Izithakazelo Zakwa Shezi Clan Names History and Origin
Clan names [isiduko] supersede surnames and are an important part of Xhosa culture. It is considered very polite to ask someone their clan name on meeting them for the first time.
Sigananda kaZokufa was a warrior under Shaka, Dingane and Mpande, and served as regent for Cetshwayo. He was also a ferocious opponent of the British during the Anglo-Zulu War.
Shezi Clan Names
- Shezi
- Zulu
- Buthelezi
- Mthethwa
- Ndlovu
- Khumalo
- Ntuli
- Mthembu
- Ngcobo
- Nxumalo
- Cele
- Dlamini
- Gumede
- Shabalala
- Zungu
- Mkhize
- Majozi
- Hlongwane
- Zwane
- Sithole
Shezi Clan History
Shezi is a popular African clan name that can be traced back to the Zulu tribe. It is the 11,452nd most prevalent surname in South Africa. Explore historical records to find out more about Shezi clan members, such as where they lived and what they did for a living.
One of the most famous Shezi was Sigananda kaZokufa, chief of the small amaChube clan, who shrewdly allied himself with Shaka’s Zulu kingdom. He served as a mat-bearer under Shaka, and later as an army commander under Dingane.
When Cetshwayo ascended to the Zulu throne in 1872, Sigananda aided him in his battle against the Mandlakazi, and was awarded with the territory of Nkandla.
Shezi Clan Origins
Clan names identify people’s lineage or ancestry. They are an important part of Africa’s culture, as they define a person’s identity and give them a sense of belonging.
A notable example of a shezi clan name is Sigananda kaZokufa, whose illustrious career spanned the reigns of Shaka (1816-1828), Dingane (1828-1840), Mpande (1840-1872) and Cetshwayo (1872-1884).
He was a mat-bearer for Shaka and fought in the royal army under Dingane. He became chief of the amaChube, a small tribe that had allied with the Zulu kingdom.
During the Anglo-Zulu War, when Britain’s divide-and-rule strategy tore apart the Zulu kingdom, Sigananda sided with the rebellious uSuthu faction led by Cetshwayo upon his return from exile.
Eventually, Sigananda was defeated at the famous battle of Mome Gorge by a young firebrand called Bambatha kaMancinza, but Cetshwayo remembered his loyalty and invited him back to Zululand.
Shezi Clan Meaning
Clan names, also known as izithakazelo, give the African people a sense of identity and belonging. They identify the lineage or ancestry of a person, and children take their father’s clan name when they are born. The shezi clan is the largest of all the zolu nation clans.
A Xhosa person’s clan name is more important than their surname, so it is very polite to ask someone what their clan name is when meeting them for the first time. It is the same with married women as they will keep their own clan name, adding the prefix “Ma” to it.
When speaking to a man, calling him by his clan name is considered the highest form of respect as it softens his heart to do what you are asking him to do.
People with the shezi clan name are natural scientists in all things, requiring proof and facts before they will believe something. They are inquisitive and sceptical of others’ motives and opinions, and can be very fussy and particular.
This is a clan name for people who want to make a difference in the world and are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. They are also very generous, and are known as “givers”. If you have the shezi clan name, it makes you an honest, sincere, and reliable person who cares deeply about those around them.
Shezi Clan Variations
As in many African cultures, clan names are an integral part of the Zulu people. They help identify the ancestry of a person. They are not to be confused with surnames or given names, but serve a very different purpose.
Moreover, when a woman marries she takes her husband’s surname but retains her clan name. She may add the prefix “Ma-” to her clan name as a sign of respect and honour for her husband.
Sigananda kaZokufa was a member of the small and shrewd amaChube clan who allied themselves with Shaka’s Zulu kingdom. He served as a mat-bearer under Shaka and Dingane and later became a military commander for the king Mpande. When Mpande died, he was challenged for his throne by his elder son, Mbuyazi.
When Mbuyazi was defeated by Cetshwayo at the Battle of Mome Gorge, he fled to his clan’s territory and took refuge with Zondi, the head of the amaChube clan. When Cetshwayo ascended to the throne, he remembered Sigananda’s loyalty and returned him to Zululand where he became chief of the amaChube people.
Sigananda died shortly thereafter in the rainy Nkandla forest and is buried there. Historical records can provide an interesting window into your family’s past, giving you more details about the lives of your ancestors including their occupations, address and other important information.
