Mzala Tom @RealMzalaTom Twitter profile

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Mzala Tom

2 months

Follow the History & Heritage channel on WhatsApp for my pre-colonial Zimbabwean and Southern African History articles, pictures, video presentations, materials and links:

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. REPORTING A PREGNANCY THE ZIMBABWEAN NDEBELE CUSTOMARY WAY 🇿🇼 In the olden days young people in the Ndebele communities of Zimbabwe observed a standard safe sex practice known as ukuhlobonga/ukuphelela emathangazini (intercrural sex/coitus interfemoris/ thigh sex/thigh job).

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. THE XHOSA PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE A thread..... Xhosa people are predominantly found in the Mbembesi area near Bulawayo. Other Xhosa communities are found in Fort Rixon, Goromonzi (in Chief Rusike's area), Msengezi, Makwiro, Chitomborwizi, Marirangwe, Chinhoyi & Gwatemba.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

5 months

1. SOSHANGANA'S GASA KINGDOM 🇲🇿🇿🇼🇿🇦 King Soshangana was born in present day KwaNongoma in KwaZulu to Zikode kaGasa, a chief of the Ndwandwe empire under King Zwide kaLanga. The Gasa occupied the Mkhuze region around the eTshaneni mountain.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. HOW MZILIKAZI BECAME A KING A thread.... The Khumalo originated with Khumalo kaMntungwa who settled around the Mkhuze river in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. Mzilikazi was born of Mashobane kaMangethe who is also called "Matshobane kaZikode".

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

10 months

1. THE VHAVENDA PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 The Venda are primarily located in the Matabelelad South province in the Beitbridge district. However, there are also pockets of Venda people found in Mwenezi, Mberengwa, Insiza and the West Nicholson - Masase areas.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. NDEBELE IDENTITY: Who are the Ndebele of Zimbabwe? A very long thread... Many people struggle with defining the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe. Are Ndebeles a tribe, a nation, Khumalos, South Africans or is Ndebele just a language?

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

Some common Sotho-Tswana clan names that were Ngunilised after assimilation by the Ndebele🇿🇼 1. Mokone - Mguni 2. Motlokwa - Mdlongwa 3. Sebata - Sibanda (Tao Tona/Dawu Duna/Motaung/Mdawini) 4. Kgabo - Khabo 5. Moloi - Mloyi 6. Sechele - Sitshela 7. Mokgatla - Mnkandla

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

5 months

1. KING SOBHUZA'S KINGDOM🇸🇿 King Sobhuza I was born around 1788. He is considered as the founder of modern Eswatini. His father was King Ndvungunye Zikodze ruler of the Ngwane kingdom. Sobhuza I was also known as Somhlolo.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1.THE NDAU PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE A long thread.... The Ndau people are one of the most unique ethnic groups in Zimbabwe with a complex history that is often misconstrued or subdued in other peoples' history. The Ndau language is unique, rich & exotic. Listen to this young poet :

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. LOZIKEYI DLODLO : THE LAST QUEEN OF THE NDEBELE (1) 👑🇿🇼👑 Queen Lozikeyi Dlodlo is historically respected for leading the Ndebele 1896 uprising against British colonialism. The war was known as Impi Yehloka Elibomvu/ War of the Red Axe/First Umvukela/Uprising.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

1. MZILIKAZI'S MIGRANT KINGDOM SOUTH OF THE LIMPOPO 🇿🇼🇿🇦 After the acrimonious fall out with Shaka, King Mzilikazi and his people crossed over uKhahlamba/Drakensberg mountain range. They then temporarily joined forces with Nxaba a chief of the Nguni Msene around 1822-23.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

