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| Matshobana,
Chief of the Khumalo |
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At the time of rule of Zwide, the chief of the Ndwandwe
people and ultimate ruler of the Ndwandwe State in
Zululand, there where various clans
under the Ndwandwe State. One such clan were the Khumalos,
who were a branch of the Ntungwa Nguni. The Khumalo clan
lived in the segment of Zululand that lies between
Esikwebisini, the Umkuze rivers, and the Mountains of
Ngome. The Khumalo clan was further divided into three sub
clans, Chief Donda governed the Southern Khumalo, his
cousin Chief Beje governed the Central Khumalo and his
uncle Chief Matshobana (also known as Mashobane,
Matshobane) governed the Northern Khumalo. |
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Matshobana was the son of
Mangethe and his mother was MaNxumalo. Matshobane ruled a
people, in line with the trend at the time, who were
tillers, pastoralists, and hunters. In comparison to most
of the Zululand tribes, the Khumalo clan was but a small
clan of people. |
| Tshaka on reaching the Ndwandwe-Khumalo boundary with his
regiments, Chief Donda, told him of what had befalled
Dingiswayo. Fearing for the same fate, Tshaka turned back. On hearing of this Zwide accused the Khumalo tribe
of treachery, and consequently ordered the death of all
the Khumalo Chiefs. Zwide's regiments moved into the
Khumalo clan territory, murdered Chief Donda and his
heir, fortunately for Chief Beje, had heard wind of the
Zwide's command, and had made his escape. Unfortunate
for Matshobana, the Ndwandwe regiments moved into his
kraal and massacred the defenseless inhabitants. Matshobana
was killed
and his son Mzilikazi was
installed as the leader of the tribe. These were the
events that led to the death of Motshabana. |
| There are numerous stories
about Matshobana and, his exploits and mishaps in the
battle field, his people basically referred to him as a
leopard. One story told about Matshobana's encounters in
the battlefield, is one where he was caught by the
enemy. |
It is said that while in
charge of a regiment that was raiding a neighboring
tribe Zululand, Matshobana was caught by the soldiers of
a neighboring tribe. To teach him a lesson, they
amputated his hand and set him free. He tracked his
fellow soldiers, bleeding profusely, until he found
them. Today the Matebele, (a.k.a
amaNdebele) refer to Matshobana as the three-legged
spiritual leopard, a spirit which they invoke during
great festivals and national crisis, in the hope that
his ominous spirit will act quickly and
decisively.
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| Matshobana was the father of Mzilikazi,
the First King of the Matebele
Kingdom. |
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The Ndwandwe people lived in close proximity to the
Khumalo clan, and it is from the daughters of Zwide that
Matshobane chose his first wife, her name was Nompethu.
This was to prove a significant union in the history of
Southern Africa, in 1790 Nompethu gave birth to one of
Southern Africa's greatest Kings, Mzilikazi.
Soon after the birth of his son Mzilikazi,
as was customary with a child who is an heir to the
throne, Matshobane commanded his councillors to take his
son to the royal kraal of Zwide. This wasn't meant to
safeguard the heir from the Chief's enemies or
conspirators. |
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The Khumalo clan had been
forced to join the Ndwandwe state due to the power of
Zwide rule. Zwide was determined to be the most powerful
ruler in Zululand. This resulted in a collision course
with Dingiswayo of the Mthethwa, who by now had
recruited Tshaka into his army
regiments. Zwide was not a great warrior, but he was
cunning. Dingiswayo decided to personally lead his army
into Zwide territory, he sent command to Tshaka
to organise the Zulu army regiments and meet at the
present day Nongoma.
On reaching the appointed place Dingiswayo, whilst
waiting for Tshaka to arrive
with the rest of the regiments, decided to stroll on the
hills of Nongoma unescorted with the intention of spying
on the enemy. He was caught by Ndwandwe scouts and
executed at the instruction of Zwide. |
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| Tshaka
on reaching the Ndwandwe-Khumalo boundary with his
regiments, Chief Donda, told him of what had befalled
Dingiswayo. Fearing for the same fate, Tshaka
turned back. On hearing of this Zwide accused the Khumalo tribe
of treachery, and consequently ordered the death of all
the Khumalo Chiefs. Zwide's regiments moved into the
Khumalo clan territory, murdered Chief Donda and his
heir, fortunately for Chief Beje, had heard wind of the
Zwide's command, and had made his escape. Unfortunate
for Matshobana, the Ndwandwe regiments moved into his
kraal and massacred the defenseless inhabitants. Matshobana
was killed
and his son Mzilikazi was
installed as the leader of the tribe. These were the
events that led to the death of Motshabana. |
|
There are numerous stories
about Matshobana and, his exploits and mishaps in the
battle field, his people basically referred to him as a
leopard. One story told about Matshobana's encounters in
the battlefield, is one where he was caught by the
enemy.
|
It is said that while in
charge of a regiment that was raiding a neighboring
tribe Zululand, Matshobana was caught by the soldiers of
a neighboring tribe. To teach him a lesson, they
amputated his hand and set him free. He tracked his
fellow soldiers, bleeding profusely, until he found
them. Today the Matebele, (a.k.a
amaNdebele) refer to Matshobana as the three-legged
spiritual leopard, a spirit which they invoke during
great festivals and national crisis, in the hope that
his ominous spirit will act quickly and
decisively.
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| Matshobana was the father of Mzilikazi,
the First King of the Matebele
Kingdom. |
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