Ndebele Kings and Their History

The amaNdebele originate from the Bantu speaking group known as the Nguni. The name Ndebele comes from the first notable ruler of amaNdebele, King Ndebele, the son of Nguni. Nguni had four sons that form the current Nguni nation under various tribes, which include amaNdebele, amaZulu, amaXhosa, and amaSwazi. These sons split up and went in different directions across Southern Africa to settle, contributing to the diverse kingdoms in South Africa. Oral history states that amaNdebele were under the leadership of uMhlanga, the son of uNdebele, when they separated from the other brothers and migrated inland to Emhlangeni, also known as Randfontein in Johannesburg. Upon the passing of uMhlanga, King Musi ascended to the throne and soon led his people to KwaMnyamana (the land of dark clay and fertile soil), also referred to as Pretoria/Tshwane, during the mid-1500s to early 1600s. King Musi fathered seven sons who form part of the Ndebele people, contributing to the rich tapestry of South African royal families. The sons were: Manala/Mabhena, Masombuka/Skhosana, Ndzundza/Mahlangu, Gegana/Kekana/Yakala or Mthombeni, Rhwaduba/Mhwaduba or Mthibe, Sibasa, and Dlomu. These sons had disagreements over succession and chose to settle in different parts of the country. After King Musi's death, Manala, the firstborn son from the senior house, returned to KwaMnyamana to bury his father and assume his rightful place as the King of the people. Manala continued to live in KwaMnyamana, expanding his kingdom to the east of current Pretoria/Tshwane into Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and the North West province. King Musi's resting place is located in Swartkoppies/Doornpoort, Gauteng, marking an important site in the lineage of South African kings.

The amaNdebele originate from the Bantu speaking group known as the Nguni. The name Ndebele comes from the first notable ruler of amaNdebele, King Ndebele, the son of Nguni. Nguni had four sons that form the current Nguni nation under various tribes, which include amaNdebele, amaZulu, amaXhosa, and amaSwazi. These sons split up and went in different directions across Southern Africa to settle, contributing to the diverse kingdoms in South Africa. Oral history states that amaNdebele were under the leadership of uMhlanga, the son of uNdebele, when they separated from the other brothers and migrated inland to Emhlangeni, also known as Randfontein in Johannesburg. Upon the passing of uMhlanga, King Musi ascended to the throne and soon led his people to KwaMnyamana (the land of dark clay and fertile soil), also referred to as Pretoria/Tshwane, during the mid-1500s to early 1600s. King Musi fathered seven sons who form part of the Ndebele people, contributing to the rich tapestry of South African royal families. The sons were: Manala/Mabhena, Masombuka/Skhosana, Ndzundza/Mahlangu, Gegana/Kekana/Yakala or Mthombeni, Rhwaduba/Mhwaduba or Mthibe, Sibasa, and Dlomu. These sons had disagreements over succession and chose to settle in different parts of the country. After King Musi's death, Manala, the firstborn son from the senior house, returned to KwaMnyamana to bury his father and assume his rightful place as the King of the people. Manala continued to live in KwaMnyamana, expanding his kingdom to the east of current Pretoria/Tshwane into Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and the North West province. King Musi's resting place is located in Swartkoppies/Doornpoort, Gauteng, marking an important site in the lineage of South African kings.