Abenguni History

  THE RISE OF CONSOLATRICE KABASO MWILA. For some, Ndola is widely known as Zambia’s second largest city in the aspect of infrastructural development. The city, nicknamed ‘ NoliNoli’ is renowned to the locals for its ‘friendless’. And yet for the chess society in Zambia or indeed all those who follow chess goings-on in the country, Ndola is an iconic city as it blessed the whole Sub Saharan Africa with its foremost Grand Master and the third in the history of the game. Since the heydays of dazzling Amon Simutowe, Ndola has continued producing glittering chess stars in the region.                                                           The champ in action . But most of these chess genii have been mal...

  Up close with the Ngonis of Mzimba, Northern Malawi. MZIMBA AND THE NGUNI KINGDOM IN MALAWI BY: Peter Qeko Jere One of the key features that appear on the map of Malawi is the most famous Nguniland in the northern part of the country called Mzimba. The word Mzimba is a Zulu – Xhosa one and it means the body of a human being. The word is famous in Malawi not because of its meaning but because this is the largest district in the entire country. It’s the only district which is ruled by children of one man, Zwangendaba (Ka Jele, Ka Qeko, Ka Lonyanda, ka nyandeni, Ka Khali , Ka lovuno, ka nguwoyempisi) who in the 1800s fled the wars of Shaka. Zwangendabah was born in Zululand but died in Mapupo while his children settled in the northern region of Malawi in a district called Mzimba. These children of Zwangendaba are present JERE ruling class of the Mzimba kingdom who during colonialism, formed the JERE COUNCIL which was the highest decision making body of the kingdom. Mzimba with its c...

The Captivating Story of King Mphezeni Jele.  In the late 1820s, after Zwangendaba had left his tribal Nguniland, his nephew  Mgai KaMafu hated Queen Soseya with passion and was looking for a chance to completely get rid of her and her household. A golden opportunity presented itself. King Zwangendaba demanded beer from the Loziwawa/Soseya royal household. When the beer was prepared, Mgai intercepted it and managed to add a hair in it.  When the beer reached the King, behold a hair was found in it. Before Zwangendaba could make sense of what was happening, Mgai and his adherent supporters theorized that Soseya wanted to kill him, in other words, Soseya was a witch who wanted to kill the King. Incensed, Zwangendaba sent his Chief Induna and bestie friend, Gwaza to lead the executionists and annihilate the whole Soseya household. Unknown to him, Queen Soseya had a seed in her. When the executionists discovered this truth, they informed Gwaza. Gwaza then instructed that ever...

TODAY'S CHESS PIC OF THE DAY: AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE OF HOW LIFE'S CHALLENGES DO NOT DEFINE A PERSON. BY NICHOLAS KRISTOF In a homeless shelter in Manhattan, an 8-year-old boy is walking to his room, carrying an awkward load in his arms, unfazed by screams from a troubled resident. The boy is a Nigeria refugee with an uncertain future, but he is beaming. He can’t stop grinning because the awkward load is a huge trophy, almost as big as he is. This homeless third grader has just won his category at the New York State chess championship. Much of the news of the last week has focused on wealthy families buying access to great universities, either illegally through bribes or legally through donations. There is no question that America is a tilted playing field that gives wealthy children huge advantages. So we should all grin along with Tanitoluwa Adewumi, the newly crowned chess champion for kindergarten through third grade. He went undefeated at the state tournament ...

 The Polgar Sisters   Once a dominant force of their generation, the 'sisters of destruction' Judit, Susan & Sofia Polgar & Janos Tompa, (Hungarian coach) are pictured here at the Thessaloniki Olympiad in 1988. In a game by far dominated by males, the Polgar Sisters challenged the status quo by by playing at the level only thought to be reserved for their male counterparts.In this vein,the Polgárs showed that there are no inherent limitations to their aptitude and strengthened the argument for nurture over nature!   It is thus no surprising that they are numerous books and articles in the pages of history about the Polgar sisters, making them famous even outside of the world of chess. In 1989, American President George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara met with the Polgárs during their visit to Hungary.   But it would be Judith who would by far scale the heights of greatness on the chess horizon by positioning herself among the elitist pool of global chess pers...

 Renowned Zambia Doctor Andrew Mulenga writes: What you would rather not hear! My research into human sexuality, Read what follows at your own risk! Marriage is physiologically wrong!I know it sounds rough, but it’s true! Man and woman is essentially a socialized animal, but still an animal all the same! And all animals are heretogenous in sexual orientation!This is just the way the animal genes are made to work.  They are primed for pleasure seeking, primed to get the best there is either in food or in entertainment! Nature is at play here, All animals want to mate with the strongest, most appealing spouse! This way the propagation of species is assured. Zambian Doctor,Teddy Andrew Mulenga aka TAM It’s wrong to think a sexually satisfied man or woman won’t stray as the reasons for straying are way beyond just mere sexual satisfaction. Spouses may cheat because of: -financial support -emotional void -boredom -inquisitiveness inherent in all animals to explore -lack of variety ...

