21/10/2023
They wrote about our work on Ulusho Newspaper . This newspaper can be found in all towns along R66 Zululand heritage route. Gingindlovu, Eshowe, Melmoth, uLundi and Vryheid.
New Content Writings with Mfihlakalo
- Home
- New Content Writings with Mfihlakalo
New Content Writings is a place where we can learn about our history, landscape and heritage.
(3)
08/10/2023
Last year in October we came to Cape Town to “follow” on King Cetshwayo’s footsteps by visiting the place where he was kept during his exile after the war of 1879. The King was kept at The Castle of Good Hope.
He was not the only African king who was exiled to the Cape. His great friend, King Sekhukhune of the BaPedi was also exiled to the Cape and was kept at the Castle of Good hope. INkosi Langalibalele of the Hlubi who was arrested after rebelling against British Colonial laws in 1873, was also exiled and he was kept at Robben Island, The Castle of Good Hope and later he was moved to Uitvlugt farm. The 3 kings mentioned above all have statues made in their honour in the Castle of Good Hope in Cape town which we visited last year.
Uitvlugt farm was just next to Oude Molen farm where King Cetshwayo was later moved to after leaving the Castle of Good Hope. Our aim now is to visit Oude Molen Eco Village which now stands on the site of Oude Molen farm. Hopefully we can get more understanding on the conditions King Cetshwayo lived under at Oude Molen.
I am also happy to tell you that we are now concluding our Tour Guide Classes this coming week. Hopefully by the end of the year I will be able to take any of you into all these Zulu historical sites that we always write about. Our aim is to register as professional guides with the Department of Tourism before the year ends. And since Cape Town is also hosting Cape Town Sanlam Marathon next weekend, I thought, why not test my endurance and take on the 42km race? I am a descendant of great Zulu warriors who marched for miles and won great battles, or am I not?
05/10/2023
My page has been suspended and removed from facebook. My appeal has been rejected.
Can anyone see this?
29/09/2023
“It is astonishing to know that two of the greatest empires of that time were defeated at Eshowe, one of Phakathwayo kaKhondlo Qwabe and also that of Zwide kaLanga Ndwandwe. Their lands were annexed into part of the Zulu kingdom. King Shaka built many homesteads on these former Qwabe and Ndwandwe lands. In Eshowe, he built his capital of KwaBulawayo, between uMhlathuze and UMlalazi Rivers. He also built many other homesteads including uFasimba just North of KwaBulawayo which would house the uFasimba regiments. KwaDlangenzwa homestead was built just below the UNgoye Mountains. KwaKhangela was built near Nkwalini at uMhlathuze valley and was later moved to eThekwini. Ekuqobekeni was built just next to KwaKhangela on uMhlathuze river banks. Ndulinde was built next to KwaBulawayo.
eNzondeni was built next to KwaKhangela and Ekuqobekeni in uMhlathuze valley. eSiyembeni was built in eNtumeni. KwaGibabanye was built next to KwaBulawayo but was later moved and built in the South coast next to Mzimkhulu River. uMgumanqa was built on the lower uMlalazi river towards Mthunzini. eNtonteya was built next to the famous Wombane hill which was used as a base for the Zulu army during the Nyezane battle. IsiPhezi homestead was built at IsiPhezi. eMbelebeleni was initially located at eMakhosini valley and it was later moved to Ntumeni in Eshowe.”
You can read further on our New eBook. Battle on The Hills: Eshowe in the Anglo Zulu War. The eBook only costs R100
25/09/2023
Good day everyone.
Since its heritage day🇿🇦, we would appreciate it if you greeted us with your language in the comments section. Also please tell us a brief history of your family.
Feel free to use any language. Nomatter where you are in the world🌍
19/09/2023
Battle on The Hills: Eshowe in The Anglo Zulu War
It is sad to know that this fine piece will only remain an eBook. Here the author discusses important events that took place in and around Eshowe, from back during the times of King Shaka up until the Zulu- British War of 1879 in a way that has never been done.