Ndebele🇿🇼 is just short and nice compared to English. For an example : English : 'Stop it now, I'm warning you!!!' Ndebele : 'Yeeeeeeey!' 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. THE SPECIAL MARRIAGE RITUALS OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 (PART 1) Before colonialism there were rituals that the Ndebele people conducted to seal a marriage covenant between two families. These rituals were done to hand over the bride, after the lobola ceremony.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE SOTHO PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE🇿🇼 (Part 2) Umnxeba....🧵 The BaBirwa are Sotho people who came from Transvaal in present-day South Africa and settled in modern day Zimbabwe. The language spoken by the Babirwa people, seBirwa, is a dialect of Northern Sotho.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. NDEBELE HOME : UMUZI 🇿🇼 In the olden days umuzi/ homestead of the Ndebele state consisted of a 'headman' : umnumzana or umninimuzi. Umnumzane lived with his wives and children, his younger brothers and their families as well, and their married sons.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. NDEBELE LOBOLA CUSTOMS AND RITUALS 🇿🇼 As discussed in the pervious threads Ndebele marriage ceremonies commenced with negotiations where isivulamlomo and kangaziwe were required to be paid by the man's family to the prospective inlaws.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. NDEBELE BURIAL CUSTOMS🇿🇼 Umnxeba... In ancient Ndebele society when a person died , the whole community ceased all important activities like traveling, hunting or farming, until the funeral wake and burial was concluded.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. ICALA LEZINDUNA : THE NKULUMANE TREASON STORY A thread... Mzilikazi established his first royal town, called Mhlahlandlela just outside present day Pretoria (South Africa), in the late 1820s. After facing a series of attacks, he moved with his kingdom, further north.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. THE TRAGEDY OF PRINCESS MNCENGENCE KHUMALO 🇿🇼 Umnxeba..🧵 The story of Princess Mncengence is a tragic political story of sibling mistrust and betrayal. Mncengence was regarded as the first 'queen' of Bulawayo after the coronation of King Lobhengula in 1870.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. AMAXHOSA OF ZIMBABWE (Part 2) A thread.... She is known by her legion of fans on KhulumaniFM as 'uMntase' & is admired for her eloquence by many who tune in to Iindaba on ZbcTv. I present to you Maria Nombulelo Masoka.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. KING SHAKA'S PLOT TO ELIMINATE MZILIKAZI Umnxeba.....🧵 This thread gives another angle on the the split between Kings Mzilikazi & Shaka. In the previous thread we addressed the pro-Shaka version & today we give the pro-Mzilikazi perspective.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. ZWANGENDABA'S LONG JOURNEY A short thread... Mzilikazi, Soshangane & Zwangendaba are the most prominent leaders to emerge out of the Mfecane wars during the reign of King Shaka (Sgidi kaSenzangakhona). Of the three I find Zwangendaba's journey as the most fascinating.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. THE CREATION OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES : THE CASE OF ZIMBABWE A thread...🧵 African countries as we know them today have not always existed since time immemorial but were a deliberate creation of colonisers who were pursuing commercial interests. Africa is a colonial construct.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. COURTSHIP💕💕CUSTOMS OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 Umnxeba 🧵 In the ancient days, Ndebele men practiced elaborate processes to court lovers. The proposals and courting often painstakingly took months or even years to before a young lady could agree.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

9. In 2017, Dr. Hleze Kunju of Rhodes University published the first PhD to be written in isiXhosa It is based on his research on the language & culture of the Xhosa people of Zimbabwe : siXhosa ultimo lwabantu abangesonininzi eZimbabwe: Ukuphila nokulondolozwa kwaso.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

14. All the above processes did not necessarily mean that the parties would get married. In the next thread we will explore the steps leading to marriage or where the young man had no plans to marry. We will also explore where the young man denied responsibility.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

10 months

1. THE NAMBYA PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 AND BOTSWANA 🇧🇼 The oral history of BaNambya now centred in Whange dates back to the early 18th century when Dende; one of the three sons of a Lozwi/ Rozwi king ruling at Danangombe broke away from his father to establish his own kingdom.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. WHY PRE-COLONIAL NDEBELE PEOPLE NEVER DIVORCED 🇿🇼 Umnxeba...🧵 Before colonisation and modernisation, Ndebele people had no concept of divorce. Marriage was a permanent polygamous institution that dissolved through the death of either party to the contract.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1.THE TITLES OF MARRIED WOMEN ACCORDING TO ANCIENT NDEBELE🇿🇼 CUSTOMS In the olden days marriages revolved around blood covenants between families and were not founded on a private agreement between two lovers.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. REPORTING A PREGNANCY THE ZIMBABWEAN NDEBELE CUSTOMARY WAY (PART 2) 🇿🇼 If the young man decided not to marry the girl, even though he acknowledged paternity, the girl became classified as imitha. She could not perform the ukumekeza ceremony if she got married to someone else.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