  A CASTLE IN LUNDAZI:  This national heritage is located in Lundazi, Eastern Province. Errol Button who was Lundazi district commissioner in the 1940s came up with the idea to build a castle after an instruction that a guesthouse for visiting government officials be built.

  TODAY'S CHESS PIC OF THE DAY. A TRANSITION FROM CHESS ELITISM TO CHESS FOR EVERYONE!? A 16 year old physically challenged Sharif Wasswa Mbaziira from Uganda plays chess with a classmate at the Kampala School of the Physically challenged in the East African country of Uganda. Rather than bowing to conventional societal notions, folktales and prejudices that undermine the capabilities of disabled and confine them to the spectator arena, Sharif rises up to the challenge and sees light at the end of the tunnel through chess. Having been introduced to the game of chess not more than 3 years ago, Sharif now sees hope and a chance to transcend the main challenges of being confined to a wheelchair. He now views chess as his 'savior' which he cannot do without; he now plays the game on a daily basis in an effort to rapidly improve. In a continent where its an almost a herculean task to solely depend on chess from an income and economical spectrum, Sharif wants to reverse the statu...

  THE GREAT LIONS. Inkhosis Zulu Gama(from Songea, Tanzania),Mbelwa IV and Gomani V(both from Malawi) walking majestically, clad in traditional Ngoni regalia;Ingwenyama, Inkhosi yama nkosi Mpezeni IV kaZwangendaba Jele of Zambia missed out on this historical picture! It is quite interesting to note that,Zulu Gama,although now being revered and lionized in the same measure as the other Ngoni paramount chiefs was NEVER of royal Ngoni blood.He was like Chiwele Ndhlovu, a trusted general of Zwangendaba. Indeed his allegiance to Zwangendaba was unquestionable,for even after the death of the great Ngoni warlord,Zulu Gama forbade his followers from according him the 'bayette' salutation, arguing that it was a tribute for ONLY Zwangendaba's successor. There is no doubt that had Zwangendaba's two brothers (Mgai and Nthabeni) plus the chief's eldest sons (Mtwalo,Mperembe,Mbelwa and Mpezeni) managed to amicably resolve their succession wrangles, Zulu Gama could have not gone o...

 Today in History The Sharpeville Massacre, which occurred on March 21, 1960, in the township of Sharpeville, South Africa, was the incident that to that point resulted in the deaths of the largest number of South Africans in a protest against apartheid. It also came to symbolize that struggle On March 21, an estimated 7,000 Africans gathered in front of the Sharpeville police station to protest against the restrictive pass laws. Nearly 300 police officers arrived to put an end to the peaceful protest.  As they attempted to disperse the crowd, a police officer was knocked down and many in the crowd began to move forward to see what had happened. Police witnesses claimed that stones were thrown, and in a panicked and rash reaction, the officers opened fire into the crowd.  Other witnesses claimed there was no order to open fire, and the police did not fire a warning shot above the crowd.  As the thousands of Africans tried to flee the violent scene, police continued t...

John Pombe Joseph Magufuli was a Tanzanian politician who served as the fifth president of Tanzania from 2015 until his death in 2021. He served as Minister of Works, Transport and Communications from 2000 to 2005 and 2010 to 2015 and was chairman of the Southern African Development Community from 2019 to 2020. Wikipedia Born:  October 29, 1959,  Chato, Tanzania Died:  March 17, 2021,  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  TODAY'S CHESS PIC OF THE DAY. Skip to content TODAY’S CHESS PIC OF THE DAY. No doubt now an African ‘darling’, meet Zambia’s sensational wonder boy, International Master Andrew Kayonde. Born in 1988,the 28 year old’s chess journey is not only a marvel but a brainwave. His continued rise on the chess scene has in fact left many wondering when he will ever reach his pinnacle.  Local chess historians have literally failed to understand and interpret how Andrew who is now mostly referred to as AK 47 in his native Zambian country does not seem to attain nadir in a country like Zambia with abundant talent and new chess names that mushroom on almost a monthly basis. In a country where others argue that no one can be consistent for a long time, AK 47 has defiled all odds and easily parred strong opposition to currently establish himself as the ‘wamuyayaya’ (everlasting) of Zambian chess and looks poised and determined to extend that status on a continental level.  Having won co...

 King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu (born 14 June 1948, Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa), was the reigning King of the Zulu nation under the Traditional Leadership clause of South Africa’s republican 1996 Constitution. Who was King Goodwill Zwelithini? King Goodwill Zwelithini was born on 14 June 1948, in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He became King on the death of his father, King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, in 1968. The King was chairman of the Ingonyama Trust, a corporate entity established to administer the land traditionally owned by the king for the benefit, material welfare and social well-being of the Zulu nation. This land consists of 32% of the area of KwaZulu/Natal. King Goodwill Zwelithini wife(s) and children King Goodwill Zwelithini was traditionally married to six wifes and he was blessed with 27 children. These include: maDlamini (born Sibongile Winifred Dlamini), married 27 December 1969 at St Margaret’s Church, Nongoma. Prince Lethukuthula Zul...