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Zwangendaba Jele

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Inkosi Ya Makosi Zwangendaba Jele
Inkosi Ya Makosi Zwangendaba Jele
King of the Ngoni Nation
Reign1815–1848
PredecessorUnknown Jele
SuccessorGwaza Jele
Born(1760-07-11)July 11, 1760
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Names
Inkosi Ya Makhosi Zwangendaba Jele
Regnal name
Zwangendaba Jele
HouseHouse of Jele
FatherJele
ReligionTraditional religion

Zwangendaba Gwaza kaZiguda Jele Gumbi, commonly known as Zwangendaba (1785–1848), was the first king of the Ngoni and Tumbuka of Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania, from the Jere Ngoni clan. He reigned from 1815 to 1848.[1][2]

Zwangendaba was the elder brother of Somkhanda kaZiguda Jele, also known as Gumbi, who founded the Gumbi clan in KwaZulu-Natal in areas around Pongola.[3]

Zwangendaba was initially part of the Ndwandwe Kingdom under King Zwide. However, after defeating the Ndwandwe forces, Zwangendaba and his clan, known as the Jele, broke away. This event occurred during the Mfecane - a period of mass migration among the northern Nguni peoples. Zwangendaba led his people on a migration lasting over 1,000 miles (1,600 km), spanning more than two decades. Their journey took them through what is now northern South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, ultimately reaching the western part of Tanzania. Zwangendaba established a base at Mapupo, and his clan expanded its influence throughout the region.

Following his death, the Ngoni people fractured into three groups, spreading their dominion across Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia.

Fighting tactics

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Zwangendaba adopted many of Shaka Zulu's warfare strategies, incorporating rigid discipline into both military and social organization. This approach helped him unite his people and those they conquered into a cohesive force. With his people, Zwangendaba migrated north into tropical Africa.[2]

In 1835, during their migration, the Ngoni crossed the Zambezi River on the day of a total solar eclipse. According to legend, Zwangendaba used Nguni esoteric knowledge and occult science to part the waters of the river, creating a path for his people—an event reminiscent of the Biblical parting of the Red Sea.[2]

As they advanced northward, ravaging the territories they passed through, the Ngoni eventually reached the southwestern part of present-day Tanzania. Upon Zwangendaba's death in 1848, the Ngoni people split into three groups: one settled in Malawi, another in Songea (Tanzania), and the third migrated north to Mbogwe in Usumbwa, where they fought against the renowned Mirambo of Unyamwezi.[2]

The current king of the Ngoni is Zwangendaba's great-great-grandson, M'Mbelwa V.[4][5][6][7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "M'mbelwa Kingdom, Jele Ngoni of Malawi - THE AFRICAN ROYAL FAMILIES". theafricanroyalfamilies.com. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  2. ^ a b c d https://wap.org.ng/read/notable-wives-and-royal-sons-of-nguni-king-mmbelwa-i/
  3. ^ "NOTABLE WIVES AND ROYAL SONS OF NGUNI KING, M'MBELWA I - Wap.org.ng". 2023-11-20. Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2024-02-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ Mkandawire, Mwayi (2020-03-16). "Coronavirus: M'mbelwa urges Mutharika to ban mass gatherings Malawi 24 | Latest News from Malawi". Malawi 24. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  5. ^ Reporter, Malawi24 (2019-08-12). "M'mbelwa calls on Ngonis to preserve culture with responsibility Malawi 24 | Latest News from Malawi". Malawi 24. Retrieved 2024-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Zgambo, Mike Lyson (2020-04-28). "Mzimba chief under fire for pushing for nullification of parliamentary polls Malawi 24 | Latest News from Malawi". Malawi 24. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  7. ^ Chisamba, Thula (2016-11-01). "Inkosi M'mbelwa ban on miniskirts and table cuts shocks subjects Malawi 24 | Latest News from Malawi". Malawi 24. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Office created
King of Ngoni
1815–1848
Succeeded by