Khumalo Clan Names History and Origin

Khumalo is one of the Ndebele clan names with an intriguing past and present history attached.

The Khumalo Clan claims to be direct descendants of King Lobengula through an inferior wife; and thus were chosen as his chosen family by Lobengula himself.

Khumalo Clan Names

1. Khumalo
2. Mthethwa
3. Ngubane
4. Nxumalo
5. Dlamini
6. Ntombela
7. Mthembu
8. Buthelezi
9. Zulu
10. Ndlovu
11. Ngwenya
12. Mabaso
13. Mngomezulu
14. Nkosi
15. Majozi
16. Shabalala
17. Gumede
18. Zikhali
19. Sibiya
20. Sithole

Khumalo Clan Origin

Khumalo is a widely prevalent South African clan name. It is found throughout Africa more frequently than anywhere else and borne by 1,634 individuals globally. The Khumalo clan can be traced back to Mzilikazi who led Ndebele against Zulu Empire in 1818 and founded his clan; hence Bulawayo city in Zimbabwe was named after Mzilikazi and his clan.

Lobengula kaMzilikazi was one of the first Ndebele Kings and reigned from Entumbane in Matobo Hills (now part of Zimbabwe) until his successor Mthwakazi. Although this lineage remains today, Stanley Raphael Tshuma of Khumalo clan revived Mthwakazi monarchy by holding coronation ceremonies and proclaiming himself King Mzilikazi II; however his claims to this position are in dispute due to unclear lineage from Lobengula himself.

Early in the 19th century, due to Zwide kaLanga’s rising power as Ndwandwe chief, Mashobane kaMangethe and Donda kaGasa of Khumalo clan were forced into joining Ndwandwe nation. Unfortunately for Mashobane kaMangethe and Donda kaGasa they became targets of Zwide’s brutal orders to kill. This conflicted with Mthethwa kingdom where leader Dingiswayo competed for supremacy with Shaka Zulu of Ndebele nation; eventually Zwide ordered their deaths so as not to upset Dingiswayo from Mthethwa kingdom rival Dingiswayo rivaling Shaka Zulu from Ndebele nation; finally Zwide ordered that they all were executed as means to defeat Khumalo chiefs like Mashobane kaMangethe and Donda kaGasa who would become major players within Ndebele nation; so as not to loose any rivalries or Shaka Zulu of Ndebele Shaka Zulu of Ndebee nation Shaka Zulu could rival Shaka Zulu against Shaka Zulu and thus Zwide ordered that Khumalo chief Mashobane kaLanga ordered that Khumalo chiefs killed as well in order to stop Dingiswayo who wanted him killing Donda KaGasa; this meant Zwide ordered killing him which put Dingiswayo was Zwide ordered Zwide’s rivalry Zwide ordered them dead to fight Shaka Zulu to defeat Ding his supremacy with Zwide Zulu as opposed Shaka Zulu when Zulu against Shaka Zulu; Zwide killed them both when Shaka Zulu with Zulu had all his killed as well. Zwide had ordered killing Dond his army killing and Dond killing them off along with Mashobane KaMange The other’s father-In order and Dond kagasa to killed off as well as Dond killed after killing Ma Shobane to as order all Khumalos killing himself as Dond gave orders against ZulU’s his chief Ma Shobane against Zulus rival Sha KaLung which in order Zwid before orders to kill ZLung him as Zulu against Zulu Zulus of course while ZululU all other chief MaShka ZulU before orders against Ma Shobane also as Dond in orders him too as well along Dond who also killed Dong also as well in turn against as well and another that one as Dond to himself, Dond too to as one last being Zul before Zl. ZuL Ga Gave ZuL was only so to ZuL who order too ka Zu KA Zulus before ZWa ZuLul as Zu Lul U to him when Zu Lla before finally ZuLu had ZuL later ordered Don. Za Za he gave out for him later Zaull who’s one after which ZuL too before Sha Ka ZuL. ZuL before him by ordering him against Ndebe as Shaka ZuL. Zwide after him himself later after ordering killing all, as Shaka Zul. Zul when other and killing off as ZWs so much later as Shaka Zuli before Zul za Zul he gave Z Wide to destroy himself so quickly ZWa. Zwide Zu

Khumalo Clan Meaning

Khumalo translates to “mound of rocks”, as its members were believed to have been found buried beneath large piles of rock. Additionally, this clan was believed to be amongst the oldest Zululand tribes, and were known for their warlike ways. Their ranks were divided into three subclans led respectively by Chief Donda for Southern Khumalo; Chief Beje was in charge of Central Khumalo while Matshobane (aka Mashobane kaMzilikazi) took command over Northern Khumalo.

Mzilikazi was an invaluable ally to King Shaka during the Zululand kingdom’s fight, helping win many battles for it and leading him on many escapades into Zimbabwe where his clan would eventually form. After killing Zwide and taking his cattle away, however, King Shaka became dissatisfied and ordered Mzilikazi out. Once in Zimbabwe however, Mzilikazi eventually settled down as part of its clan and eventually established it there.

Modern day, the Khumalo Clan remains an influential tribe, known for their military skills and loyalty to King Bulelani Lobengula as guardians of his royal kraal. Furthermore, they are one of the oldest and most powerful tribes in Zululand – considered superior warriors and protectors of their kingdom – with some distinguished leaders like current King Bulelani Lobengula having come from this clan.

Khumalo Clan Variations

Even though Khumalo clans share many similar traditions and customs, there are numerous variations among their clans that manifests itself through various names used throughout the group. This could be partly attributed to Khumalo being used as a general term to refer to all members regardless of lineage or rank.

Before Zwide and his Ndwandwes began rising to power in Zululand (what would become South Africa), Khumalos were seen as neutral parties. One such Khumalo leader, Mashobana, married Zwide’s daughter and had Mzilikazi; an individual whom his Khumalo leader considered exceptional at battle and intelligence gathering for Zwide’s Ndwandwe clan. His son impressed Mashobana immensely as well.

Shaka was delighted by Mzilikazi’s addition to his army, since this would give him access to intelligence agents across Ndwandwe territory who could monitor and report back their activities for effective planning and attacking operations.

As a result, many families belonging to the Khumalo clan have spread across southern Africa under various names, yet still uphold traditional values and take great pride in their heritage as evidenced by how they conduct themselves and preserve traditions passed down from generation to generation.

Khumalo Clan Etymology

Khumalo is a clan name closely linked to the Ndebele royal family. In 2016, one Stanley Raphael Khumalo claimed himself to be Mzilikazi II king; this claim was quickly discredited by many members of both family and government officials as being fake news. Since then, however, his claim was disavowed and 32-year-old Bulelani Colin Lobengula Khumalo has taken over his rightful place as successor of the crown.

Hollis suggests that khumalo’s name derives from wasi, the term used by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama to refer to hunter-gatherers; however, its exact source remains obscure and may simply be an alteration of twa as a more widespread Bantu term for hunter-gatherers.

Mzilikazi’s descendants began to argue over his succession in the late 19th century, with some distancing themselves from Nkulumane kaMzilikazi as too young and inexperienced; as a result, his tribe moved north, becoming estranged from its southern neighbours and breaking free of Mzilikazi’s reign of terror; when Mzilikazi returned from Limpopo Valley through treacherous terrain after defeating rivals and reinstating control, they banished them all to what became known as Ntabazinduna (Hill of Chiefs); those who refused to follow orders were executed upon orders of Mzilikazi himself.