Imvelaphi yamaZulu

© Dr Peter Magubane

Iinkoro Ezingafaniko

Ngeminyaka yabo-1550 uMalandela, ekwakuyikosi enesitjhaba esincani, wanzinza endundumeni yeMandawe esemadwaleni womlambo uMhlatuze, ngaphambi kokobana ungene eNkwaleni. Yena namadodanakhe amabili uQwabe kanye noZulu, egade ngokuya ngokwamasiko akhulunywa ngomlomo, gade bahlala balwa.

Njeke uMalandela wathumela uQwabe kobana ayokuhlala ngale komlambo, ndawana thize eduze kwendawo esele ibizwa bona seMpangeni kwanjesi, uZulu wathunyelwa kobana ayokuhlala esifundeni esisepumalanga komlambo uMfolozi. Iskhathi nasele silungile abantwana bomuntwaba batjhuguluka baba zinkoro ezihlukeneko begodu bobabili balotjha nanyana bakhonza ikosi uMthethwa, egade kuyikosi enamandla khulu esifundeni.

UDingiswayo wakaMthethwa

Ukuyela ekupheleni kweminyaka yabo-18th century, uDingiswayo waba ikosi yabaThethwa. Njengesokana, kwatlhogeka kobana abaleke khulu, ngebanga lokobana uyie amsolela kobana gade aleya amano wokumketula. UDingiswayo wakhamba isifundesa soke kwanjesi esele saziwa ngokobana yiKwaZulu-Natal.

Lokha nakasakhamba khambako, ibhudango lakhe lanaba wathoma wangenela iindaba zokurhweba, egade sele kukhula kancani kancani ku-theku yamaputukezi ebizwa bona yi-Delagoa Bay, lapha ezwa khona bona uyise uhlongakele, wabuyela emva ekhabo ngepera, aphethe isigidi, ayokuthatha ubukhosi bakaMthethwa. 

UDingiswayo kade ayikosi enamandla tle, eyabona iphaliswano lenarha kanye nensetjenziswa zemvelo sele lilimbi khulu, begodu nerhono lakhe lokobana arhwebelane namaPotukezi lamlethela inzuzo.

Njeke wabona bona ukutlama amabutho wakaMthethwa kuwakathekile begodu baba benengi abafuna ukumlandela. Kuze kufike ekugcineni, wahlanganisa ngepumelelo iinqhema ekhabe zihlukahlukeneko ekhabe zimhlonipha zaba siqhema sinye, godu wayethatha neqhemezi azihlule epini ezifake estjhabeni sakhe.

Translated by Busisiwe Prudance Skhosana