AmaNdebele of Zimbabwe, South Africa

 

Mzala Tom

The name “(Ama)Ndebele” is a generic name used to designate three Nguni speaking groups found in South Africa (Southern and Northern (Ama)Ndebele) and the Ndebele of Zimbabwe.

I previously did a detailed thread on the Ndebele of Zimbabwe and how the Zimbabwean Ndebele nation was founded by King Mzilikazi Khumalo. There is always confusion on Ndebele identity in Southern Africa.

It is believed that AmaNdebele of South Africa originate from the ancestral chief, Musi (or Msi). Scholars argue that they migrated from KwaZulu and first became a nation in 1552 under the chieftainship of Mafana who took the northwards route to establish the nation.

KwaMnyamana is the most important settlement area of the (Ama)Ndebele of South Africa, because it is the place where they split into two main groups and numerous smaller sub-groups. When Musi died in 1630, there was a succession struggle between two of his sons, Manala and Nzunza.

King Mzilikazi only left KwaZulu in the 1800s long after the (Ama)Ndebele of South Africa were established. When he was still in KwaZulu Mzilikazi belonged to bakwaKhumalo.

He acquired the new name “Ndebele” in the then Transvaal when he was on his way northwards.
The name “Ndebele” was commonly used to refer to those Nguni speaking people who emigrated from KwaZulu into the former Transvaal in the early 15th century as well as the Zimbabwean (Ama)Ndebele who constituted Mzilikazi’s nation after he left Zululand in the 1800s.

The generic name “(Ama)Ndebele” is a Sotho name that the Sotho people used to designate people of Nguni origin in reference to their big shields which they skilfully used to avoid penetration during wars with baSotho. The words are “maTebele” (plural) and “liTebele” (singular).

In the 1800s King Mzilikazi successfully attacked and invaded AmaNdebele of South Africa during his passage through the then Transvaal on his way to north. Many men were captured and incorporated into his armies.

This explains why South African Ndebele surnames like Mahlangu, Mabhena, Sikhosana, Mthombeni and Manala are also found among the Ndebele of Zimbabwe. These are the descendants of the AmaNdebele of South Africa captured and assimilated by Mzilikazi.

Lastly, isiNdebele spoken in South Africa is very different from the Zimbabwean isiNdebele. IsiNdebele spoken in Zimbabwe is closer to isiZulu hence the incorporation of isiZulu books and materials in the Zimbabwean isiNdebele school curriculum. (Source: @RealMzalaTom)