HE IS KING MPHEZENI AND NOT 'PARAMOUNT CHIEF MPHEZENI".


Did you know that under Ngoni customary law, we have no clause or title called 'Paramount Chief'? Indeed any Ngoni who knows and understands our culture and tradition CANNOT refer to Mphezeni as a Paramount Chief but rather he is an Inkhosi or simply KING!

But where did this mortifying title come from and how was it birthed in Ngoniland? Well, the title is a colonial tag which was aimed at 'humiliating' those African Nations who had strong monarchs, like the Mphezeni Ngonis.

In fact, in the case of the Ngonis, the British had made them as their number one enemy since their King, Ntuto or simply Mphezeni had on numerous occasions resisted their occupation of his land.

A glorious opportunity presented itself during the British-Angoni war of 1897 as despite Mphezeni surrendering using his Zinduna the British soldiers continued slaughtering innocent Ngonis and even destroying their social and economical societies. It is after this war that we see the creation of this tag of Paramount Chief.

It was conferred on Ntutho because the British wanted to 'punish' the Ngonis for their daring attack on its base in the Luangeni area. Also it was thought that the British had a queen thus having several Kings in Africa would weaken her status.

Thus forth, even in South Africa where the Ngonis trace their origins the title also existed. But it was strapped off in the post liberation period and the Nguni traditional leaders reverted back to the title of Inkosi which is an equivalent of King.

Prince Buthelezi in his well written speech during the 2019 Ncwala had asked the Ngoni Royal Establishment to push the government to also remove this clause as it was a colonial remnant and does not sit well with nations that had broken free from colonization.

Even the songs that the Angoni sing in praise to their King do not anywhere refer to King Mphezeni as 'Paramount Chief' but rather as 'Inkhosi YaMakhosi' which means King of Kings!
"Mphezeni ningwenyama, yakwa Jele! Mphezeni ningwenyama yakwa Jele!

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