Imvelaphi yamaZulu

© Dr Peter Magubane

Iziduko Ezahlukeneyo

Malunga nomnyaka ka 1550 uMalandela, inkosi enabalandeli abaliqaqobana yazinza emazanzi kwe Amandawe Hill ngasemazantsi omlambo Umhlatuze River kanye ngaphambi kokuba ungene eNkwaleni Valley. Wayenonyana ababini, uQwabe kunye no Zulu.

Ngokwembali edluliselwa kwisizukulwana ngesizukulwana, esi sibini sasihlala sixabana ngalo lonke ixesha. Ngoko ke, uMalandela wayalela uQwabe ukuba aye kuhlala ekupheleni komlambo, kufuphi nendawo ebizwa nge Empangeni namhlanje. uZulu yena wayalelwa ukuba aye kuhlalela ngasemantla kummandla we White Umfolozi River.

Ekuhambeni kwexesha, aba bantwake babini baye baba nababo abalandeli abohlukeneyo. Omabini amaqela abo ayekhonza uhlanga luka Mthethwa, nolwalulolona hlanga lunamandla kulo mmandla.

uDingiswayo ka Mthethwa

Ngase kupheleni kwe sentyuri 18, uDingiswayo waba yinkosi yohlanga luka Mthethwa. Esengumfana, kwanyanzeleka ukuba abaleke asindise ubomi bakhe, kuba utata wakhe wayemrhanela ukuba uceba ukumbhukuqa esihlalweni sakhe. uDingiswayo wawutyhutyha wonke ummandla owaziwa nge KwaZulu-Natal namhlanje.

Ekuhamba hambeni kwakhe, nolwazi lwakhe lwaya lukhula waze wafunda nokushishina. Nokwakusiya kukhula ngakwi ndawo yama Phuthukezi eyayise Delagoa Bay. Wathi akuva ngoku bhubha kuka tata wakhe, wabuyela ekhayeni lakhe ehamba nge hashe, ephethe umpu ukuza kuthatha ulawulo lohlanga lika Mthethwa. uDingiswayo wayeyinkokheli ekrelekrele nenamandla.

Wayebona ukuba ukhuphiswano lomhlaba kunye nemveliso yendalo luya lukhula. Ngoko ke, waqonda ukuba makenze icebo loku lawula ushishino kunye namaPhuthukezi kuza kumzisela imivuzo emikhulo. Waze wokha umkhosi ka Mthethwa kwaye nabalandeli bakhe babesiya beba ngabantu aba balulekileyo. Ngokwenzaoku, wakwazi ukudibanisa amaqela aza kukhonza yena, waze wathathela ngakuye nalawo waye woyise emfazweni.

Translated by Zizipho Silwana