.

2. Gift exchange : Once the relationship is ripe, the couple intending to get married exchanges gifts to demonstrate their love and commitment. The gift can be a piece of jewelry, handkerchief, a tie etc.

3. Expression of intent to marry : The two then approach their respective elders to advise them that they intend to get married and are ready for the process to start. The elder could be an uncle or aunt. This expression is made in the absence of the other partner.

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