On its first chapter, the origin of the name Eshowe is discussed with facts and points that certainly puts the name debate to bed. The events that happened under King Shaka are also mentioned, The Battle of KwaHlokohloko and also The Battle of uMhlathuze which ended two great empires. Both these battles took place in Eshowe.
The Author brings to life the war of 1879 by discussing the battles of Nyezane, Gingindlovu and also the siege of Eshowe through the eyes of the Zulu warriors who fought the British at Eshowe. The story of Maqhamusela Ka Khanyile is also discussed in detail. Maqhamusela was the first Zulu Martyr who chose to die for Christianity than to obey King Cetshwayo.
The ebook will be available as from Monday 25 September for only R100 per copy!
Heeebe uSuthu!!!
09/09/2023
Incwadi yakwaBulawayo
Lencwadi engezansi ikhuluma ngesiGodlo seNkosi uShaka esasakhiwe Eshowe, KwaMaqhwakazi. ISilo uShaka sabusa iminyaka eyishumi nambili (12) kanti kuleyo minyaka eyisishagalolunye (9) sayihlala khona eShowe sibusela esigodlweni sakwaBulawayo ngaphambi kokuba siyohlala KwaDukuza eStanger unyaka owodwa vo. Okwathi lapho uphela lowonyaka owodwa iNkosi uShaka bayigwaza bayibulala abafowabo. Lencwadi ikhuluma ngokuthi kungani iSilo uShaka saqoka ukuba silishiye lelizwe laseShowe siyokwakha eStanger KwaDukuza.
Isigodlo sakwaBulawayo sasinezindlu (amaqhugwane) cishe ezinganiselwa ku1500. Sasikhulu ngendlela eyisimanga ngokombiko wabacwaningi phecelezi ama Archeologists. Cishe zonke izigameko eziningi ezenzeka kusabusa uShaka zenzeka khona lapha eShowe. Namhlanje isigodlo sakwaBulawayo sesavuselelwa saphenduka iCultural Centre. Maduzane nesigodlo kukhona iLiba (ithuna) leNkosazane uNandi Mhlongo, isihlahla somqokolo lapho iNkosi uShaka yayibulalela khona amagwala kube khona nesihlala soMgoswane okwakubanjelwa kuyo imihlangano ibanjwa amakhosi uShaka, uMpande, uCetshwayo uBhekeshowe. Konke lokho kuchaziwe kulencwadi.🙏🏾
Lencwadi seyidayisiwe kuzihambeli zamazwe omhlaba zaseCanada, USA, England, Australia njalonjalo. Ungasali ngaphandle nawe zifundise ngomlando wezwe lakithi.
06/09/2023
Where Great Women Lie
The Nguni culture has always been a culture where women are hugely respected and they often play a pivotal role in managing the affairs of that particular homesteads. Whether they are queens and princesses in the king’s palace or just wives in their homesteads they are often held in high regard. But often, it has proved difficult to keep track of their resting places.
In the case of the Ndwandwe people who settled in areas around Nongoma, their Queen Mother Ntombazi is the one whose opinion was very much listened to. Unfortunately her resting place does not exist history has it that when King Shaka attacked the Ndwandwe under King Zwide, he ordered for Ntombazi to be locked in her hut with her hyenas and the hut was set on fire. With the reasoning that, ‘that’s what you do to witches’.
Princess Mkabayi, daughter of INkosi Jama kaNdaba Zulu, was a kingmaker and also the power behind the Zulu throne for decades during the reign of successive Zulu kings. She lies burried in a grave at Vryhied in a place called KwaSgwegwede. Princess Mkabayi was the head of the royal homestead, eBaQulusini.
Queen Nandi, daughter of Bhebhe Mhlongo is one of the very few prominent Zulu women of the past whose grave is easily accessible. She lies at Eshowe, at the site of her eMkhindini homestead. Her grave was marked by two uMlahlankosi trees (Ziziphus muctonata), today it is market by a honourable granite tombstone. Queen Nandi was the mother of The Elephant, King Shaka kaSenzangakhona.
