GET TO KNOW ABOUT THE NGUNI "KINGDOM" OF uMTWALO JELE KAZWANGENDABA JELE

THE LEGACY OF MTWANDHLANA MTWALO JELE.

In Northern Malawi, there is a kingdom of Nguni origin whose headquarters is called Ezondweni-'the village of hatred' Inkhosi Mthwalo Jele rules this kingdom. But just who is or rather who was Mthwalo Jele?

Born in 1833, two years before the Angoni crossing of the uGwembe river ( Zambezi) at Zumbo, Mthwandhlana Mtwalo Jele was the son of the Angoni Nation's inspirational figurehead and their decorated leader, Zwangendaba Jele of the Ncwangeni bloodline from present day St Lucia Bay in South Africa. Mtwalo's mother was Queen Qutu and she was of Swazi origin from the Nzima clan. She was the young sister of Queen Munene, M'mbelwa's mother. 

After the death of his father,Zwangendaba and the succession wrangles that followed, the young handsome Prince, Mtwalo, would also take the South East route. It is this same route that supporters of  his brothers, M'mbelwa, Ndabazake and Mabilabo would also take. This band of Jele brothers would eventually settle in Northern Malawi and installed M'mbelwa as their Principal leader, Mtwalo would be second in hierarchy.

Life after settling down in Northern Malawi

Mtwalo ruled from the village of Ekwendeni. He married Maiwase Nkhosi and made her his principal wife.

Maiwase hailed from Ezondweni Village—the village of hatred—an offshoot of Ekwendeni. She bore to Mtwalo three daughters, Mzuyeya, Makuwaza, and Walekile. The next in seniority in the Lusungulu "house" was Lumtowo, of the Nhlane clan, of Hoho—the bottomless pit and she bore to Mtwalo two daughters, Chiwozi and Mzamose. The third wife in the "house" of the Inkosikazi was Siniyawo, of the Mtetwa clan, of the village of Ezondweni, and she bore to Mtwalo a son who was at first named Muhawi.

It is interesting to note that Mthwalo had many wives and yet bore few sons. In order of marriage, the following were the wives of Mtwalo;

Maiwase Nkhosi of the Lusungulu house (she hailed from Ezondweni village), Magodise Moyo from the Kwagogo house (she hailed from Ekwendeni village), Lumtowo Nhlane from the Lusungulu house (she hailed from the village of Hoho), Nawiyawo Hala from Kwagogo house (she hailed from the village of Engqongoleni), Mthando Ndolo from Kwagogo house (she hailed from the village of Ekwendeni), Siniyawo Mtetwa from the Lusungulu house (she hailed from Ezondweni village), Hlambase Ziwa from the Lusungulu house (she hailed from the village of Ezondweni),Matambose Nkosi from the Lusungulu house (she hailed from Ezondweni village) and Velaphi Nzima from Kwagogo house (she hailed from the village of Ekwendeni).

                                           

                                                        

Inkhosi Mthwalo 2 (Amon Jele)on the middle with Chimutunga on his right and Chindi on his left.

Other wives of Mthwalo incude; Munyuse Mkalipi from Kwagogo house (she hailed from the village of Engqongoleni),Magulwe Mcisi from Kwagogo house (she hailed from the village of Engqongoleni), Lonyanda Nkosi from the Lusungulu house (she hailed from the village of Ezondweni), Guye Mtetwa from the Lusungulu house (she hailed from the village of Ezondweni) and Ngeneya Hala from the Kwagogo house (she hailed from the village of Engqongoleni).

Children of Mtwalo Jele

1.Maiwase Nkosi;she only bore female children for Mthwalo and these were Princess Mzuyeya,Makuwaza and Walekile.

2.Magodise Moyo; she bore a son named Mzikuwola and a daughter called Lonjoma.

3. Lumtowo Nhlane; only two children were fathered by Mthwalo in this house and they were all female and their names were Ciwozi and Mzamose.

4. Nawiyawo Hala; she bore daughters, Lomajozi, Sikane and Soyeya, and a male child named Lazalo.

5. Mthando Ndolo only bore female children for the Inkhosi and these were Puzile and Nxawile.

6. Siniyawo Mtetwa; this is the house that gave birth to the crown Prince, Muhawi Jele in 1873. Muhawi was born in the village of Ezondweni, a suburb of Ekwendeni (for in those days the Ngoni villages were of gigantic size), at the Mapondela Stream, near Dulu Hill, in Uswesi east of Coma.

There was talk of witchcraft at the time of his birth, and hence he was named Muhawi, the witch, but he received also the name of Somaqala, because court cases were being heard in the cattle fold at the time he was born. As he grew older, he was a bonny fat baby, and he was nicknamed Macazwa, on account of his fatness. Muhawi grew up as a typical Ngoni boy, herding the cattle in the daytime and playing at war with his fellows, driving the cattle to the great fold in the evening, to hang around the men eating their evening meal at the gates of the fold, and to hear their talk of wars and raids and affairs of state.

7. Hlambase Ziwa; she only bore a daughter to the King called Mtiyawo.

8. Matambose Nkosi; she was the mother of Priness Gciwile (C. click).

9. Velepi Nzima; she bore daughters Munjowo and Mtuseya, and a son named Mahlahluwane.

Kindly note that the other wives of Mthwalo may have been barren or perhaps their offsprings died at a young age and history may have not recorded their names.

Death of Mtwalo

In October, 1890, Mtwalo died at Kafulufulu, and was buried according to Ngoni custom, in the presence of the massed regiments of Ekwendeni.

Muhawi was yet a youth aged less than twenty years. In normal course, at least a year would intervene before the completion of the great witch hunt.

                                        

Current Inkosi Mtwalo IV, Shakestar Mleza Jele with his wife.