CORRECT SALUTATION FOR KINGS OF ZWANGENDABA LINEAGE

A lot has been said about how the Northern Ngonis or indeed the Ngunis lost a lot of their cultural aspects after settling in their current bases. Whilst it is not possible to explain all the distortions, we can at least try to tackle important issues of such cultural corruptions. Today, let us look at how most Northern Ngoni Kings are saluted, specifically those from the Zwangendaba Nation. 

At major renowned Ngoni events such as the Incwala in Eastern Zambia, the host of ceremony King Mpezeni, is saluted as 'Ndabezitta' or 'Bayette'.This is the same with king Zwangendaba's other bloodline, King Mbelwa of neighboring Malawi who is also praised/saluted by the same two mentioned praise words. 

But is this the correct way of elevating these two traditional sons of Zwangendaba?

WHO WAS ZWANGENDABA? 

To know for sure if  the usage of  bayette  or ndabezitha can apply to Kings Mbelwa and his elder brother, Mpezeni, we need to know their lineage, in this case, who was Zwangendaba? 

Despite some earlier narratives that Zwangendaba was from the Zulu Kingdom, the Ngonis inspirational figurehead was in fact from an opposing Nation of the Zulu Nation. 

Zwangendabas ancestral home is between Hluhluwe and Chwebeni. It is around this same locality that his father, King Hlasthwayo's palace was erected at village called Elangeni. 

A map showing the tribal area where Zwangendaba hailed from. 

From this, we can tell that he was from the ncwangweni family and these nations were more close to the Ndwandwes and not the Zulus. To this put this into perspective, the bloodlines of King Zwangendaba need to be properly saluted as per tradition of their ancestors and their ancestors were not hailed as 'Bayede' or 'ndabezitha'!

SO WHAT THENI IS THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY FOR ADRESSING KINGS FROM THE ZWANGENDABA LINEAGE?

Nyandezulu! Yes, this is a perfect substitute for Bayette or Ndabezitha. It should be pointed before going further that 'Ndabezitta' applies to the Zulu royal family, and even the Mbatha, Biyela, Khumalo and Ndebeles. In addition, we say 'Bayede' to a Zulu King and 'Bayette' to a Swazi King. 


Inkosi Ya Makhosi, Mpezeni IV (David Njengambazo Jele) waving to the crowd during his royal pilgrimage from Efeni village to Mthenguleni during the annual Ncwala ceremony in Eastern Zambia. 

So whilst Mpezeni and Mbelwa should be hailed as NYANDEZULU, their surbordinate Makhosi  are supposed to be hailed or addressed as Ndlondlo or Nkosi yoSelwa and wena weNyandezulu. 

WHAT DOES NYANDEZULU MEAN?

Inyandezulu coming out of the lake 

The term iNyanda means a rack. And iNyandezulu is the water serpent with 7 heads

If you look closely at the picture in the water you will see shadows branching out, which is the reflection of its heads as it ascends into the clouds


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