AbaThembu Royal Family is the reigning royal family or the house of amaDlomo of the abaThembu or Thembu people of South Africa.
AbaThembu have been ruled by a lineage of kings since precolonial days. Today two kingdoms exist, abaThembu Kingdom at Bumbane great place, Mthatha and western Thembuland. However the abaThembu at Bumbane are considered overall Kingdom of all abaThembu since western Thembuland ruled by Manthazima royal house is considered a colonial creation. There are also chiefs or inkosi who rule under the King. Nelson Mandela was a member of this tribe and a son of a chief at Mvezo.
Their royal palace / great place is at Bumbane, Eastern Cape
Below is the immediate family
King (Kumkani) Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo
Late King (Kumkani) Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo of abaThembu, South Africa. He is the father of current King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo of abaThembu, Bumbane great place, Mthatha, South Africa. He lived from 1928-1986 when he died in Zambia where he had gone to exile after some clashes with the then Transkei government.
King (Kumkani) Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo
HM King (Kumkani) Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo of abaThembu or Thembu people (abaThembu Kingdom), Bumbane great place, mthatha, South Africa. He has been King since 1987. He is the son of late King Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo (1928 – 1986) and his great royal wife Queen Nomoscow Dalindyebo.
The king has had many brushes with the law, he was jailed in 2015 for 12 years for offences committed in the 1995-1996. However after 4 years of serving he was released on 23 December 2019 due to public demand and intervention of some traditional leaders leading to president Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa granting him presidential pardon. While he served his sentence, his son Prince Azenathi Dalindyebo was made regent. Now that the King is out, he has taken back his throne.
Queens of abaThembu
King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo of abaThembu has been married five times with children to:
- Nocollege Buyiswa Majiki (married 1992-divorced in 1990s)
- Queen regent Noluntu Dalindyebo (married 1995 divorced 2002)
- Queen Nokwanda Dalindyebo (married 2004)
- Queen Nolitha Dalindyebo (married 2004- died 2016)
- Queen Nolwazi Dalindyebo (married 2004-died 2011)
Queen (Kumkanikazi) Nokwanda Dalindyebo
Queen Nokwanda Dalindyebo is the current wife and queen consort to HM King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo
Children
Prince Azenathi Dalindyebo
Prince Azenathi Dalindyebo is the son of King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo of abaThembu, Bumbane great place, mthatha, South Africa. He served as regent between 2015-2019. He is married to Usibulile Dalindyebo
Photos : Lulamile Feni
The King has other children
Siblings of the King
Princess Ndileka Dalindyebo Dlamini is the sister of King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo of abaThembu, South Africa. She married Prince Melika Dlamini of Eswatini in 1986.
Prince inkosi Jongisizwe Mankunku Dalindyebo is the younger brother of King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo of abaThembu, Bumbane great place, Mthatha, South Africa
© The African Royal Families. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
You must be logged in to post a comment.