One sad story is one of Queen Ngqumbazi, okaMbondi Zungu. Queen Ngqumbazi was the wife of iNkosi uMpande kaSenzangakhona. King Mpande succeded his brother King Dingane after his death.
Ngqumbazi gave birth to King Mpande’s eldest son who was named Prince Cetshwayo and who would later be the last King of an independent Zulu Nation. King Cetshwayo’s mother, Queen Ngqumbazi never lived to see her son being king. She died and was buried at her palace of eMangweni just outside modern day eMpangeni town. A dropped pin on the picture below marks her grave site, just West of eMpangeni Airport. Her grave is nolonger visible.
03/09/2023
The Battle of The Gatling Gun.
In 1861 an American inventor, Richard Gatling invented the first Machine gun, the Gatling Gun. The very first British use of the gun was at The Battle of Nyezane in Eshowe, 22 January 1879. The same day as the battle of iSandlwana.
The Zulu army under Chief Godide kaNdlela of the Ntuli, intended to attack the British early in the morning just when half of the British army had crossed the Nyezane river.
According to Chief Zimema Mzimela of the uMxhapho regiment who fought at Nyezane and who was interviewed in 1929, he said:
“We were told to advance, packed together like a lot of bees… We were still far away when the whitemen began to throw their bullets at us, but our riffles could not shoot so far so we could not shoot at them. When we were near they brought out the gatling gun, it fired heavily over our heads into the regiments behind us.. The noise it made could be heard by the old men and women who stayed at home, they climbed onto hill tops to see what they could of the battle”
Chief Zimema continued to say “The battle was so fierce that we had to wipe the blood and brains of the killed and wounded from our heads, faces, arms, legs and shields after the fighting”.
We will have more Zulu accounts on our upcoming eBook titled: Battle on The Hills, Eshowe in The Anglo Zulu War.
01/09/2023
Happy New Year💥❤️😊
04/08/2023
The story of King Cetshwayo’s Cup
On this month of August, 141 years ago, on his visit to Britain, King Cetshwayo kaMpande of the Zulu Kingdom met Queen Victoria of England on the 14th. The Zulu king wanted to plead his case infront of the Queen as to why he should be reinstated back to Zululand.
The Queen described King Cetshwayo as a brave enemy, she requested her potrait painter, Carl Sohn to paint a potrait of the exiled Zulu king. The Queen also gifted Cetshwayo with a silver cup with 3 handles. The cup was designed in such a way that a servant would hold it with one handle and the king would grasp it by the other two.
The cup was brought back to Zululand and to King Cetshwayo’s new oNdini Palace. However it was not long before the Zulu Civil war started. Prince Zibhebhu kaMaphitha of the Mandlakazi who was King Cetshwayo’s second cousin attacked the oNdini Palace and he had it burnt to ashes. There were so many notable Zulu generals and chiefs who were killed by Zibhebhu including Chief Sihayo Ngobese who fathered the great hero Mehlokazulu. The king’s posessions were looted by warriors of the Mandlakazi of Zibhebhu. That was the last time the cup was seen up until 1938 when a Zulu man by the name of Gobi saw an unfarmiliar handle sticking out the ground. He dug and noticed that the cup was something special and he kept it for himself. After mentioning the cup to a white trader Cecil Harris who had a store in Mahlabathini, Gobi finally agreed to sell the cup to Cecil in exchange for a cow, a coat and a galvanized bucket.
On January 1976 Mr. Harris presented the cup to
Prince Israel Zulu of the royal house in Eshowe. The cup was kept at Fort Nongqai Museum up until 1994 when it was moved to uLundi. Roughly 3 replicas of the cup were made, one for Fort Nongqai Museum and one for HIM King Zwelithini who was King Cetshwayo’s great grandson. In August 1995, King Zwelithini presented Queen Elizabeth with his replica. The British Queen was on her royal visit to South Africa.
