Ndebele Migration(Journey from Nguniland to Western Zimbabwe)

Groups which fought with the Ndebele during their journey

• Zulu
• Kololo
• Pedi
• Griqua
• Tswana
• Sotho
• Kora
• Korana
• Khoisan
• Boers
• Tlokwa
• Hurutshe
• Hapin
• San
• Taung
• Kabokwene

Ndebele settlements during the journey

• Ekepumuleni- the place of rest.
• Mhlahlandela
• Endinaneni
• Enkuqini
• Egabeni
• Gibixhegu.
• Inyati.

Problems faced by the Ndebele during the journey

• Attacks by other groups
• Attacks by wild animals
• Hunger and stavation
• Death caused by diseases eg malaria.
• Tsetse caused sleeping sickness
• Nagana killed livestock
• Shortage of pastures for livestock
• Loss of women and livestock to other groups.
• They crossed mountaneous areas eg drakensburg.
• DIfferent groups joined and there was language barrier.
• The Ndebele fought whites who had better weapons eg guns.
• Trade was disturbed.
• Agric was disturbed
• Succsession disputes as Mzilikazi’s son Nkulumane was installed to be King.
• Mzilikazi killed Nkulumane and the Indunas who were responsible.
• They crossed flooded rivers.

Q: Describe the Ndebele migration from Nguniland to western Zimbabwe

• Mzilikazi was a chief of the Khumalo. The Khumalo were under the rule of Tshaka.
• In 1821, Mzilikazi raided the Sotho and kept the booty.
• He cut the plumes of the messengers sent by Tshaka to collect the booty.It was a sign of disobedience.
• Tshaka sent a small army to defeat the Khumalo and the army was defeated.
• Mzilikazi decided to leave before Tshaka sent a bigger army.
• He left with about 300 followers.
• They crossed the drakernsburg and reached Sotho.
• Mzilikazi, estabilished a settlement called Ekepumuleni.
• The Sotho gave the Ndebele a nickname Matebele meaning men of long shields.
• The Ndebele raided the Sotho for livestock grain and women.
• Mzilikazi was forced to leave Ekupumuleni because of three problems-Zulu attacks,-Drought,-Lack of pastures.
• He moved into the Transvaal and estabilished settlements like Mhlahlandela,Egabeni.
• The Ndebele were attacked by the Zulu,Griquas,Boers,Kora,Khoisan Mzilikazi met Robert Moffat and the two became friends.
• The Ndebele estabilished a settlement called Mosega in the Transvaal.
• They were defeated by the combined force in 1837- Boers,Griquas,Kra,Zulu etc.
• Mzilikazi decide to leave Mosega.
• He divided his people into two.
  • The main group was led by Induna Gondwane Ndiweni.It included old people, Children , wives livestock and Mzilikazi’s sons Nkulumane and Lobengula.
    The group followed a shorter route.
    It crossed Makloutse river and the Shashe.
    The group settled at Gibixhegu near the Matopo hills.
  • The small group was led by Mzilikazi himself. It moved from Mosega in a westward direction through the territory of the Ngwato.
• Mzilikazi moved Northwards following the Kololo.
• He then moved Southward to meet the main group.
• Mzilikazi heard about the installation of Nkulumane .He rushed to Gibixhegu.
• Ndiweni and other Indunas were responsible for the installation of Nkulumane.
• What happened to Nkulumane was not clear, Some historians say that he was Killed while others say that he fled Southwards.
• Mzilikazi estabilished his capital at Inyati near Morden Bulawayo.
• Mzilikazi married Nyamazana, a Ngoni leader who had broken away fromZwangendaba.
• The local Shona people offered less resistance and easily fell under Mzlikazi’s control.

Q: To what extent did settlements in the western Zimbabwe bring security to them

• The Ndebele settled in the Rozvi country where there was little resistance.
• Mzilikazi married Nyamazana who had killed the Rozvi King Chirisamhuru 2.
• The neighbouring tswana were weak.
• They were far away from enermies like Boers ,Griqua, Pedi and Zulu.
• Favourable climate-Sunshine.
• Fertile soils.
• Availability of resourcws eg game.
• Free from flies.
• Good pastures.
• Mineral wealth eg Gold.
• Trade with the portuguese and Arabs.
• The area was sparsely populated.
• The Rozvi resisted Ndebele rule- some moved away.
• Shona chiefdoms in the east resisted.
• Boers of the Transvaal raided the Ndebele.
• The area was affected by drought.
• The Ndebele were attacked by Ngwato of Khama.
• Finally the Ndebele were defeated by the BSAC.

