Who are the Ndebele
Ndebele/AmaNdebele are a bantu Nguni ethnic group currently inhabiting parts of South Africa majorly in Mpumalanga province. Commonnly known as Southern Ndebele, they are famous for their traditional dress, the colourful ndebele blanket and colourful art by their famous artists Esther Mahlangu and Esther Mnguni
Royal Titles
- King – iNgwenyama
- Queen – iNdlovukazi (used for great wife of royal blood)
- Non royal wife – Kosikazi, also chiefs wife
- Queen Mother – Ugogo Wesitjaba (Manala)
- Prince – ikosana
- Princess – ikosazana
- Chief – iKosi, wife called ikosikazi
- Palace – Manala Mbhongo Royal Kraal, Mpumalanga
- (Special Acknowledgement to Queen Sekhothali Mabhena
Kings of Ndebele
Sucession is through male primogeniture where the eldest son succeeds the throne.
- Ndebele – Originally a Chief in the lands of the Bhaca and Hlubi.
- Mkhalangana
- Mntungwa
- Jonono
- Nanasi
- Mafana
- Mhlanga
- King (Ingwenyama) Musi
- After Musi there was a succession dispute fought between his two sons Manala and Ndzundza over the throne
- Manala continued the Main royal line
- Ndzundza – moved away and established his own – see Ndzundza Mabhoko
- After Musi there was a succession dispute fought between his two sons Manala and Ndzundza over the throne
- King (Ingwenyama) Manala
- King (Ingwenyama) Ntshele
- King (Ingwenyama) Magutshona
- King (Ingwenyama) Mrawu
- Ncagu – served as regent for Buyambo
- King (Ingwenyama) Buyambo
- King (Ingwenyama) Mabhena I
- King (Ingwenyama) Mdibane
- King (Ingwenyama) Sibindi – reigned 1817–1826
- King (Ingwenyama) Mvula – reigned 1826–1827
- King (Ingwenyama) Mgibe – reigned 1827–1832
- King (Ingwenyama) Silamba – reigned 1832–1892
- King (Ingwenyama) Mdedlangeni – reigned 1892–1896
- Libangeni – served as regent for nephew Mabhena II
- King (Ingwenyama) Mabhena II – reigned 1896-1906
- King (Ingwenyama) Mbhongo I – reigned 1906–1933
- King (Ingwenyama) Mbulawa – reigned 1933–1941
- King (Ingwenyama) Makhosoke I – reigned 1941–1960
- King (Ingwenyama) Mbongo II – reigned 1960–1986
- King (Ingwenyama) Makhosoke II Enoch Mabhena – reigned 1986 – current
King Makhosoke II Enoch Mabhena
King Makhosoke II Mabhena is the reigning monarch of the Ndebele people (amaNdebele) of South Africa. He is from the Manala Ndebele clan and has been King since 1986 after succeeding his late father Mbongo II. Ingwenyama Makhosoke II Is currently the longest serving King in South Africa and celebrates his birthday every 14th of April. He is married to Queen (Indlovukazi) Sekhothali Mabhena who was born a princess of the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Visit Kingdom website – Ndebelekingdom.org
Queen(indlovukazi) Sekhothali Seeiso Mabhena
Queen (Indlovukazi) Sekhothali Mabhena is the wife of HM King (Ingwenyama) Makhosoke ii Mabhena of Ndebele Kingdom, South Africa. They married in 2019. She was born a princess of Lesotho to Prince Masupha Seeiso of Lesotho and late Princess Princess Mabereng Masupha Seeiso. This makes her the first cousin of HM King Letsie iii of Lesotho. Queen Sekhothali Mabhena is a champion and huge of ending child marriages and sexual abuse and reproduction health in which she collaborates with organisations such as the United Nations women. Link – Queen Sekhothali
King Makhosoke II has three daughters from previous relationship namely
- Princess Mngetshani Mabhena
- Princess Khethiwe Mabhena
- Princess Ketumile Mabhena
Royal ceremonies
- Komjekejeke festival or King Silamba annual commemoration is the largest royal event among the Ndebele people of Ndebele Kingdom, South Africa held annually in the first week of March. It involves remembrance of King Silamba of Ndebele, honouring the life and deeds of ancestral kings who ruled the Ndebele Nation, as well as showcasing ndebele culture and dances. It is hosted at Komjekejeke heritage site by King Makhosoke II of Ndebele, attended by various royals in South Africa. A place declared a heritage site in 1998 by the National Heritage Council of South Africa. In the 1960s, the Group Areas Act evicted people from KoMjekejeke until 1979 when the last group of settlers were removed. Due to the separate development policy based on apartheid practice, KoMjekejeke was declared a white man’s area and black people were prohibited to buy property in this area. The King Silamba Trust was established in 1985 with a sole purpose of buying this area and developing it for cultural benefits for AmaNdebele. Visit link – Komjekejeke
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