The original cup is on display at KwaZulu Cultural Musem at uLundi. Below is the picture of the original cup.
“Presented to Cetywayo by Queen Victoria, August 14 1882”
References.
KwaZulu Museum
Fort Nongqai Museum
Ian Knight
29/07/2023
To be born and to die in Eshowe
Out of all Zulu Kings, iNkosi Cetshwayo kaMpande is the only Zulu king to be born and to die in almost the same place.
The King was born circa 1826 at Eshowe, in King Mpande’s Mlambongwenya Palace. Cetshwayo’s mother was Queen Ngqumbazi of the Zungu. Today, Gratton College is built on the site of the very same Mlambongwenya homestead.
58 years after he was born, King Cetshwayo died near the homestead of KwaGqikazi on the Southern Outskirts of Dlinza Forest in Eshowe. It was never clear what exactly killed the king. Whether he was poisoned by Sir Melmoth Osbourne or perhaps he was killed by the wound inflicted by a poisoned spear of Prince Zibhebhu KaMaphitha will always remain a mystery. KwaGqikazi homestead is roughly 3km away from Mlambongwenya where Cetshwayo was born. With that being said, INkosi Cetshwayo kaMpande was born and died at Eshowe.
07/07/2023
The Zulu kingdom perished here.
The battle of uLundi, 04 July 1879.
The last battle of the Anglo Zulu War. The war was over.
02/07/2023
The monument of Prince Sojiyisa son of Jama.
Sojiyisa was a brother of Prince Senzangakhona son of Jama. According to oral history the Zulu people did not see Sojiyisa as a rightful heir who would ascend the Zulu throne after his father iNkosi Jama kaNdaba, due to suspicions that Sojiyisa’s mother was already pregnant when she came to marry King Jama( Shaka’s grandfather). Even today that story is a very sensitive topic to touch.
Prince Sojiyisa was loyal to the Zulu throne, fighting in many battles of the era of King Shaka’s rule. He was killed in 1818 while fighting the Ndwandwe who were ruled by King Zwide kaLanga. Prince Sojiyisa left his son Maphitha would later give birth to the infamous Zulu Prince, Zibhebhu kaMaphitha.
Even though they were distant cousins, and they shared the same great grandfather ( iNkosi Jama kaNdaba) Zibhebhu and King Cetshwayo became bitter enemies. With Zibhebhu fighting off King Cetshwayo and burning the king’s uLundi Palace. Zibhebhu wanted to have his own independent state that would not give allegiance to the Zulu King.
Below is the monument and grave of Sojiyisa kaJama. Burried in the former lands of the Ndwandwe. KwaMandlakazi near KwaNongoma.
27/06/2023
Birthday visit to Nyezane/Wombane battlefields
Today, on my birthday, we visited the battlefields of Nyezane where my favourite battle of the Anglo Zulu War took place. The very first time I learnt about The Battle of Nyezane was during my Grade 2 year at KwaZibonele primary school in Eshowe and it has stuck with me since then until now.
Tha battle of Nyezane took place on 22 January 1879 which was the same day as the Battle of Isandlwana and also that of Rorkes Drift (Shiyane). Nyezane is always overshadowed by the two above mentioned battles but when you look at history there are a number of very interesting facts about this battle.
*This was the very first battle ever fought between the English and the Zulus.
*Although it was fought on the same day as Isandlwana and Shiyane, Nyezane was fought in the early morning of that day.
*The British refers to this battle as the battle of Nyezane, named after the river they had just crossed that morning.
*The Zulus call it the Battle of Wombane, named after the hill they attacked from.
*The Zulus were the first nation in world to be shot at by a machine gun (Gatling gun).
*Nyezane battlefields is just few kilometres away from Gingindlovu battlefields.
*Atleast 300 Zulu warriors died that day.
*Although the British were victorious, they were later besieged at Eshowe for atleast two months.
