The rise of the NDEBELE UNDER MZILIKAZI BY: Aluve Nguza & Matthew Boy The rise of the NDEBELE UNDER MZILIKAZI

Northern ndebele The northern Ndebele are a nation and ethnic group in Zimbabwe, who share a common Ndebele culture and Ndebele language. Their history began when a Zulu chiefdom split from King Shaka in the early 19th Century under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former chief in his kingdom and ally.

Split of the northern & southern ndebele Under his command the unhappy Zulus went on to conquer and rule the chiefdoms of the Southern Ndebele. This was where the name and identity of the ultimate kingdom was adopted.

mzilikazi Was a grandson of Zwide Meaning the ‘path of blood’ mzilikazi Was a grandson of Zwide His father, Mashobane, chief of the Khumalo. Was brought up within the Zulu army, he became the commander of the Zulu army. His successive actions lead many to consider him to be the greatest Southern African military leader after the Zulu king himself. His father died by the hand of his father-in-law, Zwide, and Mzilikazi in turn fled to the protection of shaka.

How the northern ndebele tribe formed In 1820’s Mzilikazi raided into the Transvaal to capture cattle, he had captured so much cattle that he decided not to return with the rich reward in tribute to his chief. Instead he went westwards with a few hundred followers until he was far enough away to settle in safety and establish his own leadership free of Shaka in 1823. His people becoming known as the Ndebele.