Dlodlo was a son of Mehlomakhulu, Mehlomakhulu son of Mpangazitha, Mpangazitha son of Bhungane (Rhadebes/Hadebes), the home of Mehlomakhulu was in Natal (eMtshezi namanje lise lapho kubusa u Muziwenkosi ka Tatazela ka Siyephuka Lang'alibalele ka Mthimkhulu, Mthimkhulu brother of Mpangazitha)...
who is Mpangazitha?
AmaHlubi Amahle
Izibongo zenkosi u-Mpangazitha Bhungane.
"Unina ngu Makhambehlala intombi ka Mdlini
wakwa Kheswa."
Ngu Mpangazitha wabo Jobe,
U-Zulu liyasa liyasibekela,
U-Mtatamb' onje ngelipezulu,
Lona ladl' umnt 'alabekwa mlandu.
Yi-Ngidi ka Zikode no Dlomo -
Eyathi gidi phakathi komhlaba
Phakathi kwezika Nquma le Ndubaludaka,
Zath' izizwe zonke zabikelana.
Ngu-Fohloza ngenduk' enobuchopo;
Nguyena Mbuyisa sizwe.
Amajub' amabil' ase Ntlongwazana
Elinye liwucomb untusikazi.
Ubuhle bomvemve ngingabuthandabuzela,
Ngathi bunxube-nxube ma-Hlubi
Abufani nobe nkanku,
Ngathi bona buphangel' ilanga.
U-Mzinz' onga mathunz' ezintaba
Zako Qhamana nezako Khamane.
Ngu-Mbhincisi wabafazi bakwa Mnqwazi
Nanamuhla' usababhincisa.
Ngu-Sixuma senxala
Esingaphezu ko-Lundi,
Phakathi komhlaba nezulu.
Ngu-Mana-mana njengemvula yehlobo
Yona enetha kuze kus' ijononoza
Njengentonga yethusi.
Yimbabala ka Mashiyi no-Dlomo.
Eyagweb' igijima
Ngu-Mpama zise mahlweni,
Ngokuphathazwa ngu Jobe no-Monakali.
Vuka nqina bakuhlanganisele!
U-Sondamase ngokwendel' amadoda
U-Mbamb' akabulali
Kanti nguy' obulalayo
THE WARS BETWEEN AMAHLUBI AND AMANGWANE
In the second decade of the nineteenth century the Ama-Hlubi were one of the largest and powerful tribes in Natal. All that was lacking with the Hlubis was the real cohesion. Chief Mpangazitha Head of
the Bhungane’s Right Hand House indlunkulu or indlu yokunene was practically independent of his half Brother Mthimkhulu II who was Bhungane’s heir and therefore the King of the Hlubi tribe. In times of danger however they united for mutual protection. In 1819 Hlubis occupied the valley of the Buffalo River as well as of its upper tributaries Ncandu and
Ngagane and their source close under the Drakensberg mountains-
There was no conflict between Tshaka and the Hlubis, but Tshaka certainly set other strong tribes against the Hlubis in order to dissipate of so formidable a tribe.
Another strong tribe that Tshaka feared were the Ama-Ngwane under Chief Matiwane. At the instigation of Tshaka the Ama-Ntshali under Chief Nkondlo and Abakwa- Mthethwa under chief Godongwane under whom Tshaka served, attacked Matiwane who could not resist a combination which became too strong for Him. He was ultimately defeated.
At the beginning of the Hostilities, Matiwane placed the cattle of his tribe of his immediate neighbour King Mthimkhulu II. When Hostilities were over, Matiwane sent for his cattle but Mthimkhulu refused to give them up. Chief Matiwane made no secret of his intention to attack the Hlubis for their treachery, and the Hlubis made preparations to meet the Ama-Ngwane. Both the great and the right hand sections of the Hlubis combined to resist
Matiwane under their respective chiefs Mthimkhulu and Mpangazitha. The Hlubis did their best to stem the attack, but Mthimkhulu fell and the Hlubis resistance withdrew away, they broke and fled. Mpangazitha with great portion of his force scaled the Drakensberg and fled to Basuthuland.