*Most Zulus who carried old muskets hardly used them. Not only because they were not very good at shooting them because of lack of training, but felt it was cowardly to do so.
The picture labelled 1. Below is the Hill of Wombane. Where the Zulus impi attacked from.
Picture labelled 2. Is what the battlefield looks like today.
The cross shaped monument reads:
“ In memory of the following officers and men killed on the 22nd of January 1879 at the Battle of Nyezane (Wombane) who are buried here”.
The rectangular monument on the ground reads:
“Izingulube, iQhwa, uMxhapho, iZiNgwegwe, iNsukamngeni”
“The names of most the brave defenders of the old Zulu order who died during this battle are lost to history. Some 300 warriors representing the regiments above and under the command of Mathiya perished here”
H**e! uSuthu!!
23/06/2023
“My only sin is that I am the son of Cetshwayo”
Just when I had given up on finding King Dinuzulu’s grave, I heard Steve shout “Mfihlakalo”, hearing him shout my name like that gave me goosebumbs and I nearly dropped that delicious monkey orange I was eating.
We had searched for the grave for atleast 25 minuets but kept losing our way in that thick bush with all its paths which look the same. Also the location of the grave we had on the GPS was incorrect and searching for anything in that thick bush proved to be difficult. But when hearing that shout, I knew we had found it. I dropped my jacket and followed him on a small path that lead us across a small stream and there it was, the grave of King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo.
Dinuzulu son of Cetshwayo was Zulu king from 1883 up until 1913 when he died. After being involved in the 1906 uprising, King Dinuzulu was charged with treason and was sentenced to 4 years in prison. He was pardoned by Louis Botha after 2 years of imprisonment. Botha was the Prime Minister of the New Union of South Africa and he exiled the king to a farm in the now Mpumalanga province. King Dinuzulu stayed there up until his death on 18 October 1913. He was carried by wagon all the way to KwaNobamba at eMakhosini valley and was interred next to his ancestors as was his wish.
Below is the hardly seen grave of King Dinuzulu the great son of Cetshwayo kaMpande.
22/06/2023
Tracing the footsteps of my ancestors.
We had a wonderful time yesterday with historian Steve Kotze at KwaNongoma. The formerlands of the Ndwandwe. We tried to locate a few sites which were crucial to the Ndwandwe people more than 200 years ago.
The first site was eSigwegweni plains, just under the eSigwegweni hill. On this plain, King Zwide of the Ndwandwe had his eSiKwishini iKhanda (Royal homestead) where according to uBumbano lwamaNdwandwe, Zwide spent most of his time. We also went to Maphophoma escarpment to try and locate a place called Mashenge where the izangoma and izanusi (Traditional doctors) would hold their dancing ceremonies and rituals. A very sacred site in the past , now marked by a bottle store operating in the area.
We asked some few locals about both these two sites, while looking for directions, but they did not know much about them, but they gave us directions and they were very friendly. We went further into the former lands of the Ndwandwe, deep into KwaMandlakazi, eKuvukeni. That is where Prince Sojiyisa son of Jama Zulu had his homestead, now markerd by a big memorial dedicated to him. Honestly one of the biggest memorials I have seen.
Another interesting site we observed was Tatiyane Dongas at EsiKhwebezi valley. This is where allegedly, King Shaka filled dongas with the bodies of dead people. It is also a site where King Dingiswayo of the Mthethwa was caught by the Ndwandwe which led to his death. Another version of the story is that Dingiswayo was caught at KoMbuzi, further North East on the lands of the Ndwandwe.
Below are pictures of the Esigwegweni valley, where King Zwide spent most of his time and also there is a picture of iVuna river which we crossed on our way to Maphophoma. This is just a start on my long journey of tracing and recording the history of my great great grandfather, iNkosi Zwide kaLanga Ndwandwe.
Mkhatshwa waseGudunkomo.🦩🦩
Okhatshwe ngezinde nezimaqhukumezana.
