The Malaba people came to south western Zimbabwe in the first quarter of the nineteenth
century. They are of Venda origins & are associated with the Thobela Mbedzi Mwali shrine at Njelele.
2. The Malaba chieftaincy is established in the Matobo district of Matabeleland South. The jurisdiction of Chief Malaba, resides the Nyubi, Sotho, Kalanga, Ndebele and the people of Venda origin. It is believed that the Malaba, Mabuza, Nkatha and Tshibale are the same people.
3. The Malaba were known because of their spiritusl gifts and knowledge of charms and magic. They later occupied senior positions in the Ndebele state as spiritual consultants and healers for kings Mzilikazi and Lobhengula.
4. It is believed that the Malaba people are vhaVenda people who were assimilated by the baKalanga people and thus adopted the Ncube totem. The Malaba people generally speak Kalanga & practice Kalanga customs and like the Kalanga, were subsequently assimilated by the Ndebele.
5. The vhaVenda who were assimilated into the Kalanga state adopted the Ncube clans and are divided into three clans : Ncube-Lubimbi, Ncube-Hobodo & Ncube-Malaba.
6. The Ncube-Lubimbi clan is responsible for the Mwali cult which has rain- making shrines located at Njelele, Dula and Wililani in the Matopo Hills of Zimbabwe.
7. The Malaba clan is the one that holds the title of rulers. The Hobodo clan which is said to be responsible for traditional medicine, herbs and charms.
The Khupe people of Zimbabwe are of Pedi origin. They are of the hare totem. However, due to migration they eventually settled among the Kalanga people of Botswana and south western Zimbabwe.
2. The Khupe people of Zimbabwe come from three clans : Tshilalu/Tjilalu, Bangwadi and Malobela.
3. They originally came from south of the Limpopo, traversed through Botswana in the Tswapong areas and eventually stayed in what is modern day Botswana and south western Zimbabwe.
1. THE NGUNI/SOTHO PEOPLE WHO OCCUPIED PARTS OF MODERN DAY ZIMBABWE BEFORE MZILIKAZI 🇿🇼
There is a general misconception that King Mzilikazi & his Ndebele people were the first Nguni group to traverse and settle in what is now modern day Zimbabwe. However, this is not accurate.
2. The evolution of the Ndebele can be divided into 2 phases: 1.1820-1840 was dominated by migration & wars. 2. 1841-1893 saw the Ndebele evolving to a new full-fledged settled heterogeneous state in present day Matabeleland & parts of Midlands in Zimbabwe.
3. During the political revolutions that rocked Nguniland commonly referred to as mfecane there are various Nguni and Sotho-Tswana groups that migrated north and traversed through the Zimbabwean plateau.
The surname Ndlovu/Ndhlovu is found accross Zimbabwe who are of the elephant totem. Indlovu is the isiNdebele/Nguni name for an elephant. Before the standardisation of the isiNdebele language in Rhodesia, the word indlovu was spelt as indhlovu.
2. The Ndlovu people of Zimbabwe can be divided into two broad groups. The first group is the Ndlovus who migrated with Mzilikazi from South Africa who were from Nguni groups. In this group were also Sotho-Tswana groups, revering the elephant totem who were Ngunilised to Ndlovu.
3. The second group of Ndlovus is drawn from local tribes/groups revering the elephant totem who were assimilated into the Ndebele state when it was established in what is now south western Zimbabwe.Some have continued to use the Ndlovu surname & practice Ndebele culture to date.
1. THE SEX SCANDALS THAT ROCKED THE NDEBELE STATE 🇿🇼
Umnxeba📜
The Ndebele state under was not spared of sex scandals involving
the ruling elite. The three memorable scandals involved chiefs Gampu Sithole, Tshibhini Gwebu & one warrior Mveleleni Mahlangu.
2. During the reign of King Lobhengula, he sought to strengthen ties with the Gasa/Shangani kingdom. To do so, King Lobhengula married Princess Xhwalile Nxumalo the daughter of King Mzila of the Gasa kingdom.
3. In return King Lobhengula offered his most beautiful daughter Princess Sixubhuzelo. However, before the princess could be delivered to the Gasa monarch, she vanished! This created a major crisis in the royal corridors! The beautiful princess was missing!
Abathandazi are faith healers who are found accross Africa.They are often associated with the indigenous African churches. They usually use water, candles, milk, eggs, ashes & other objects to conduct faith healing.
2. Faith healers have special garments they wear when conducting their works. They prophesy to their clients & use water and candles to connect with the spiritual world. Their prescriptions are called iziwatsho: eg.a mixture of water and ashes or milk to be used for cleansing.
3. It is believed that abathandazi operate under the influence of a spirit called isithunywa/messenger. This spirit is believed to come from God and heals people using nature especially water and light. Hence abathandazi rely on water and candles to diagnose problems & heal.
1. THE ROLE OF AMADLOZI IN NDEBELE SPIRITUALITY 🇿🇼
Amadlozi are spiritual beings & their name is derived from dloza, meaning "to care for or to protect". Because the spirit world is believed to be situated below the earth (phansi), amadlozi are often referred to as abaphansi.
2. Amadlozi are believed to be departed relatives of an individual who live in the spirit world and are regarded as intermediaries between their living relatives and the spirit world and they work hand in hand with uMvelinqangi /God.
3. Amadlozi communicate with the living in the form of dreams, bringing sickness and sending snakes to homesteads to announce their presence. Amadlozi are considered as a source of blessings, good luck, fortune, guidance and assistance to mankind.