03/06/2026
We now begin to explore events in Kwa Zulu Natal which led up to the Battle of Mhlathuze River. This Battle would have a major impact on the people of South Eastern Africa up to the present generation. Over the next few days our posts will cover these events. Name to look out for are Dingiswayo, Matiwane, Zwangendaba kaJele, Soshangaan ka Nxumalo, Zwide kaLanga, Mphangazitha, Mzilikazi (grandson of Zwide) and of course Shaka.
Swazi and Zulu History. Dlamini
Sigujana who was Senzangakhona’s heir, who was supposed to be the one who would succeed him. Senzangakhona, on hearing of his heir’s death, was struck by fear and died in 1810; and from that time onward Shaka ruled kwaZulu. A long time passed after the death of Senzangakhona before a feud broke out in kwaZulu, with Dingiswayo quarrelling with Zwide the inkosi of the Nxumalo clan, as they feuded over a young woman. Dingiswayo had taken something set aside for Zwide, who encircled Dingiswayo and killed him. Dingiswayo died in 1818.
Nompetu, daughter of Zwide, entered Mashobane’s house, the Khumalo clan, and gave birth to Mzilikazi.
Story of Langabi kaZwide. Vilakazi F Written in isiZulu in 1939.
Zwide and the abakwaMthethwa
Zwide attacked the Mthethwa nation. The abakwaMthethwa had real power compared to other nations. Zwide, on seeing that the abakwaMthethwa had power, decided to embark on a campaign of complete annihilation (destroying the grind-stone and its base).
Only birds were left crying in the land of the Mthethwa. At that point, Zwide was famed and
known throughout the territory of kwaZulu. When he saw this he no longer got along well with the Zulu house. Then they were really at loggerheads with the Zulu house. Then Shaka saw that Zwide was poised to do evil, and so he sent for his inyanga, Mnyamana.
Dlamini 281, Swazi and Zulu History
The amakhosi attacked by Shaka in the olden days.
Here are the amakhosi attacked by Shaka, whom he then chased from kwaZulu.
Bheje was an inkosi who fought with Shaka.
Dlaba was the inkosi who had built at Nkandla. Dlaba entered his fortress at kwaMasiphambane and Shaka was unsuccessful.
Hlubi was the inkosi of the abaSuthu who had built at the Drakensberg until the war of kwaZulu fought in 1879. Hlubi took up arms and helped the Whites at the end of the war.
And the Whites divided the land of KwaZulu near iSandlwana above the Mzinyathi river up for Hlubi who was Mbunda’s son.
Macingwana was the inkosi who was defeated by Shaka in the wars of destroying the nations. Macingwana was the inkosi of the nation of the amaChunu.
UMangobe the father of Manwayi, was the inkosi of the amaTonga. The amaTonga in the old days used to sell medicines and metal and to***co.
Langa was the inkosi of kwaNdwandwe.
Langalibalele was the inkosi of the Hlubi.
Lokotwayo was the inkosi of kwaZungu.
Lukulumba was an inkosi.
Magembe was the father of Manukuza, who was the inkosi of kwaMbokazi.
Mnini was the inkosi of kwaNtuli.
Magadaza was the inkosi of the Mpushini.
Madikana was the inkosi of the amaWushe, the Cele people.
Macingwane was the inkosi of the amaChunu.
Magama was the inkosi of the Mzimkhulu river, who ruled from 1786.
Magenge was the inkosi of the amaNandi.
Mahaule was the inkosi of the amaFuze.
Majiya was the inkosi of the amaPhephetha.
Mangcuku was the inkosi yakwaNdelu.
Manyonyo was the inkosi of kwaMbhedu.
Mapoloba was the inkosi of kwaNgcobo.
Here are the amakhosi who fought with Shaka, and whose praises he overcame entirely, and
today all of these many amakhosi are no longer around:
Bhacela was the inkosi of eLangeni
Bhebhe was the inkosi of eLangeni
Bheje was the inkosi of [ illegible]
Dlaba was the inkosi at Nkandla
Fodo was the inkosi of the amaDlamini from Mkhuze
Dingswayo was the inkosi of eLangeni
Dilikani was the inkosi of the amaMbata
Dibanhlela was the inkosi of kwaCele
Zihlanhlo was the inkosi of eMbo
Hlubi was the inkosi of iNkandla of the abeSuthu.
Jobe was the inkosi of kwaMthethwa
Kula was the inkosi of kwa[
Vilakazi 780, AmaNgwane History, F Vilakazi, 13/3/41
Mathiwane
As I have already said, the amaSwazi began to run out of space, and this caused them to split
into many different groups.
Mathiwane went off and built at the source of the Thukela. He was the inkosi of the amaNgwane. He was very famous at that time, and his people were as numerous as the Zulu nation all together. This made Shaka, the inkosi of the amaZulu, have some fear of Mathiwane. And Mathiwane also conquered neighbouring nations such as the amaZizi.
Shaka armed his impi in order to make war on the amaNgwane. The impi of the AmaZulu marshalled at kwaDukuza. And Mathiwane was prepared for him too, with his own impi.
Then, with no word that the Zulu nation was on its way, the impi of the amaNgwane marshalled south of the Thukela.
Mathiwane sent out spies to go to KwaZulu – Nogaju Gule, Velaphi Kunene and Gabuza
Mathe. They are the ones that are heard about. One day, these spies entered the homestead
at kwaDukuza, in kwaZulu. They had been staying in the forests near the umGede river. And they were eating cattle there on the cliffs. Their entry was at night, when the inkosi gathered the Zulu nation in order to address them on the matter of the attack on Mathiwane. Then when they were in ranks together with the Zulu host, they pretended to do all the characteristic things that were done in kwaZulu.
