THE BEGINNING OF A NGUNI STORY THAT SHAPED SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICAN KINGDOMS.
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.
THE ANCIENT NGUNI OF THE NCWANGENI KINGDOMS
It would be imperative to first list down the ancient Nguni of the Ncwangeni Kingdoms;Mncwanga, Mfeka/Mfekaye, Phakathi, Jeye/Jele/Jere, Gumbi, Mzimela, Ntaka, Nxaba, Msane, Majoka, Didiza, Makhunga.
APICAL ANCESTOR:
Prince Mncwanga kaYanga I (Mkhatshwa) kaMkhonto kaSkhova kaNdwandwe .
KINGDOM:
NCWANGENI / MFEKANE
LAND AREA:
All land between Hluhluwe and the Nyalazi river stretching through from St Lucia to False Bay. Lands of the Jele, Msane and Mzimela are all Mfekane territory. The Mkhwanazi and Mcambi were given land as per the request of King Dingiswayo kaJobe Mthethwa and King Zwide kaLanga II Ndwandwe respectively under King Mzingeli kaFunjwa Mfeka. Others that were equally given land under different Ncwangeni Kings include the Ncube, Nxele, Ndlonzi, Nibele and others.
FOUNDING KING: King Mfeka kaMncwanga
KINGS OF THE MFEKANE GREAT HOUSE
King Mfeka kaMncwanga
King Thekela kaMfeka
King Nhlabathi kaThekela
King Somgubela kaNhlabathi
King Zwana kaSomgubela
King Ndaba kaZwana
King Funjwa kaNdaba
King Mzingeli kaFunjwa
King Ntlekela kaMzingeli
King Mkhokhoba kaNtlekele in
Crown Prince in exile Hayiyane kaMkhokhoba
Crown Prince in exile Seshi kaHayiyane
Crown Prince in exile Doto kaSeshi
FOUNDING OF THE NCWANGENI KINGDOMS
The Ncwangeni also known as the Mfekana are a native south east African Nguni people that at first occupied Ndwandwe land along the uPhongolo river down to the east of the Bivana river. They trace their origins to the early 13th century to their apical ancestor Prince Mncwanga kaYanga I Ndwandwe. Legend has it that when the eBuNguni Empire that was located in the south Eastern corner of Africa (Which had its Royal Capital at eNtokozweni in Mpumalanga region) collapsed, Prince Yanga I (Mkhatshwa) kaMkhonto kaSkhova kaNdwandwe decided to lead an exodus which he led to the Magudu mountains and there built his Royal Palace which he called emaNcwangeni.
This Nguni civilization boasted the most ancient Masonic traditions on the planet, with many of their geometrical city ruins dating over 100 000 years. The BuNguni Empire had various nations that formed part of it such as Sotho, Venda, Shona and San and was known by various names such as BuNguni, BaKone and VhaNgona amongst others. When the Egyptian civilization was first uniting around 36, 000 years ago, it was from the south east Nguni that they learned the Science of Masonry. Another fact little known is that the eBuNguni ruins, Great Zimbabwe and the Pyramids of Giza all align in a perfect longitude line from South to North.
The ancient Leopard Priest Society was founded by the south east Nguni and was exported into Khemu (Egypt) along with royal headdresses and Masonry. It is for this reason that when the Khemu Kingdom was invaded, many refugees from the north fled to the southeast of Africa, returning to the origins of the culture of masonry as practiced in Egypt.
When the young Prince Yanga I kaMkhonto who was now King first arrived at the foot of the Magudu mountains, he caressed the land with his eyes and proclaimed "Ngiyabonga ukwangiwa iThongo eyingivikeyiye nginjengeswane eyintabeni" which is loosely translated, "I thank the gods that preserved me when I was no different to a wild animal in the wilderness".
They then began the construction of the emaNcwangeni Royal Capital of the Ndwandwe Nguni kingdom where his heir Prince Mncwanga kaYanga was born. Earlier histories had incorrectly presumed that the Gudunkomo Royal Palace was built by King Yanga I kaMkhonto whereas it was built much later by King Yanga II kaXaba of the Ndwandwe.
It is said that when the regal Prince Mncwanga was born, he was covered in what seemed to be a sack that was soaked in a snowhite milk. This according to Nguni custom meant that Prince Mncwanga kaYanga was a special child who had a great destiny.
The first wife of King Yanga I kaMkhonto, the mother of Prince Mavuso kaYanga was envious of Prince Mncwanga and saw him as a threat to the ascension of her own son to the Ndwandwe thrown due to his maternal royal prestige as his mother was of Royal suthu blood of the Bakoni whom were among the highly revered clans from the BuNguni Empire.