5 months

1. THE KALANGA CIVILISATION 🇿🇼🇧🇼🇿🇦 Present day Kalanga people of Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa are believed to be descendants of part of the Bantu people who migrated down south from the Great Lakes region around AD900.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. HOW PRINCESS ZINKABI ATTEMPTED A COUP ON LOBHENGULA.... Umnxeba... 🧵 Princess Zinkabi was King Mzilikazi's daughter. She was married to Mbiko the son of Madlenya Masuku. Mbiko was a powerful warrior who was respected in the northern Ndebele kingdom.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. THE DEATH & BURIAL OF KING MZILIKAZI A thread.... Mzilikazi reigned until his death in September 1868. At the time of his death he was estimated to be in his late 70s/early 80s. His death followed that of his senior & closest wife Queen Loziba Thebe.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. NGWANA MASEKO Ngwana Maseko is the founder of the Gomani Ngoni /Nguni kingdom found in modern day southern Malawi. He was of the Maseko clan of Swati origin.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

8 months

1. THE LEMBA PEOPLE OF AFRICA Historians believe that the Lemba people group, also known as the Balemba, Basena, Basoni, Vamwenye, Varemba and Balepa, are descendants of Yemenite Jews. The Lemba reside mainly in Southern Africa.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. NDEBELE 🇿🇼 CULTURAL ASTRONOMY & COSMOLOGY Ancient Ndebele people used celestial knowledge to chart seasons & to regulate agricultural cycles & ritual calendars. Celestial bodies determined healing rituals, divination, social & political decisions.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. THE SOTHO - TSWANA PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE A thread...... SeSotho & SeTswana are recognised as official languages in Zimbabwe. The Sotho-Tswana groups came to the Zimbabwe plateau with Mzilikazi. However, some were already here whilst others came later with the colonialists.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

1. NDEBELE WARRIORS' IBHONGA TEST 🇿🇼 Umnxeba🧵 In the Ndebele kingdom serving in the army with distinction opened doors for promotion to join the ruling elite, acquire wealth and marrying within the royal and aristocratic families.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. PHATHISA NYATHI : THE VANGUARD OF OUR HISTORY A thread..... 🧵 Ubaba uPhathisa Nyathi is a former teacher, a poet, playwright, author and publisher. He is the founder of Amagugu International Heritage Centre, a cultural village of international significance.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. KING MZILIKAZI'S KINGDOM A long thread... By the time Mzilikazi arrived in the Zimbabwe plateau a lot of damage had already been done by Sebetwane, Soshangane & Zwangendaba. Nyamazana who was Zwangendaba’s niece defeated the last King of the Rozvi/Lozwi empire Chirisamhuru.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

9 months

1. HOW BANGWATO AND NSWAZWI OF BOTSWANA 🇧🇼 SETTLED IN ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 The Bangwato-Tswana people group of Mangwe in Zimbabwe are descendants of the followers of Raditladi and Mphoeng who broke away from the main group following a dispute with Bangwato Regent Khama III in the 1890s.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE SEX SCANDALS THAT ROCKED THE NDEBELE STATE 🇿🇼 Umnxeba📜 The Ndebele state under was not spared of sex scandals involving the ruling elite. The three memorable scandals involved chiefs Gampu Sithole, Tshibhini Gwebu & one warrior Mveleleni Mahlangu.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

1. INHERITING A FATHER'S NAME : NDEBELE CUSTOMS & RITUALS 🇿🇼 Umnxeba🧵 This is a continuation on the series related to burial customs and inheritance laws of the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe. Today we will focus on the ukubeka ibizo (imparting a new name) ceremony.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. AMANDEBELE OF ZIMBABWE🇿🇼& SOUTH AFRICA🇿🇦 Umnxeba ....🧵 The name ‘(ama)Ndebele’ is a generic name used to designate three Nguni speaking groups found in South Africa (Southern and Northern (ama)Ndebele) and the Ndebele of Zimbabwe.(Image : South African Ndebeles).

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. LOVE, SEX & BETRAYALS : THE STORY OF CHIEF GAMPU SITHOLE 🇿🇼 Umnxeba...🏮 Gampu Sithole, was the son of Maqhekeni who was chief of Amagogo within Igabha section of the Ndebele State. Maqhekeni ruled from a village called Ndikimbela in present day Nata Reserve.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

2. Xhosa is an official language in terms of section 6 of the constitution of Zimbabwe. The late Xhosa King from the Eastern Cape Zwelonke Sigcawu visited Zimbabwe in 2011 to connect with his people & advance their culture.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