20/06/2023
Officially part of the team
Zulu Kingdom Archaeology Project
18/06/2023
uShaka - iLembe
One would wonder why producers and creators of television programmes would dare put their hands in the fire by creating a series on one of the most controversial figures of the recent past.
The most anticipated UShaka iLembe Tv Series premieres tonight and critics are on their feet waiting for the first chance to tell us what is it that producers got wrong and what they ‘think’is correct. It is a shame to note that the public are having a hard time accepting the fact that this is only just a ‘play’ and not a documentary full of facts. Plays and television programmes are made to entertain the viewer while documentaries are made to tell the truth of what happened. With all that being said, we might as well just sit back and enjoy the series without really expecting too much but just to be entertained. However, the creators did contact families included in the play just to get their views of what really happened, which was a step in the right direction.
There is alot we do not know about the most famous Zulu king, Shaka. His appearance, date or year of birth, meaning of his name are oftenly debated with many other factors relating to King Shaka. But what we are sure of as the Zulu people of today is that King Shaka was the King of KwaBulawayo, he unified the Zulu people and he built a strong nation of warriors who were the last independent kingdom in Africa.
Below are the gates of KwaBulawayo royal palace in Eshowe KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. A book about King Shaka’s KwaBulawayo written by Mfihlakalo Ndwandwe, is also shown below. The book is available for only R160 incl. delivery.
05/06/2023
Eshowe. A city of Kings.
Eshowe, which was once the capital of Zululand and still is the oldest town in Zululand, has never lived up to its expectations. This little town today still remains small with very little development taking place. Its amazing to know that Eshowe is the birthplace of the two most famous Zulu kings of the past, Shaka and Cetshwayo hence, “The city of kings”.
The oldest son of King Mpande, Cetshwayo was born in his father’s eMlambongwenya homestead, just on the Southern outskirts of the modern town. While Shaka was born in his mother’s home, iNguga just along the banks of uMhlathuze river. While the town of Eshowe had little significance during King Shaka’s reign, during Cetshwayo’s time it was a complete different story. Many Zulu chiefs and kings were summoned to Eshowe by the powers of the colonial government. Even the son of King Cetshwayo, Dinuzulu was under house arrest at Eshowe more than once. After he came back from exile in St Helena, King Dinuzulu was required to stay in his ‘newly built house’ in Eshowe but opted to go back to oSuthu in KwaNongoma. The post apartheid goverment decided to honour King Dinuzulu naming the Gezinsila township after him.
Another big debate about Eshowe is the origin of its name, some claiming it comes from the name ‘Khowe’ which means mushrooms (Tents of the British) or the fact that mushrooms grow in their numbers in Eshowe’s Dlinza Forest. Another romanticized explanation is that the name comes from the wind which blows there, making Eshowe relatively colder than surrounding towns. In my honest opinion I would love to say, its safe to go with the latter. When studying praisenames of King Mpande, the poet mentions Eshowe when explaing the fall out between Prince Mpande and his brother Dingane. An event that happened in the 1830’s, way before the British camped in Eshowe for the Zulu War of 1879.
There are many historical sites in Eshowe, some mentioned below.
03/05/2023
The seat of Manyosi kaDlekezela
Following the defeat of the Zulu army at the Battle of Bloodriver/ iNcome in 16 December 1838, King Dingane kaSenzangakhona evacuated his royal seat of uMgungundlovu and ordered it to be set alight, in case of an enermy pursuit.
When the King and his attendants reached the hill known as ‘The seat of Manyosi’, King Dingane sat down and he cried, looking back at his beloved palace up in smoke. The palace had more than 1500 huts, including his private hut which had a diameter of 6 meters and was supported by 22 poles, so far holding the record for the biggest known hut built in traditional Zulu manner.
Manyosi kaDlekezela was of the Mbatha clan and had been a great friend of King Dingane up until Dingane fought his own younger brother, Prince Mpande. The hill known as the seat of Manyosi is below the two red dots on the picture.
