Izithakazelo Zakwa Msiza Clan Names History and Origin
Msiza clan is widely recognized for pioneering Ndebele wall decoration. Since then, this style has become an iconic representation of South African identity, appearing on such diverse products such as women’s clothes and stamps.
Msiza family lived at Hartbeesfontein until 1950s, when they were allocated residential lands at Weltevrede and forced to reduce agricultural holdings due to limited space available in Weltevrede.
Msiza Clan Names (Izithakazelo):
The Msiza clan has a rich cultural heritage, and its praise names (Izithakazelo) are an important part of honoring that history.
- Mthombeni
- Masombuka
- Gawu
- Nkomo
- Bhebhe
- Mashangane
- Masina
Msiza Clan Origin
Historical records can give us insight into the origin of clan names. They reveal addresses, occupations and death/burial information for family members of different clans.
Such records give a sense of the community or culture a person was part of and their social status in regards to political events that may be pertinent today.
Msiza may derive its name from Ndzundza King Nyabele who was forced out of Middelburg-Grobblersdal district during the ZAR-Ndzundza War in 1882 by a Boer commando and banished to Hartbeestfontein farm where Msiza family settled after they received small plot of land granted from white owner, Wolmarans, but were not entitled to ownership rights of it.
Over time, the Msizas established a village at Odi and became known for their industrial and creative skills in the region.
Unfortunately, however, their reputation was marred by their oppression from both Pretoria and Bophuhatswana, as well as economic hardship and loss of traditional social values; ultimately they initiated negotiations for new allocation of state land but were denied it.
Msiza Clan Meaning
Surnames may have undergone changes through writing errors, voluntary modifications by their bearers themselves or modifications for language reasons, leading to several surnames with similar roots being confused together and distinguishing between them may prove challenging.
Therefore it’s wise to search historical records in order to gain more insight into your ancestry.
Once Kgalabi died during the 1930s, leadership of Hartbeesfontein’s Msiza community passed to Hlangane Speelman Msiza – his eldest son by senior wife Usmeshe – with leadership transitioning over time to Hlangane Speelman Msiza’s son Hlangane Speelman Msiza who eventually relocated the Msiza community north to Odi, north of Wonderboompoort and where it would join with families from Bhuda and Skosana clan groups whose members married into Msiza women – eventually creating KwaMsiza as we know it today with 49 families living within its borders!
At this point, Msiza community began decorating their homes using an aesthetic that has since become known as Ndebele wall decoration. It may have been done to cope with their oppressive living conditions due to being expropriated from farm land by Boers as well as assert some cultural identity for themselves. Over time this trend spread and can now be found everywhere from beadwork fashions, stamps, advertising materials and airline liveries!
Msiza Clan Variations
The Msiza Family are an Ndebele clan associated with Mabhoshoek in South Africa’s Western Cape region, known for its close association to their village’s name (which derives from their language’s term for plundering) as an indicator that these people were once known for attacking and plundering other settlements – therefore making their name suitable as one of several variations associated with Msiza clan members.
After Hlangane Msiza died in the 1960s, leadership of what had become his village was passed onto his brothers; thereafter the Msiza family name began appearing on road signs and large-scale maps as KwaMsiza.
Although Msiza men and women had access to limited agricultural land, they learned how to supplement their income by weaving beaded artifacts for sale both domestically and overseas. Their crafts earned such fame that articles about Msiza began appearing both locally and overseas magazines.
By the 1960s, Msizas had relocated from Hartbeesfontein to Odi and were joined by members of Bhuda and Skosana families who married into Msiza families through marriage; 21 nuclear family units comprised this population at that time.
Msiza Clan Etymology
Msiza and similar surnames have undergone various mutations over time. This could be caused by errors in writing, voluntary changes from bearers, or modifications for language reasons; and these variations make discerning which surname came first increasingly challenging; though sometimes one variant shares an identical root with another variant.
Mfene and his entourage moved to Weltevrede while Msiza remained at Hartbeesfontein, joining Kgalabi’s extended family of nine sons and three daughters (three wives per son).
By 1940s their settlement pattern had altered from being organized around left/right hierarchies into linear arrangements which more efficiently used farming resources – with their cattle byre still at its core but in a square form and situated opposite to where Kgalabi lived as senior member of his clan.
Today it has been decades since anyone in the village kept cattle; its byre is now just a small neglected space located to one side of the village, used primarily for ceremonial functions such as beer drinking and burials.
Msiza are an intimate and highly respected community – their homes offer visitors an authentic rural experience while their culture thrives despite changing times and challenges of modern living. They take great pride in remaining Ndebele.
