Ponderings of the Man from Mpofana...

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 o...

As a Zulu-speaking person who identifies as Zulu who had both parents identifying as Zulu, KwaZulu-Natal is obviously my homeland. I say this as a basic fact, with no sentiments attached to it. I was born & raised in southern KZN & I don't think there's any shame in that. The same way I don't think someone who speaks Xhosa, identifies as Xhosa & was born & raised in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape should feel any shame in being who they are. A Tswana-speaking person from Gaborone in Botswana who identifies as Tswana should feel no shame in being who they are either. In fact, they should feel redeemed & grounded in being who they are living in their native land. I love watching football icons in European football who were born & raised in the town or city of the football team they play for & spend the rest of their careers with that team.  As much as southern KZN is home to me, I don't feel better than someone who lives in Johannesburg for exam...