THE MBELWA NGUNI DYNASTY


MEANING OF MZIMBA IN ZULU

In the Zulu language, Mzimba simply means a BODY. The district of Mzimba is located in Northern Malawi. 

A Map showing the vast Mzimba district were most Ngonis from the Zwangendaba Nation settled in Malawi after leaving  KwaZulu-Natal in  the present eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

MEANING OF MZIMBA AMAKHOSI HEADQUARTERS.

1. Edingeni; King Mbelwa reigns his empire from his capital/headquarters which is called Edingeni. Edingeni means 'place of need'.

2. Ekwendeni/Ezondweni; Inkhosi Mtwalo reigns from his Ezondweni base. Initially his headquarters was Ekwendeni. Ekwendeni means 'place of marriage'. On the other hand, Ezondweni means, 'place of hatred'.

3. Emfeni/Elangeni; Inkhosi Mabilabo reigns from his Elangeni base, initially his capital was Emfeni. Elangeni is a 'place of the sun' whilst Emfeni means 'place of death' (its actually supposed to be Ekufeni).

4. Ephungeni/Emcisweni; The headquarters of the Mpherembe empire. Ephungeni means 'a place of smell' whilst Emcisweni means 'a place of joy'.

Interesting, Zwangendaba loved being in this village which was the home of Queen Mkumhlane. When he demanded beer from his Emveyeyeni wives, he was in fact in the village of Emcisweni.

5. Euthini; Inkhosi Chindi reigns from his Euthini base. However, we do not have 'eu' in Nguni terms, this is thus a corruption of UTHINI meaning "what are you saying'?

6. Embagweni; Inkhosi Mzukuzuku reigns from his Embagweni base. Embagweni means 'a place of quarrels.

7. Esigodhlweni /Emchakachakeni; the capita of the Mzikbola empire was first at esigodhlweni but is now called Emchakacheni. Esigodhlweni means 'place of of the sanctuary of the gods' whilst Emchakacheni means 'a place of peasants'.

8. Eswazini; Inkhosi Kabingo Sibande reigns from his Eswazini base. The term Eswazini means, 'plac of the Swati' owing to the Swati roots of Sibande who was in fact related to the mother of King Mbelwa.

9. Elomhlehlo; Inkhosi Khosolo reigns from his base calle Elomhlehlo. Elomhlehlo is in fact the inner write skin found in animals or humans.

10. Ekwaliweni; Inkhosi Jalavikuba Munthali reigns from his capital called Ekwaliweni which means 'a place of rejection'.


The 'Lion of Mzimba', King Mbelwa V (Mkhosi Jele) during the annual Ncwala celebrations at Emthenguleni village in Eastern Zambia.

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