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The Qwabe chiefdom(amaQwabe) is the senior branch of the Embo-Nguni clans, descendant from Qwabe(1575) the son of Malandela or Mayandeya the king of the Embo-Nguni.

Origins
The amaQwabe are the senior and larger branch of the Makhanya and the Zulu clans all descending from one common ancestor, Malandela. They are descendant from Qwabe (whose name means a Large 'musical bow'/single-stringed harp ) the eldest son of Malandela and he's wife Nozidiya/Nozinja of the Zungu clan. Following the the death of Malandela, Qwabe became the king. In accordance with Embo-Nguni customary practices when Qwabe inherited the kingship, he went and built a new homestead to serve as the center of the kingdom. leaving hes younger brother Zulu to rule over a few people who remained at their father Malandela's estate.

The chiefdom thrived sometime in the 18th century as "one of the most ancient and famous tribes in Natal and Zululand". The amaQwabe occupied central KwaZulu-Natal, they were found beneath the Amandawe and Ngoye Hills, south of the Mhlathuze River until it reached the Mthethwa and Dube areas, up the Mhlathuze River almost as far as Nkandla forest, winding up between the Mhlathuze and Tugela Rivers and finally overflowing into Natal.

Expansion & Political Structure
After separating from he's brethren with the majority of Malandela's people, Qwabe and he's followers settled beneath the Ngoye hills. This is where Qwabe built the Nguni kingdoms new center, eMthandeni. Before amaQwabe occupation the area between the Mhlathuze and Tugela rivers was occupied by the Cele clan a sub-branch of the Mthethwa kingdom. The Qwabe drove out the Thuli and Cele clans as well as the amaMbili, amaKwela and amaKomo tribes, from between the Mhlathuze and the Tugela rivers into the coast district of Natal. Before the Shaka era the amaQwabe kingdom had already expanded control over parts of Natal south of the Thukela River. The expansion of this kingdom over large tracts of lucrative territory and control of smaller chiefdoms was enough to regard it as one of the few larger kingdoms of the region.

The kingdom was organised into seven large villages, each headed by an important member from the ruling lineage. Regiments were round up by village rather then age,

and included women regiments also. Evidence suggest that the authority to form women regiments (isigodlo) was only given to senior powerful kings such as Phakatwayo of The Qwabe, Dingiswayo of the Mthetwa and

Zwide of the Ndwandwe for instance.

Chieftains of the Embo-Nguni (Pre– c. 1727)

 * Yeyeye kaGondogwana
 * Ntu
 * Lufenulwenja
 * Mnguni I
 * Gumede
 * Qwabe I
 * Mnguni II
 * Luzumane
 * Malandela kaLuzumanae
 * Qwabe II kaMalandela (c. 1627 – c.  1709), founder of the clan and last king of the united Embo-Nguni

Chieftains of the Embo-Nguni-Qwabe ( c. 1575–1816)

 * Mahlobo (Ntombela) kaQwabe
 * Sidinane kaMahlobo
 * Khuzwayo kaSidinane
 * Simamane kaKhuzwayo
 * Lufuta kaSimamane
 * Mncinci kaLufuta
 * Khondlo kaMncinci
 * Phakawayo kaKhondlo