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Finding our Mkhize past
My name is Siyabonga Mkhize, the sixth son of Mandlenkosi and Jabulile Mkhize. My clan name is abaseMbo of Mkhize. My family is a branch of the isiMahla royal house, which is the chief house of the Mkhize people. My father Mandlenkosi is the son of Menyezwayo, son of Ngudla, son of Faku, son of Mandulo, son of Zihlandlo, son of Gcwabe, son of Khabazela, son of Mavovo, son of Sibiside, son of Sidweba, son of Ndlozela, son of Langa, son of Zalankomo, son of Nkosi.
I’ve been involved in the family history research for more than a decade: from 1995 to 2004 I was employed in community radio stations - Radio Khwezi and Imbokodo FM. In both stations I was the producer of family history programmes respectively called Iziko and Kusadliwa Ngoludala. At these stations is where I developed an interest in studying family histories. I used to get correspondence from the listeners and they all had similar question: Where did our people originate? This caused me to start researching the origins of the Nguni people and of some of the groups who form part of the Nguni speaking people of South Eastern Africa of whom my clan, abaMbo, is a branch.
I worked on the history of the Zulu Royal family. When it was complete, I decided to study the abaMbo. It was the year 1999 when I started my journey through the family of Mkhize. I had a goal that I wanted to collect the clan history and compile a book that would be published and used by our people and serve as a reference for future generations.
Importance of Oral History
In most indigenous groups history was not recorded in writing, but was recorded in the family praise songs (izithakazelo/iziduko), royal praises (izibongo zamaKhosi) and most of this history was delivered to younger generations through the word of mouth. Hence I had to use oral history. For this reason I had to travel long distances visiting different people who had different backgrounds but share the same ancestral lineage. I visited old citizens of eMbo, prominent people like amaKhosi, politicians and radio personalities. I also attended family gatherings, and clans’ commemorations. I was trying to reach every member of the clan who could assist with the needed information.
I visited libraries, national archives, museums where one could get information about abaMbo people. The books that were crucial to me are: Olden Times in Zululand and Natal written by A.T. Bryant, the James Stuarts Archive of Recorded Oral Evidence Relating to the History of the Zulu and Neighboring Peoples and Abantu Abamnyama Lapho Bavela Khona written by Magema Fuze.
Uhlanga Lwas’eMbo – History of eMbo People
In 2007 I was able to publish a book called Uhlanga lwas’eMbo, where I joined the pieces of the puzzle. The first chapter looks at the arrival of the abaMbo-Nguni group from central Africa. It is named after the title of the book, “Uhlanga Lwas’eMbo”. The name uHlanga means the main stem or the nation and lwas’eMbo means of eMbo. In Nguni languages the name uHlanga is mostly used to identify or salute the indigenous people, and their traditional leaders.
In the first chapter I tell the world that we had an established nation which was known as abaMbo or abaseMbo (those of eMbo). They were neighboring other nations who also migrated to South Eastern Africa, who were part of the Nguni speaking communities, but historically and genealogically unrelated to abaMbo. These were nations like abaThembu, amaNtungwa, abeSuthu, amaThongo, etc. All these nations were ruled by hereditary heads of their families. When the family had grown or expanded sub-clans were established and they had to pay their allegiance to the senior house. The nation or clan had only one iNkosi (king) and other amakhosi were called izikhulu (chiefs).
In the late 16th century most of the Nguni-speaking communities immigrated to South Africa. The abaMbo group made their appearance through the Lubombo Mountains, and that’s where they separated and formed new nations, cultures and dialects. These nations are today known as AmaSwati, AmaHlubi, AmaMpondo, AmaMpondomise, AmaDlamini and AmaKhize who are better known as abaMbo. These nations are genealogically related, but they comprised of different languages, culture and heritage, and they mostly occupy the south eastern regions of Africa.