She then arranged that the sacred sack of Prince Mncwanga's birth be stolen and sent to a powerful shaman who would be able to cast a curse on Prince Mncwanga that would prohibit him from bearing children. Prince Mncwanga kaYanga grew up being a favorite among the regiments demonstrating incredible bravery and natural skill with the assegai and upon coming of age, Prince Mncwanga also married to a Sotho Princess from the Bakwena.
However, trouble began when the young royal couple began to realize that they have been having continuous miscarriages. This felt like an indictment on the young Prince and he decided to travel the lands in search for answers.
He found an Oracle by the name of uCupha uMagejageja from the Ncube clan at a place called eNondweni west of the Hluhluwe river. It is during this consultation that uMagejageja stated "Kawubuyawa ndawo Mncwanga, kodwa ufekhaya" which is loosely translated, "You are not being killed anywhere Mncwanga but home".
After assisting the young Prince to break the curse uMagejageja then said "You will only bear one son, however this son will bear for you Kingdoms." A few months after, the royal couple was again pregnant and indeed a son was born, this son Prince Mncwanga named him uFekhaya, meaning the 'one who was killed at home'. This Fekhaya kaMncwanga became known as Mfekaye and Mfekane throughout all Nguni kingdoms.
The young Prince Mfeka kaMncwanga was also born in a sack just like his father and this made Prince Mncwanga excstatic and immediately took his son to his Oracle uMagejageja Ncube to be fortified. Prince Mfeka kaMncwanga grew up having been initiated by Magejageja Ncube on the Nguni Esoteric Knowledge and Occult Science.
Prince Mfeka kaMncwanga got married to 7 wives and begot Crown Prince Thekeya kaMfeka eNdlunkulu and begot Prince Jeye/Jele kaMfeka eKhohlo. His abilities and zest for warfare earned Prince Mfeka kaMncwanga great fame and adoration among his Ndwandwe kinsmen however this earned the house of Mncwanga enemies in the Royal Court of King Yanga I who was now highly advanced of age.
The Umfolozi Game Reserve in the Hluhluwe area
Upon the passing of King Yanga I kaMkhonto, a dispute broke out in the Royal Court with some contending that Prince Mncwanga kaYanga I ought to ascend as King, as his birth attests and that his mother was of revered royal blood however before this dispute could be finalized by the Royal court a regiment led by Prince Mavuso kaYanga I ambushed the court and killed Prince Mncwanga kaYanga I which led to a nasty civil war that ultimately forced Prince Mfeka kaMncwanga to take the royal sackem and lead the first break away from the Ndwandwe kingdom, leading his fathers followers into lands which were already occupied by Ncwangeni offspring within the vicinity of Hluhluwe, St Lucia.
It is said that they reached the Nyalazi river where Prince Mfeka kaMncwanga is said to have stepped on the water and they immediately stopped. Earning him the praises "Mfekaye wangaseNhla owehla ngesiyuyu wanyatheya kanye kwam'amanzi" loosely translated, 'Mfekaye of the north who descended on a canoe, upon one step the waters ceased'.
Upon crossing the Nyalazi he stopped and stated "Yapha sizo kwakha iMcakwini, nathi sesizokwaziwa ngamaNcwangeni" which means 'Here we shall build the Mcakwini Royal capital and we shall now be known as the Ncwangeni'. The term eMcakwini basically means 'At Preservation' and the term amaNcwangeni means 'the Preservers'.
When the Ncwangeni settled on this coastal land, the Mkhwanazi, Mthethwa, Msweli and Mcambi clans had not yet arrived and some other Ncwangeni clans such as the Phakathi, Mzimela and Msane among others had not as yet emerged. King Mfekaye then instructed his first born son in iKhohlo (Junior house) Prince Jele kaMfekaye to establish himself in the St Lucia area and lead the Ncwangeni section in that part of the Kingdom to which those people became known as abakwaJele, the people of Jele.
King Jele kaMfeka who was also known as Nkabaluthuli begot King Nguboyengwe who begot King Dlomo who begot King Nonyanda who begot King Mangangatha who begot King Hlatshwayo who begot King Zwangendaba and King Somkhanda. King Zwangendaba led an exodus that established the BaNgoni Kingdoms in Zambia and Malawi, with King Somkhanda (Gumbi) returning to the Mkhuze area and established the Gumbi kingdom.
After the passing of the Great King Mfeka kaMncwanga, crown prince Thekela kaMfeka ascended his fathers throne, and was coronated by King Jele kaMfeka as the Jele being a junior house of the Great King, possess the royal authority of coronating Kings of the Mfekane Great House who lead all of the Ncwangeni Royal Houses. King Thekela was a warrior king who personally led his battles which earned him the praises uThekela ongathekel emzaneni uthekela emanxulumeni.