The picture below was taken on the site of the ‘burnt’ uMgungundlovu royal palace. The palace has been partially reconstructed.
While the huts were burning, their floors were baked rock solid by the fire. Making it easy to see them today, so the new partially reconstructed huts were built exactly where the original ones were located. Markings 1,2,3 in the picture are floors of huts burnt almost 200 years ago.
01/05/2023
Ndwandwe,The Wizards
Few days ago in town, I met a young lady who as soon as I told her my surname she jokingly ran away from me claiming the Ndwandwe, are people who love to practise witchcraft.
This was not the first time someone had told me I carry a surname of witches, its a superstition that still remains with the Ndwandwe/Nxumalo people. Two hundred years ago when the Ndwandwe kingdom was at its peak under King Zwide kaLanga, there was a woman called Ntombazi. Ntombazi was a Queen of the Ndwandwe, mother of King Zwide who would later fight Shaka and his Zulu warriors.
Up until this day, Queen Ntombazi is still famous for witchcraft that she practised on her days. She would instruct her son, Zwide to make sure they bring home the head of opposite tribe’s king. King Dingiswayo of the Mthethwa, Mashobane Khumalo, Mlotha Mtshali, Melusi Nxumalo all had their heads decorating Queen Ntombazi’s hut at KwaLindizwe royal homestead. She would use those heads/skulls for her own ways.
Although all other Zulu chiefdoms practised witchcraft, we got famous for it. What also does not help is the fact that most witches in dramas or stories on television carry my surname😁. One Telenovela which perpetuated this myth was KwaKhalanyonini. A drama about a Zuluman who had many viwes who would quarrel everyday. one of the wives had a really difficult heart and she was practising witchcraft on the others, her surname was, ofcourse, Nxumalo. My mother was the first ever person to tell me about Ntombazi and also our ‘withcraft’ legacy as the people of the Blue Crane ( Indwandwe).
16/04/2023
Not enough tears to mourn the dead in my country. Isandlwana
A painting by Mfihlakalo
17/03/2023
The Bench of King Dinuzulu’s fate
On 10 December 1907 King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo of the Zulus was formally charged with 23 counts of treason at the court house at KwaNongoma for his involvement in the 1906 Bhambhatha Rebellion (Impi kaKhandampondo).
Although King Dinuzulu had taken no active role in the Rebellion, the British Colonian Government was determined to prove otherwise. The Zulu king would have been skeptical of actively participating in the rebellion and going up in arms with the British since he, himself, had been exiled to St. Helena after he fought Prince Zibhebhu kaMaphitha. Dinuzulu’s trial was held in Greytown and began on 19 October 1908. “Dinuzulu was found not guilty on major counts but was found guilty on lesser ones, assisting and harbouring the rebels, permitting Chief Bhambatha’s family to stay at oSuthu. ”The king was fined £100 and 4 years imprisonment in Pietermaritzburg Jail. His position as ‘Chief of the Zulus’ was forfeited.
After being becoming the first Prime Minister of The Union of South Africa, Louis Botha released Dinuzulu from prison, and he exiled him to Middleburg at a farm which Dinuzulu named KwaThengisangaye which means to ‘Barter with him’. The exiled Zulu king becamed very ill at KwaThengisangaye of probably gout and Bright’s disease. He died on 18 October 1913. His remains were sent by train to Vryheid, then by a wagon to EMakhosin Valley where he was interred.
When King Dinuzulu recieved the ruling of the court on his fate in Greytown, he was sitting on this bench on the picture below along with his defense team, W. Schreiner, C. Renaud, R. Samuelson and ofcos the forever faithful Harriette Colenso. The bench can be seen at oNdini Cultural Museum at uLundi.
H**e! uSuthu! UMamonga akabulali uyasizila. Uqotha imbokodo nesisekelo. IBinda.
16/03/2023
The Appearance of King Shaka
The question of what did King Shaka of the Zulus looked like will always remain a mystery never to be solved.