7 months

1. THE 'SHANGWE' PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 The Shangwe people are predominantly found in Gokwe in the northern Zimbabawe plateau. Like the Tonga, they deeply identify themselves with the Zambezi valley.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE PRINCESS AND IMBULUMAKHASANE A Ndebele 🇿🇼 folk tale.... Long, long ago when stones were still soft such that one could pinch them, there was a young, beautiful Ndebele princess.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE NDLOVU CLANS OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 The surname Ndlovu/Ndhlovu is found accross Zimbabwe who are of the elephant totem. Indlovu is the isiNdebele/Nguni name for an elephant. Before the standardisation of the isiNdebele language in Rhodesia, the word indlovu was spelt as indhlovu.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

8 months

1. NDEBELE FEMALE RITE OF PASSAGE : UKUDUNDUZELA CEREMONY 🇿🇼 Puberty for the girl child was referred to as ukudunduzela However, amongst the present day amaNdebele, the word ukuthomba is generally used instead and the word ukudunduzela is now almost extinct.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. SIVALO MAHLANGU A thread.... King Mzilikazi encountered the Mahlangu people at a time when they lived at Ndubazi in present day Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The Mahlangu chieftaincy is established in Nkayi, Matabeleland North.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

6 months

A rare picture of King Lobengula standing by the door of his brick house; in the book : Rhodes of Africa by Felix Cross (Cassel & Company Ltd London, 1956). The popular image on the right is just a sketch of King Lobhengula drawn by Rev. E. A Maund. The sketch is a more popular

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

1. NDEBELE POST-WEDDING RITUALS AND CUSTOMS 🇿🇼 Umnxeba🧵 After the ukucola ceremony of welcoming the bride to her new home, as discussed in previous threads, there are a few more customs and rituals done to establish the bride as a wife, celebrate and establish the union.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. THE SPECIAL MARRIAGE RITUALS OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 (PART 2) Upon arrival at the groom's village, umthimba ensured that the bride was concealed from public view. At this point umthimba was called umtshitshi womthimba.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. THE CHEWA PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE A thread....... ChiChewa is recognised as an official language in terms of the constitution of Zimbabwe. ChiChewa is a Bantu language spoken in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe & Mozambique. (Adventist ladies singing in ChiChewa - Malawi)

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. UKUTHETHELA CEREMONY 🇿🇼 (PART 1) Umnxeba..🧵 The Ndebele people have a special ceremony called ukuthethela. Ukuthethela is communicating with ancestors for a variety of reasons such as thanks giving, petitions or to make some enquiries.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. SOBOHLA MANYOSI🇿🇼🇿🇦🇸🇿 Umnxeba.... The expression sobohla Manyosi is a proverb commonly used in the Nguni communities in the SADC region. It literally means : your stomach will shrink Manyosi. Manyosi is a person who once lived in the era of the emergence of the Zulu empire.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

1. MATOBO HILLS : THE ANCIENT SPIRITUAL EPICENTER OF SOUTHERN AFRICA 🇿🇼 Matobo hills are granite hills/kopjes located south-east of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. The hills have an average height of 1,500 metres & cover an area of about 3100 m2.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

1. KING LOBHENGULA'S INNER CIRCLE 🇿🇼 Umnxeba...📝 King Lobhengula's rise to the throne was bloody as he faced resistance from many quarters. His defeat of Mbiko ka Madlenya and his Zwangendaba regiment consolidated his throne as the successor of the founding king Mzilikazi.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

1.THE NDEBELE CIVIL WAR: PRINCE NKULUMANE'S COUP? 🇿🇼 In the past we discussed how the Ndebele were pushed out of their second capital in Groot-Marico in the North West province of South Africa. This thread gives a different version of how the Ndebele ended up with two kings.

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Mzala Tom

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4 years

1. UMBIKO KA MADLENYA A thread... After the death of King Mzilikazi in 1868 Lobengula's rise to power was bloody. A top general & leader of the feared Zwangendaba regiment: Mbiko Masuku, challenged the anointing of Lobhengula as the next Ndebele king.

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4 years

1. NDABEZINHLE SIGOGO : THE GODFATHER OF NDEBELE LITERATURE A short thread.... Sigogo is credited for structuring how the Ndebele novel was to be written. He was editor at the Literature Bureau, which was a government department in Rhodesia. Before that he was a teacher.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE NGUNI/SOTHO PEOPLE WHO OCCUPIED PARTS OF MODERN DAY ZIMBABWE BEFORE MZILIKAZI 🇿🇼 There is a general misconception that King Mzilikazi & his Ndebele people were the first Nguni group to traverse and settle in what is now modern day Zimbabwe. However, this is not accurate.