The rest of the book focuses on the abaMbo-Mkhize, the clan whom I was initially interested to study. The second chapter tells how abaMbo occupied the eNkandla valley from Lubombo Mountains and who their leader was at that time. In this chapter one would also find the list of new clan who were born by Mkhize family but separated from the main stem and formed new polities: amaMpondo, amaMpondomise, amaXesibe, amaThembela (Magcaba), amaPhampuka (Ngcongo), amaLebuka (Hlengwa), amaDima (Shange) and amaBhida (Mabhida). In other chapters I narrate the history of amaKhosi Ohlanga (traditional leaders from the chief house of the Mkhize family) and their role in defending the abaMbo polity. I also look at the battles fought with other clans, historical events and praise poems. Some praise poems are more than 300 years old, yet they are still accurate and the history is preserved through them.
Old photos of highly recognized amaKhosi, which I obtained from royal families, are also inserted. In other chapters I’ve listed the eMbo royal regiments and royal homesteads. I managed to construct one big family tree, where all the 14 royal families are represented. The founding fathers of the families are listed. The Uhlanga lwas’eMbo book will help not only the Mkhize, but the entire abaMbo-Nguni to understand their origins better.
Siyabonga Mkhize was born in Umlazi, Durban. He is founder and leader of the Salem City of God Church based in Zwelibomvu and Richmond. He is currently writing an English version of Uhlanga Lwas’eMbo.
Comments
Siyabonga,
I have found your article most interesting. I am a keen family historian, and I am pleased to know that the rich oral history of our country and its people is being researched and recorded.
I hope to read more, thank you.
Iyoo this is good. Will keep it for Thabang!
Thank you so much about your version of Uhlanga Lwasembo. I realy give me knolwelge and better understanding about imvelaphi yethu thina baka Langa.
thank you mumbo omhlophe for this eye opening article, but I’d also like to know where can I get your book “uhlanga lwase’eMbo?”
Mmm mm Gcwabe please ngiphe noma iyiphi i-link yomlando/imvelaphi yethu wakwa Mkhize pls ungifakele ku e-mail angeke kulunge ngingazazi umlando wakithi, safikela kuphi ngigcina ngo khokho nje kuphela angeke Khabazela. Ngibonga nomsebenzi owuqalile ucwaningo qhubeka wena wasEmbo
Siyabonga I feel so great to read about what you are saying in your article, will you please help me to find the origion of my ancestors.Mna isithakazelo sam ndiliZotsho,uManci,unoMpumza,Delo,Wabani ndingowaseMbo according the information I have, but always when all izithakazelo zaseMbo are getting mentioned I don`t see mine mentioned, please mntakwethu help me try and get as much information as you can about AMAZOTSHO and also inform me please!!!As i`m writtng this I am in tears I don`t know why because when ever I think of this I feel so pierced inside
Dear colleagues
I have requested a response from Siyabonga to your questions and comments. You can expect one soon.
Thank you Mbongiseni I will wait patiently for the responce
Thanks to you bhuti Syabonga this is very informative to us as youth and its keeps us updated about our cultures and origins, to add on that every person must understand that to know where you going you must know you coming from. All the best Bafo.
Thanks for all the hard work. I’ve been looking to purchase a copy of the book, tried amazon but they are sold out. Any ideas of where I can get a copy from.
Sandile, I gather that copies of Siyabonga’s book are hard to come by as the book is now out of print. It is not clear at this stage whether the book will be reprinted or not.
I’m afraid we have not had a response to the rest of the questions posed above to date.
Bambo abamhlophe angibonge kimi Makhize ngentshisekelo eninayo ngomlando wenu, incwadi iyatholakala kwa Adams ku West Street eThekwini, ngicabanga ukuthi uma ningangena kwi website yabo ningakwazi ukuyi order.
To Ntombomzi Princess Margaret Gedze on 27/10/2010 thanks for the interest you’ve shown, I’ll try and do a small research about amaZosho, and I’ll come back to you before the end of this month.
It is great to know your origin (Kumnadi ukwazi inmvelaphi yakho)
wow, plz can u tel me whr i can buy ur book, there z nthn i wud lav mor dan 2 fynd out mor bwt my family.
