MATABELE HISTORY

The Place of a Woman among Mzilikazi's Ndebele People 

1. Indlovukazi: Queen mother or mother of the reigning king.

2. Inkosikazi: Queen or wife of the king.

3. Inkosazana: Princess or daughter of the king.

4. Umama: Mother

5. UGogo: Grand mother

6. Ubabakazi: Paternal Aunt or father's sister.

7. Umamomdala/Umamomncane: maternal aunt or mother's sister or wife of one's paternal uncle. 

8. Indodakazi: daughter 

9. Umndlunkulu: senior wife

10. Ikhohlo: junior wife

11. Umthanyelo: Deputy wife or additional wife (given to a man by his in laws as part of the bridal package). She carries the seniority of her sister or aunt in relation to other wives.

12. Inhlanzi: Back up or spare wife (given to a man whose first wife can't conceive)

13. Imbokodo: Replacement wife (given to a man whose first wife has died).

14. Umamazala: mother in law to the woman.

15. Umkhwekazi: mother in law to the man.

16. Umalokazana/umlobokazi/Umakoti: daughter in law.

17. Usonyongwana: bridal assistant 

18. Unyanewethu/unyanewabo: a woman married to the same husband as another woman. 

19. Uzakwethu/uzakwabo: women married to siblings 

20. Usebele/umlingani: the relationship between the two mothers of the couple.

21. Umlamu: younger sister in law to the groom

22. Udadewethu: sister

23. Umalumekazi: wife of one's maternal uncle.

24. Umkami: wife

Credit: George Mkhwananzi.

One of the most iconic photos of King Lobengula KaMzilikazi. Oral history records state that he 'disappeared'. The Mphezeni Nguni Historians highly refute this and say he is buried in the Saunjika Hill.Mashenga Ndhlovu is pointed out as one of those that received the King and his entourage when they first arrived in the Emthenguleni area.  This narrative started making rounds as late as the 1890s. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE BEGINNING OF A NGUNI STORY THAT SHAPED SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICAN KINGDOMS.

Image
The glorious and unrivaled Northern trek of King Zwangendaba from   kwaZulu-Natal  in  South Africa  is well documented, yet the world has for a long time remained divided on who he really was. Different clans or indeed Nations have indeed claimed 'ownership' of the sung hero of the Northern Nguni Kingdoms which has grown in mighty to encompass different   Nguni    States such as the  Zulu ,  Swazis , and those from the  Mthwakazi  kingdom. It has thus been a disappointing journey for most researchers and historians who have ventured into this area of discovering the roots of Zwangendaba as they have been left with more questions than answers.                                            An artistic impression of King Zwangendaba as a Youth as gotten from a Malawian Nguni artist.   After researching for more tha...
Read more

LOBENGULA'S GRAVE FINALLY 'DISCOVERED'.

Image
A NDEBELE KING WHO WAS BURIED IN NGONILAND There has been a long standing FIB that King Lobengula of the Ndebele empire died and was buried in Matabeleland. This distortion of truth conjured and fronted by the Muzungu (white man) has been there for a long time and told BLATANTLY to the world.  Am not a Ndebele historian, thus in my own opinion, the truth should have been revealed by a someone of Ndebele roots. But since, it seems Ngonis (my tribe) have a traditional relationship with the Ndebeles, I have felt compelled to expose to the readers the TRUE accounts of King Lobengula’s fate.  You see, after the battle of Shangani in October 1893, which led to overwhelming losses for the Ndebeles, Lobengula escaped from Ndebele territory fearing arrest if not possible execution by the British forces. But where did the Ndebele King escape to and what happened to him afterwards?  Ngoniland! Yes, this is the kingdom which Lobengula deemed safe to escape to. Mpezeni and Lobengula h...
Read more

30 UNIQUE NGUNI NAMES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

Image
Looking for a fancy Nguni name for your child? Well, let's look at some 30 attractive  Nguni  names and their meanings. 1. Amandla: this name can be given to either a boy or a girl and it means 'strength or power'.  2. Amile: this is a name for a boy. It is has to do something keeping a structural holding making sure things are balanced in life.  3. Bhekizizwe: a male name, this means 'look after the nations' in the   Ngoni /  Zulu   tongue.  4. Buchule: A Xhosa  name meaning "skills; cleverness", the name applies to both boys and girls.  5. Bonginkosi: a Zulu name for a boy meaning 'thanksgiving'.  6. Butho: looking for a name that associates with a strong character for your boy, well this is the right name as it means 'Soldier' in the  Ndebele  tongue. 7. Cebisa: another fancy Xhosa name for a female is Cebisa, it means 'advice'.  8. Dela: a rare female Zulu name but one that is unique, it means to become whole, com...
Read more