The name ‘(ama)Ndebele’ is a generic name used to designate three Nguni speaking groups found in South Africa (Southern and Northern (ama)Ndebele) and the Ndebele of Zimbabwe.(Image : South African Ndebeles).
2. I previously did a detailed thread on the Ndebele of Zimbabwe and how the Zimbabwean Ndebele nation was founded by King Mzilikazi Khumalo. There is always confusion on Ndebele identity in Southern Africa. ( Image : Zimbabwean Ndebele traditional leaders).
3. It is believed that amaNdebele of South Africa originate from the ancestral chief, Musi (or Msi). Scholars argue that they migrated from KwaZulu and first became a nation in 1552 under the chieftainship of Mafana who took the northwards route to establish the nation.
In our previous thread on the collapse of the Ndebele state & the creation of Southern Rhodesia we discussed the defining war between the Ndebele army & Rhodes' Pioneer Column.
2. We discussed how the Maxim gun became the deciding factor on who would win the war. We also covered how some blacks from the then Mashonaland Protectorate were recruited by Leander Starr Jameson into the Pioneer Column.
3. Today we look at how Cecil John Rhodes sought for help from Kgosi Khama III of the Bechuanaland Protectorate to help him defeat King Lobhengula in the epic battle for Matabeleland.
1. HOW PRINCESS ZINKABI ATTEMPTED A COUP ON LOBHENGULA....
Umnxeba... 🧵
Princess Zinkabi was King Mzilikazi's daughter. She was married to Mbiko the son of Madlenya Masuku. Mbiko was a powerful warrior who was respected in the northern Ndebele kingdom.
2. Mbiko Masuku was a powerful military leader of the feared Zwangendaba regiment . As a reward for his bravery King Mzilikazi had given him his daughter Zinkabi as a wife & thus Mbiko was elevated to royalty.
3. According to the late author Mayford Sibanda, Princess Zinkabi made it clear to her husband ukuthi ubukhosi buyaphangwa njalo buyahluthunwa ngolamandla. Akekho ozalwa eyinkosi! As such her husband had to seize power to become the next Northern Ndebele king.
This thread gives another angle on the the split between Kings Mzilikazi & Shaka. In the previous thread we addressed the pro-Shaka version & today we give the pro-Mzilikazi perspective.
2. Mzilikazi was a Khumalo and the
Khumalo originated from Khumalo kaMntungwa who settled around the Mkhuze river in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. Mzilikazi was born of Matshobane kaMangethe who is also called "Matshobane kaZikode".
3.The Khumalos were caught in the power struggle between the then Zulu chief, Shaka (Sgidi kaSenzangakhona) & the Ndwandwe chief, Zwide who was Mzilikazi's maternal grandfather. Zwide got Mzilikazi's father killed. As a result Mzilikazi became the chief of amaKhumalo.