When it comes to the appearance of Zulu kings we can only be sure of Cetshwayo who was the first Zulu king to be photographed and all those who succeeded him. For those who ruled before him, word of mouth is our only source.We can also agree on what King Mpande looked like even though he was not photographed. Mpande grew to be very stout and heavy to such a point that walking was a difficulty for him.
Shaka’s parents are said to have been well attractive. His father Inkosi Senzangakhona was very good looking, even his praise singer did mention his good looks. Giving Senzangakhona the nickname “Handsome king”. No wonder he had many wives. On the other hand, Shaka’s mother Princess Nandi was as beautiful as a water berry. She is said to have been strongly built, dark skinned and of medium height. One would think this information would be enough to give us an idea of what their child looked like but, this is not the case here.
According to Melaphi who ‘Peeped at Shaka while dancing’ and was too far away to see his face, he claimed King Shaka had a fairly brown complexion, not tall but not short either. Melaphu was the son of Chief Magaye kaDibandlela Cele. Chief Magaye was King Shaka’s great friend. Melaphi was James Stuart’s informant. Another informant was Baleka kaMphithikazi Qwabe. Baleka was in her 60s when interviewed by James Staurt and her father had served in Shaka’s court. He was part of the Mpondi and uBhalule Campaign.
Baleka said her father, Mphithikazi told her that Shaka had ’ a large nose and was ugly’. He said Shaka always had red eyes and a badly shaped head. It is not suprising for Baleka’s father to speak ill of Shaka as he once was almost killed by Shaka and was saved by Princess Nandi. Nandi and Mphithikazi’s mother were sisters. Nandi told Shaka that he cannot kill Mphithikazi since Mphithikazi is also her son.
The story of Baleka reveals a problem is this search for Shaka’s appearance since most people were just repeating the tales told by their fathers.
Shaka’s big nose never went unnoticed. According to Mayinga kaMbekezane, “what would draw attentinon to Shaka’s big nose was that he s***fed alot”. King Shaka liked his s***f and it was usually prepared by the Ngcobo clan. Baleka also revealed that Shaka had somesort of a speech defect. “He spoke as if his tounge is too big for his mouth”. Another informant of Stuart, Ngidi kaMcikaziswa stated that Shaka ’Mouthed his words’. He also stated that it might have been that Shaka spoke in Mthethwa dialect and he Thefula’d like the Qwabe.
The great Zulu historian Magema Fuze who wrote the first Zulu book, describes Shaka as brown skinned, well shaped with large body unlike Mpande who was dark skinned and had large buttocks like most children of Senzangakhona. Mageza continues to say Shaka never gout stout like Mpande, he remained Mascular and powerful since he was a man of war. He says, Shaka was of the same height as his brothers Dingane and Mpande. It was Mhlangana who was taller than them.
The appearance of the greatest Zulu king will always remain a conondrum. A white gentleman by the name of James Saunders King who spent some time at King Shaka’s KwaBulawayo, had the opportunity to satisfy our desire of knowing how did Shaka looked liked, but he just confused us for centuries to come, by drawing a picture of Shaka that is higly questionable.
Below is the only known drawing of King Shaka by someone who actually saw him and that was James Saunders King.
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360 Degree Views from King Cetshwayo Memorial. Dlinza forest, Eshowe in KwaZulu Natal.
What is your name? Mariam Makeba:
This monument is built on top of Nkomba hill. During the reign of King Dingane, the watchmen would sit on top of this hill. It would be easy for them to spot an approaching enemy from neighbouring tribes, or any other potential threats for that matter. Nkomba hill offers 360 degree views of the Valley of The Kings.
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King Shaka’s KwaBulawayo Kraal Memorial
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Views from Maqhamusela Khanyile Memorial @ Mpondeni hill, Eshowe. Maqhamusela was the first Zulu martry, a warrior who chose christianity above his king (King Cetshwayo) and above everything else.
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