REMEMBERING THE UNSUNG HERO OF THE MBELWA NGUNI NATION, LOMAGAZI IMPANGELA JELE!

INTRODUCTION

In a highly patrilineal society such as the 

Nguni

, often times, the Zulu, Swati or indeed Nguni women have little or no space in the Abenguni history chapters. 

For example, uNtombazi kwakuyi Ndlovukazi yakwa Ndwandwe, has not been glorified fully for the role she played in the rise of her son, Zwide kaLanga of the AmaNdwandwe state.  It is the same with Mkabayi, daughter of Jama kaNdaba, who headed the  Qulusi military kraal and a regent of the Zulu before her half brother,  Senzangakhona took over. From the time of her father, the reign of her brother and upto the reign of her nephew,  Shaka kaSenzangakhona, Mkabayi was one of the pillars of the Zulu Kingdom. 

Elsewhere, in Northern Malawi, a section of the Northern Ngunis who were part of the Zwangendaba Nation before into disintegrated into pieces following succession wrangles in 1845-1849, equally had their warrior like persona of a female and her name was Lomagazi Jele. 

Who was Lomagazi Jele? 

Lomagazi was Zwangendaba's first born child with Queen Munene Nzima who was married in present day Eswatini (previously called Swaziland). Lomagazi was born in 1828 and grew up in her mothers village of Ekwendeni. 

It should be mentioned that even from a young age, Lomgazi promised to be 'a force to reckon with' as she stood tall when her mother was the being ridiculed by a cross section of the Ngunis for 'failing' to have male children. 

One can only imagine how joyous she was when her mother, Munene, shocked the Nguni Nation of Zwangendaba by having a baby boy in 1841 in present day Malawi;the boy would later be named Mbelwa and grew in mighty under the tutelage of his elder sister. 

Lomagazi represents his young brother at the funeral of Zwangendaba Jele. 

It was an end of an era in 1845 as the trekking Ngunis from present day KwaZulu-Natal, lost their inspiration figurehead, uZwangendaba KaHlasthwayo.The now aged  Zwangendaba had made one last trek to lead his army to take over the Kingdom of the Ufipa in Tanzania as he was interested in their long horned red Cattle. 

As Mbelwa was still very young, less than five years at the time of fathers death, Lomgazi represented him in fulfilling his funeral rites. 

Lomagazi fights for her young brother's place in the Nguni Dynasty

After the death of Zwangendaba, it was clear that he was by far the very foundation of the his Kingdom. His brother, Ntabeni and his nephew, Mgai constantly quarreled as to who was to take over the throne of King Zwangendaba. 

Three frontrunners and favorites as evidenced by their supporters were Ntutho Mphezeni (son of Queen Soseya), Mtwalo (son of  Queen Quto Nzima) and Mbelwa (son of Queen Munene Nzima). Despite Ntabeni having crowned Ntutho, it was clear that most Ngunis from the EmaSwati lineage, especially those from Ekwendeni village did not agree with the decisions and neither would they honor it. Lomgazi was one of those who personally refused to accept the decision of her uncle, Ntabeni to the point that she was even able to have a verbal altercation with Ntutho's supporters. 

By 1849, the Kingdom of Zwangendaba fell apart! Different groups were created. Ntabeni's people and his village left for East Africa led by his son, Ngodoyi. Mbelwa and Mtwalos's supporters took off and headed in the South East direction to finally settle in Northern Malawi, where they still are to this day. 

Ntutho's supporters and those for another son of Zwangendaba, Lufo, headed the South West direction. and ended up in the land of the Bembas in Noprthern Zambia. However, Ntutho was the first to leave where he went to Eastern Zambia, where his people are still are to this day. Lufo, who would later be commonly called Mphelembe was expelled from Northern Zambia in 1868 and joined his brothers in Northern Malawi where he still is today. 

Meanwhile, supporters of Zwangendaba's war general, Zulu Gama KaNjelu Gama went to settle in South West Tanzania. 

Lomagazi marries a Christian Missionary

An iconic picture of the Nguni warrior, Mayayi Nhlane (sitted,third from left with white arm band) in the 1800s. On his left is Dr Laws and on his right is William Mthusane Koyi.

Lomagazi Jele settled with her brother who was now a King after being crowned in 1857 in the very country where he was born, Malawi. She then married Mayayi Nhlane Chiputula. It's Mayayi who was behind the brokering of peace deals between the Angoni nation and other tribes in Malawi. Besides, Mayayi is actually the front-runner of the introduction of formal Christian Religion in both Malawi and Zambia.

Her name has been attracting attention for a long time and the widely held view that she was blood at birth, hence the name, is coming under serious scrutiny.