The second war was between King Tshaka and chief Matiwane. That was in 1821, chief Mpangazitha heard that his old enemy who enforced him to be in exile was at war with King Tshaka. He decided to be on the side of king Tshaka in order to revenge. Mpangazitha immediately ascended Drakensberg from the west, eager to assist in the destruction of a man who had caused, and enforced his exile for two years in BasutuLand – “Lesotho”. Tshaka’s army was called back when Matiwane’s army was driven beyond the Drakensberg. Over the mountains Matiwane’s army met Mpangazitha’s army. Both armies fought each other violently and descended the eastern slopes of the Drakensberg locked in deadly combat. They passed through Basotholand fighting until exhaustion compelled both combatants to stop. From that time these two tribes settled along the Caledon river – e- Rugwane. It was here in 1850 that the Hlubi was finally crushed and scattered by Matiwane’s Ama-Mangwane.
The battle was long and desperate. For five days it lasted but the battle became infavour of Ama-Mangwane. It was during this battle when Mpangazitha died. The Hlubis sought refuge with various tribes. One body under Mehlomakhulu the right hand son of Mpangazitha fled to territory of Mzilikazi(yibo laba abasizalayo abasidabulayo thina oDlodlo) another sought protection under the BasothoLand's Chief Moshweshwe. Others scattered far and wide. Mpangazitha’s son and heir chief Sidane together with a number of followers, escaped from the field of battle but had not gone far before he was surrounded by Mzilikazi’s army. He escaped during the night with his wife when he heard that Mzilikazi was planning to kill him. His Hlubis that remained behind were to
incorporated in Mzilikazi’s army.(yibo ababumba Amakhanda Amhlophe laMnyama)
Chief Sidane set out for for Gazaland Kwa Gasa where he did not stay very long. He eventually returned to Rugwane, the territory of the Hlubis old enemy chief Matiwane who ordered that he had to be immediately put to death for fear that the Hlubis who were conquered and incorporated into his army would rebel. Fortunately his descendants survived and it was in 1895 when Zibi the heir of Sidane was given by the Cape Goverment a portion of land in the district of Matatiele.
CHIEF MEHLOMAKHULU THE RIGHT HAND SON OF MPANGAZITHA
After his fathers death at Caledon river Mehlomakhulu attached himself as a surbodinate to chief Mzilikazi Khumalo the son of Mashobane. For sometime chief Mzilikazi treated Mehlomakhulu with consideration but realized that this young man was held in
great respect by Hlubis, he began to suspect that ultimately Meholmakhulu would dispute his authority and decided to get rid himself of so dangerous an officer, Mehlomakhulu learned that Mzilikazi was planning to kill him. The Hlubis advised him to escape. Before escaping they collected all the cattle, women and children during the night. They were followed by Mzilikazi’s army which had a large section of Hlubis who joined their own tribe
when the two armies were about to fight. Mzilikazi’s army was defeated. Mehlomakhulu’s name in consequence of his success, attained a certain fame. Hlubis scattered among different tribes rallied to his standard and it seemed as if the Hlubi tribe would again rise on the ashes of the past to something like its former importance. He accordingly set out for Natal but on reaching Natal he found Marwanqa one of Bhungane’s minor houses at
loggerheads with the paramount Chief Langalibalele. Mehlomakhulu attached himself forthwith to Marwanqa’s party and strain relations culminated in war. Marwanqa was defeated. Mehlomakhulu realized that the enmity he had caused, he then thereupon appealed to the British colonial Government which settled him in the district of Herschel in the Cape Town! It was in this district at Sterkspruit that I did my MPhil research in 2004. Thanks to Historian and Poet/ Pastor, Paul Damasane Bayethe writing on his Facebook page.
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