Gcwabe! im very interested in the book to enrich myself wt this piece of importnt ifo.
how do i get the book?
Gcwabe nggizoke ngiyibheke le ncwadi kade ngaqala ukfuna umlando nemvelaphi yaba Mbo… I hope imbuzo yam izophenduleka… Mina-ke ngiphezu komkhankaso wokukhanda my family tree,kuningi engfuna ukukwazi ngoba imvelaphi isikhomba eXopo manje angazi lutho olutheni ngoba abasekho abantu abadala engingabuza kubona
Im very happy to stumble to such information,empeleni nami kzwakala sengath imvelaph yabakith isexopo,i hope your book will shed more light,cz kuningi engfisa ukukukwaz ngemvelaph yokhokho bami bakwaMkhize.And siyabonga Ggcwabe ngaleresearch yakho kuningi thina nezizukulwane ezizayo esizokuzuza kulencwad yakho,thanks
Ngiyabonga kakhulu wena wasembo ukuthola nami lapha ocwaningweni lakho ukuthi nathi oNgcongo sabe sesivela lapha kuninabakaZihlandlo ngoba phela bengingazi ngibonga umsebenzi omuhle owenzile engathi ungakhula kakhulu unkulunkulu akubeke.
Hayi siyabulela singaMaxesibe ngale nkcaza ingaka inene, isivula amehlo ngemvelaphi yethu, SingaMaxesibe Nationaly we have annual event where we get together every year Maybe you should attend one of these gatherings
Thank you so much sya. I’ve learnt alot 4rm ths evn though i dnt quite understand some other thngs. Im nt sure if i understud you when u said amaphondo nd amaswati abaseMbo please explain that to me. I wil also try lukn 4 ur book. Thnk u so much bhuti wami
Zintle, please tell us more about the annual gathering: When and where does it take place? Whom does one contact if one wishes to attend? You can email the details to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you so prefer.
Bambo abaMhlophe, nina baka Sibiside! Busisiwe if I say amaMpondo, amaSwati and amaMpondomise are all one family of abaMbo. Yes it is true; they are all historical and genealogically belong to one family. The Mkhize family are one with the Mswati family, in the olden days; there use to be King Langa who fathered Prince Ndlozela (mkhize ancestor) and Prince Mavuso (abeKunene ancestor). AbeKunene remained the chief house for the whole Dlamini lineage; the Mkhize established an indipendent state but retained the original title to be known as abaseMbo.
Out of the descandants of Ndlozela, new kingdoms where also formed out of his great great grandsons Mpondo and Mpondomise both sons of Njanya ka Sibiside.
The abaMbo association, which is called Umbumbano LwabaMbo, is also preparing for the trip to visit the amaMpondomise for their annual festival, if you would like to participate you can call Mr. Bongani Mkhize (national organiser) on this number. 074 897 5555
Nina baseMbo, Bambo abamhlophe!
Is it owk 2 marry a swati man if ur surname is mkhize? Are u a mkhize totaly if ur mums surname is mkhize nd father’s 4rm da hlubi clan?
Wena wasembo ngiyajabula ukubona ngomsebenzi omuhle owenzayo kuningi engisafisa ukukwazi ngomlando wakwaMkhize,where can I get 1 of ur books plz repaly ku email or any1 who can assist
Busisiwe your 2 question I’ll answer them with Yes, you may marry Swati man, even Ngunezi had MaMswati as his wife, who mothered Tilongo. If your mother is Mkhize and not married to your Hlubi father, you fully Mkhize, your father needs to Hlawula you first and then you can qualify to be Hlubi.
@ Siyabonga Incwadi isatholakala kwa Adama, kanti nakimina ungayithola, uma ufisa ukwazi kabanzi ngomlando you may post your questions here or email me .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or facebook Uhlanga Lwasembo Foundation or Siyabonga Mkhize
Its a very interesting book so you mean thateven ama mpondo where sons of mkhize because according to what i know we as ama pondo come from Sibiside,njanya,then mpondo is born and there hence king faku comes from a line further down in the lineage.please invite me on face book so we can chat about this