Izithakazelo zakwa Mthethwa Clan Names History and Origin
Dingiswayo was known for militarizing and raiding neighboring chieftaincies; additionally he is widely recognized for safeguarding and raising Shaka.
Young Shaka was raised by Senzangakhona, a minor chief from one of the Mthethwa clans. Later he would revolutionize warfare in Southern Africa.
Mthethwa Clan Names
- Mthethwa
- Zulu
- Buthelezi
- Ndlovu
- Khumalo
- Ntuli
- Mthembu
- Ngcobo
- Nxumalo
- Cele
- Dlamini
- Gumede
- Shabalala
- Zungu
- Mkhize
- Majozi
- Hlongwane
- Zwane
- Sithole
- Mkhabela
Mthethwa Clan Origin
The abaKwaMthethwa were pioneers of a confederation of smaller states (clans) under one supreme leader – a king. These individuals became the foundations of what later became the Zulu empire as we know it today.
Dingiswayo established his clan in 1807 after becoming paramount chief of the northern Nguni division. He is widely credited with militarizing Mthethwa and introducing age regiments that later came to define Zulu kingdom, raiding surrounding chieftaincies, as well as having close ties with Portuguese at Delagoa Bay.
As soon as he was old enough to father children, Dingiswayo befriended Nondi of the Khumalo tribe. When she fell for him and proposed marriage, he and she were delighted that their union lasted so well until one fateful day when they would both have to make difficult choices between two camps – something they dreaded immensely.
Nondi’s father was an influential chief from the Ndwandwe tribe who became famous by attacking other smaller Nguni tribes and taking their land, in violation of Ndwandwe law.
Due to these actions Nondi was impregnated out-of-wedlock by her husband despite this breach in their contract and when she told her father about this pregnancy he said it must have been from an unusual source called Shaka (meaning reed in Swahili). Thus Shaka would become known.
Shaka was an intelligent and ambitious boy. He looked up to his mother as an example. Over time he matured into an impressive soldier with a charismatic, playful persona – something women often found attractive.
At the same time, Hlubi was also maturing into manhood; though equally intelligent, his focus lay with avenging his mother’s humiliation and loss of rank and becoming chief himself – an ambition which eventually materialized.
Dingiswayo gave Shaka and Hlubi troops to attack Senzangakhona’s kingdom in order to establish their rightful position as Zulu chiefs. Their plan worked successfully, with Mthethwa merging into Zulu kingdom under Shaka’s leadership – with untold consequences! The rest, as they say, is history.
Today the Mthethwa family are an influential group, boasting politicians, lawyers and businesspeople amongst its ranks. Still predominantly based in South Africa with multiple settlements including Mthethwa in KwaZulu-Natal province; some descendants can even be found in Chicago where there is an African American community; they also own several businesses in Florida state.
Mthethwa Clan Meaning
One of the cornerstones of Xhosa culture is storytelling. Clan names often provide the spark for these tales, which in turn form tribes which eventually form nations such as AmaNdebele, AmaSwazi, AmaZulu and AmaHlubi; each with their own surname but sharing an ancestor named Hlubi; similarly the Mthethwa clan also has roots within AmaZulu nation.
The Mthethwa were an important chieftaincy and small historical state that existed south of the Mfolozi River in present-day KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Rising to prominence during the 18th and early 19th centuries through absorption of local lineages, they maintained close ties with surrounding chieftaincies including those to its west such as Zulu kingdom.
Mthethwa was transformed by Dingiswayo, its paramount chief, who introduced numerous military and administrative innovations – among them age regiments that eventually came to define Zulu kingdom rule.
While an older theory attributed their introduction to Nyambose rulers of Mthethwa, evidence now points back even earlier into history than this is accepted as evidence shows them widespread existence dating back to at least the 18th century and possibly earlier.
Dingiswayo was known for protecting and raising Shaka, the future king of Zulu Nation. This happened following an altercation with Shaka’s father Senzangakhona; at that time it was considered scandalous to become pregnant out of wedlock.
Any family found doing this would likely face rustication as punishment for this act of immorality. Thus Nondi found herself living with Mthethwa household where she gave birth to Shaka, meaning Reed.
Mthethwa were one of the earliest Nguni chiefdoms to adopt firearms and use them effectively, engaging in trade with Portuguese at Delagoa Bay and expanding their sphere of influence through this means.
Additionally, they established close links with Zulu kingdom after Dingiswayo’s death, eventually becoming part of it and eventually their descendants becoming chiefs under various Zulu kings.
