THE LEGACY OF KING MPHEZENI III OF THE NGUNI PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA

 "Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die".


  
His Majesty, King Pontino Khuzwayo Jele (middle) 'cooling' his throat at the helm of his power. On his right is Inkosi kamigolo 'Fongazana Chinyaku' Jele. The Chinyaku chieftainship is one of the chiefdoms under King Mphezeni. 

Currently,  Inkhosi Chinyaku Jele, the oldest Ngoni Inkhosi alive and the only one to have been installed by King Pontino; the other Makhosi were all installed by King David Njengambaso Jele (Mphezeni IV).

Now, King Pontino was born in 1920 to Queen Justina Tembo and King Gabriel Chiloah Jele (Mphezeni 2). His elder brother was Sheba 'Mbombo' Jele who died whilst still young (one of the sons of King Pontino is named after his uncle, Sheba). 

King Pontino ruled as the Third King Mphezeni in a difficult period when the colonial government had banned the symbol of the Angoni pride-the Incwala.The name Pontino is of Portuguese origin and many other children of King Gabriel were given Portuguese names.

He started his reign in the early 1940s until the early 1980s. At one point his liberation activism caught the eyes of the colonial government that threatened to have him dethroned if be continued on that route.

 He was one of the traditional leaders in Zambia that travelled to England to resist the colonial federation that consisted of three southern African territories: the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. At the Airport, Nguni impis clad in Zulu like traditional regalia escorted their king singing war songs. The popular Ingoma song 'Amphezeni komukuya' was composed right there at the Airport as the Ngonis danced and sung majestically seeing off their decorated King. 


An avid hunter, King Pontino loved to dance the Ingoma dance right in the cattle Kraal. His favorite Ingoma song was the 'nguba' song which was composed by his own grandfather, Prince Nsingo Jele who was shot dead by the colonial forces-singer Angela Nyirenda popularised the song and it's now the traditional anthem of the Ngoni Nation.

King Pontino Khuzwayo Jele had married up-to five wives;Queen Telezia, Queen Florida Lukhero (a relative of the renowned Ngoni author Blackson Lukhero), Queen Tilekane Nzima from Nyalongo village,Queen Atinedy Jessy Divine and Queen Asedi Maimisa. 

Queen Floridah Lukhero Jele (left), now deceased, with her great niece Mary Mphanza at Feni village in Eastern Zambia.

The revival of the Incwala a year before his death, punctuated King Pontino's reign and glorified his legacy. His sister, Makirina Jele is the mother of the renowned Mvungas of Zambia, a family of distinguished public figures which include the former Bank of Zambia governor,Mr Christopher Mvunga and renowned lawyer, Professor Patrick Mvunga.

His Majesty, King Pontino Khuzwayo Jele (standing in a jacket) reigned as the Third King Mphezeni. 

Pleased note that the man he is standing with was also from the Angoni capital in the Luangeni area. He was actually singing when this photo was taken. His was in fact singing that since the whites had managed to defeat such a formidable nation as the Angoni, then they must have literally fallen from the skies; more like they were not natural beings as they possessed supernatural powers.

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