Skip to main content

We have a small kingship problem in KZN...

A while back, the Hlubi king, King Langalibalele III claimed he wanted to be recognised on the same level as the Zulu king & recently King Mel'izwe of the Nhlangwini Kingdom wanted to have the southern part of KZN & northern part of the Eastern Cape (south of Thukela River & north of Umzimvubu River) recognised as Nhlangwini territory. The Nhlangwini are said to be the largest ethnic group in southern KZN.
What are we failing to understand here? 


History:

The Hlubi Kingdom, Eswatini, Nhlangwini Kingdom, Amazizi & Mpofana were of the same Embo / Mbo entity. They spoke similar languages & practiced similar customs. They were distinct from the surrounding Zulu (Nguni), Ndebele, Mpondo & recently arriving Sotho tribe in the region. Being older kingdoms, they were never attacked by King Shaka during the infamous Mfecane period of southeast Africa's history. Instead, the Hlubi kings would lend Zulu kings warriors to command in battle & King Dingiswayo of the Mthethwa & King Dingane of the Zulu were on good terms with the Nhlangwini Kingdom. One theme seems everpresent though; along with various Tsonga tribes of southern Mozambique, the Mbo Kingdoms paid tribute to the Zulu kings. Hence, it's fitting to call the King of the Zulus an emperor & this whole region including Embo a (Zulu) empire. The problem is that the Mbo tribes were left relatively independent by Zulu kings compared to northeastern tribes that fell under direct Zulu rule. Eswatini itself was part of this Mbo entity & ultimately a Zulu Empire ally, Eswatini was never attacked by King Shaka but was attacked by King Dingane (who died in Eswatini). Eswatini lent warriors to King Cetshwayo under Prince Mbilini to fight in the Anglo-Zulu War against the British, further instilling the notion that the Tekela-speaking / Mbo nations were more allies than rivals of the Zulu Empire.

N.B. The Zulu/Swazi word for shield is "isihlangu". 
The Ngwane under their chief, Matiwane, also attacked the Amazizi before they (AmaNgwane) were attacked by King Shaka.


Reunification:

Most ethnic Hlubi & Nhlangwini identify as Zulu & speak the Zulu language.

I think any Hlubi or Nhlangwini (or Mpofana) nationalists who want independence from this alliance need to understand that unity is strength & we would be stronger united even if we have slightly differing dialects. 

In the case a sovereign Zulu state ever sees the light of day; the Hlubi, Nhlangwini, & Amazizi kings & descendants would have to be given certain privileges in parliament & the land's governance with the Zulu king being given emperor (iSilo) title. The emperor would have command of the national military with the Hlubi, Nhlangwini, & Amazizi kings having their own police/guards. All the kings would have military training themselves as well as be fluent in both Swazi & Zulu. Our great allies on the continent would be Mthwakazi & the Xhosa / Tembu state to the south. As the KwaZulu motto goes "S'onqoba Simunye", united we conquer.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Comprehensive classification of Ngoni / Nguni groups.

List of Ngoni / Nguni nations : • Bhaca • Hlubi • Mpondo • Ndebele (northern Ndebele in Mthwakazi & southern Ndebele in Gauteng, South Africa) • Ngoni / Jere / Jele (mainly in Malawi, northern Mozambique, southern Tanzania, Zambia) • Nhlangwini    • Shangaan  • Swazi  • Tembu • Xhosa • Zizi • Zulu Altogether, twelve (12) "Nguni" groups are known to exist. From my knowledge in any case.  Bhaca, Hlubi, Nhlangwini, Swazi & Zizi are the Mbo Entity . The Mbo Entity often declassifies itself from the Nguni group. Nhlangwini & Swazi are under a Dlamini dynasty while the Hlubi & Zizi are also Dlamini tribes. Ngoni & Shangaan are of Ndwandwe origin (a tribe assimilated by the Zulu Empire). Bhaca, Hlubi, Ndebele, Nhlangwini, Shangaan, Zizi & some Mpondo are often classified as Zulu. While it's unknown whether Mpondo & Xhosa qualify as Nguni, they are often grouped as Nguni. Using family groups to classify :  • Mbo • Mpo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Blog CV/Resumé

Just so readers of this blog can get to know a little about the writer.  Name: Mthoko Mpofana  Born: 1989  Place of Birth: Port Shepstone  Race: Black / Sub-Saharan African  Ethnicity: Zulu  Height: 1,73 m  Education :  • Well versed in business studies & economics having done business studies & economics in high school & one year of a business management degree.  • Well versed in computer studies, advanced data capturing & interested in software development.  Trades :  • Salesman  • Restaurants / Take-away experience  • Online trading  Sports :  • Football  • Basketball  • Biathlon  • Cricket  Pastimes : • Guitar  • Keyboard  • Chess (& Mlabalaba)  • Sudoku  Driving licence :  • Licensed to drive all motorcycles.  • Truck driving learner's license.  Languages :  • English (fluent)  • Zulu (fluent) • French (semi-fluent)  • ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ancient Zulu & Swazi architecture.

Some more important points I picked up from this research :  • The earliest type of walling, Moor Park, dates from the 14th to 16th centuries and is located in defensive positions on hilltops in the midlands, from Bergville to Dundee. This area is historically known as belonging to the AmaTiti Kingdom. • Moor Park (known as Emhubeni in the native Zulu language), is one of the oldest iron-age sites in KwaZulu-Natal dating back to AD 1300, can be seen from the Makhabeni Hill. • From an archaeological perspective, the first appearance of Nguni speakers can be recognised by a break in ceramic style; the Nguni style is quite different from the Early Iron Age sequence in the area. This break is dated to about AD 1200.  Cross section of the ancient ruins at Emhubeni.  Seeing as the first iron tools** in South Africa (i. e. northern KZN) were carbon dated to be from 200 AD, it's possible that older (Zulu) tribes wh...
Post a Comment
Read more