King Thekela kaMfeka was succeeded by his son King Nhlabathi kaThekela who was succeeded by his son King Somgubela kaNhlabathi who begot King Zwana in eNdlunkulu. It so happened that one day, on one of King Somgubeya's hunting trips with his elite royal regiment that was called abaHlosi, his majesty came across a remarkably well nourished springbok whose beauty enticed his royal eminence.
Upon attempting to target the animal with a crossbow, sensing impending danger the animal began to run however it fell inside a creek on the ground. Seeing this as a grand opportunity, the king ordered his men to tie him by the waist so that he may enter the creek to kill the animal "phakathi emgodini" meaning "inside the creek". The orders were followed and indeed his royal majesty thrust and killed the animal and had it pulled out.
When the hunting party returned to the palace in celebration and jubilee, the King was informed, that whilst his majesty was away, a prince was born in the ikhohlo house. The king was beyond excited and said the prince must be named Prince Phakathi as on the day he was born, his father had made history by killing an animal 'phakathi emgodini'.
Prince Phakathi like his forefathers was a natural with the spear which earned him the praises 'uMginind' womuntu ngomkhonto udlub' uywahlutshwa okhasini'. It is said that he lived over 100 years and he was once a regent King of the Mfekane when crown prince Zwana kaSomgubela was still to young to reign.
His regency was a time of great harvest and cattle growth for the Ncwangeni, even when King Zwana kaSomgubela assumed the throne, he remained a special advisor to his Majesty throughout his years. His first born son he named Phangizitha kaPhakathi who became the General of the Mfekane Army from the time of King Zwana kaSomgubela to the reign of King Funjwa kaNdaba. King Zwana kaSomgubela like his forefathers was highly initiated in the Nguni esoteric knowledge and occult science and was highly revered for his ability to enter rivers and the ocean and disappear for days and re-emerge with great storm.
The Zwana river for instance, in which he once submerged in was named after him. King Zwana begot crown prince Ndaba kaZwana eNdlunkulu, he begot Prince Nzimela kaZwana ekhohlo and he begot Prince Msane kaZwana and Prince Majoka kaZwana in iQadi.
When prince Nzimela kaZwana came of age, he was given land in the eziNkuhlwini area and its people to lead who became known as amaNzimela.
HOUSE: JELE ROYAL HOUSE
KINGDOM: BANGONI
JELE ROYAL HOUSE of King Jele kaMfekaye
This house developed into the Jele Kingdom that developed into the Ngoni Kingdoms of Zambia and Malawi. It is the second most senior royal house of the Ncwangeni after the Mfekane Great House. In times of yore whenever an old King of the Ncwangeni passed onto the realm of the ancestors, the royal patriach of the Jele House was given the sacred responsibility of coronating the new King of the Mfekane who becomes iNyandezuyu (King of Kings) of all Ncwangeni royal houses.
They now have two senior royal houses which is the House of King Mphezeni I kaZwangendaba and the House of King M'mbelwa I kaZwangendaba.
St Lucia Bay stretch to Mfekayi.
Land After Exodus:
Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Eastern Burundi and the shores of Lake Victoria in East Africa.
KINGS OF THE JELE HOUSE
King Jele kaMfekaye
King Nkabaluthuli kaJele
King Nguboyengwe kaNkabaluthuli
King Dlomo kaNguboyengwe
King Nonyanda kaDlomo
King Magangatha kaNonyanda
King Hlatshwayo kaMangangatha
King Zwangendaba kaHlatshwayo
HOUSE OF UMPHEZENI in ZAMBIA
ROYAL CAPITAL: EKUPHENDUKENI AT EFENI VILLAGE, CHIPATA,EASTERN ZAMBIA.
Lineage:
King Mphezeni I kaZwangendaba (1830-1900).
King Nsingu kaMphezeni I (1865-1898).
King Chiloah (Mphezeni II) kaNsingu (1891-1941).
King Khuzwayo Pontino (Mphezeni III) kaChiloah (1920-1981).
King Njengambaso (Mphezeni IV) kaKhuzwayo :current reigning King and Royal Patriach of all Jele Royal Houses.
The Jele Ngonis under King Mphezeni during the royal pilgrimage of the Incwala
HOUSE OF UMMBELWA in MALAWI
ROYAL CAPITAL: EDINGENI PALACE IN EMZIMBA, NORTHERN MALAWI
Lineage:
King Mhahlo Mmbelwa I kaZwangendaba (1841-1891).
King Mbalekelwa Chimutunga kaMmbelwa I (1875-1924).
King Mkhuzo (Mmbelwa II) kaMmbelwa I (1896-1959).
King Mthusane (Mmbelwa III) kaMkhuzo (1931-1983).
King Zwangendaba II (Mmbelwa IV) kaMthusane (1954-2013).
King Mkhosi (Mmbelwa V) kaZwangendaba II: Current reigning King.
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