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.
- The main group was led by Induna Gondwane Ndiweni.It included old people, Children , wives livestock and Mzilikazi’s sons Nkulumane and Lobengula.
- 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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