Q: To what extent did war with other groups united the Ndebele

1. Unity was a result of war

• The Ndebele created a strong army for defense.
• The army protected their property.
• Army raided other groups for property.
• Army raided other groups for livestock.
• The fear of Zulu attacks united the Ndebele.
• The Ndebele realised the importance of guns.
• The Ndebele estabilished a strong Nation.

2. Unity was a result of other factors

• Intermarriage united people.
• The inxala ceremony brought the whole nation together.
• Mafisa system(loan cattle.)
• The groups faced hardships together eg the cold weather , drought etc.
• Religion united people.
• The worshiped one God.,br> There was fear of Mzilikazi.. he was a strict and no non- sense ruler.
• He was also loved by his people because he was generous.
• The regiments of the Ndebele brought unity.
• MZilikazi used zule tactics and weapons.
• Defeated groups were absorbed and forced to speak Isindebele.
• Mzilikazi appointed his relatives to be chiefs.
• He died in 1868.

Ndebele Military system

• Army was divide into regiments.
• The Ndebele army was led by commanders called Indunas.
• The army was divided into regiment towns.
• Each regiment was given a name eg Ingubu,Zwangendaba,Empande,Insukamini,Sijeba,Amaweni etc.
• Soldiers were allowed to marry.
• The King had his regiment.
• The amabhuto had many responsibilities….protected the state and the king.
• Raiding-it brought young men, women, livestock.
• Protecting foreign trade.
• Hunting Elephants-ivory.
• Collected tribute and agric works.
• They were about 200 000.
• Weapons- Assegais, bows and arrows,shields,knobkerries, battle axe..
• Women were used in the army as prostitutes.
• Method of wars–cow horn formation, smoke signals,use of spies.
• The king was the commander in chief of the army.
• The king consulted Umphakati and the Izinkulu before war.
• Chants and war cries were used to create fear among the enemies.
• The King distributed the booty to loyal and brave men.
• Defeated groups near the Ndebele center were absorbed into regiment.

Ndebele-Shona relations

The general view was that the relationship was that of master and servant.(Ndebele -Shona respectively). This is inaccurate or a myth.Colonial historians wrote that the Ndebele always raided the Shona, were warlike and blood thirsty.

 

Why was the myth accepted

• • • Missionaries who failed to spread christianity in Matebeleland wrote negative reports about the Ndebele.
    • They wanted their mother countries to destroy the Ndebele religion and political system first.
    • These missionaries include John Moffat,Cd Helm and Carnagie.
    • Rhodes wanted to justify the colonisation , The colonisers wanted to be seen as the saviours of the Shona.
    • Lobengula wanted to be seen as a great King . He claimed total control over all shona in the east.He exagerated his power and influence.
    • The Shona exegerated the effects of the Ndebele raids.

 

The truth about Ndebele-Shona relations

• • • The Ndebele had total control of the Shona who lived with a radius of about 8 kms from the center.
    • The Shonas who were absorbed into the Ndebele became the hole-changed names,married enhla and Zansi,Customs like piercing ears,recieved loan cattle,they spoke sindebele.
    • The Shona religius beliefs were accepted.
    • The Ndebele used Shona middle men.
    • Shona traded with Ndebele.
    • Shona people away from Ndebele center were actually free.
    • Some Shona fought on the side of the Ndebele against BSAC in the anglo-Ndebele war.

Internal problems of the Ndebele

• • • Senior Indunas were bribed by Rhodes – Losthe and Sikombo.
    • There was succession disputes after death of Mzilikazi in 1868.
    • Some Indunas wanted Lobengula to succsess Mzilikazi.
    • Others claimed Nkulumane was alive.
    • A man came from S A claiming to be Nkulumane. His name was Kanda.
    • Civil war broke out inthe Ndebele state.
    • Finally, Lobengula was installed as king in 1870 after the death of Mzilikazi in 1868.
    • Droughts affect the area caused by low rainfall.
    • Outbreak of diseases eg rinderpest killed cattle.
    • Resistance from the Shona.

External problems of the Ndebele

• • • Attacks by the Boers of the Transvaal.
    • Shona chiefs attacked the Ndebele.
    • Attacks by the Ngwato led by Khama.
    • Attacks by the Lozi of Zambia.
    • The coming in and out of concession seekers disturbed the Ndebele state.
    • Missionaries said people were equals .
    • They used tricks to obtain agreements eg bribes.
    • Lobengula had sleepless nights because of whites who wanted treaties.
    • Christians were against raiding.

By: T.Titus Nyakudyara
Twitter: @NyakudyaraTitus

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