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1 year

1. THE TRAGEDY OF CHIEF MAPHUNGO MABHENA 🇿🇼 Maphungo Mabhena was one of King Lobengula's most trusted izinduna. He was in control of the king's assets and cattle used for rituals and traditional ceremonies like umthontiso, a ritual that foreshadowed the annual Inxwala ceremony.

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3 years

1. THE NYUBI PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 Umnxeba....📝 The abeNyubi people have lived in the present day Matobo district for almost 400 years, with close links to the Kalanga, Birwa, Venda, Sotho & the Karanga. They are also found in areas like Kezi and Nkayi.

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4 years

17. Mzilikazi then migrated north & eventually settled in the Zimbabwe plateau where he established his kingdom made up of multiple ethnicities of Nguni /Sotho/Tswana /Swazi & various Zimbabwe plateau peoples he conquered & assimilated into the new Ndebele state.......THE END

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3 years

1. KING MZILIKAZI'S GOVERNANCE STYLE🇿🇼🧵 The evolution of the Ndebele state can be divided into 2 phases: 1.1820-1840 was dominated by migration & wars 2. 1841-1893 saw the Ndebele evolving to a new full-fledged settled heterogeneous state in present day Matabeleland, Zimbabwe.

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4 years

1. THE WITCHCRAFT TRIAL OF PRINCESS MNCENGENCE KHUMALO 🇿🇼 Umnxeba .... 🧵 Princess Mncengence was King Lobhengula's sister who rose to prominence after Lobhengula's succession of King Mzilikazi. In the Ndebele kingdom there were two capital offences : treason and witchcraft.

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3 years

1. HOW CECIL RHODES RELOCATED THE XHOSA (AMAMFENGU) & THE TSWANA TO MATABELELAND🇿🇼 Umnxeba...🧵 In the previous threads we discussed the role played by various African groups in aiding Cecil Rhode's Pioneer Column to defeat King Lobhengula and the Ndebele in 1892/3.

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7 months

1. NDEBELE MALE RITE OF PASSAGE : UKUBA YINDODA 🇿🇼 The puperty rituals for boys were not as friendly as the ukudunduzela ceremony for the girl child. When a boy reached the age of puberty he reported to a male elder in the family about his physical changes and experiences.

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4 years

8. The late Zimbabwe liberation war heroine Ruth Lottie Nomonde Chinamano (nee Nyombolo) was of Xhosa origin. She was born in Cape Town, South Africa & was married to the late nationalist, Josiah Chinamano. She was a teacher in Rhodesia & a legislator in independent Zimbabwe.

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1 year

1. THE DUMBUSEYA 🇿🇼 In the last years of the Rozvi/Lozwi empire (early 1800s) there was a mfecane pushed scramble to take over the territory by Nguni-Sotho generals from the south who were seeking new territories. The empire was severely divided and weakened by power struggles.

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2 years

1. ROYALTY OR CONMAN ? : THE MYSTERY OF 'PRINCE' PETER LOBHENGULA 🇿🇼🇬🇧 Umnxeba...... Peter Khutshana Lobhengula was a sensation in England in the late 1890s. Peter alleged that he was the son of the last Ndebele king, Lobhengula Khumalo and a grandson of King Mzilikazi.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

LEARN isiNDEBELE 🇿🇼 words in 1 minute! 🐄 in core more 🦏u bear jah ne 🐩injure 🐢u foo do 🐔in coo coo 🐍in your car 👻 e sea paw core 🐦in your knee 😂😂😂

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Mzala Tom

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4 years

3. The Xhosa people are divided into several ethnicities with related yet distinct heritages. The main ethnicities are the amaGcaleka, amaRharhabe, amaHlubi, imiDange, imiDushane and amaNdlambe.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

7. In the early hours of the morning, the young man's father would present to the two women a live goat. The goat symbolized that the father and the clan were taking responsibility for their son's actions.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

11 months

1. PRE-COLONIAL NDEBELE CLOTHING 🇿🇼🇿🇼 -Umnxeba- Ndebele clothing was generally derived from various animal skins that were tanned and cut to different shapes and sizes. Different clothing materials and beads were also incorporated through trade and cultural exchanges over time.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. THE INXWALA FESTIVAL OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 Umnxeba ....🧵 As we approach the end of the year we celebrate Christmas & New Year's holidays across the world. However, before colonisation, the Ndebele people had a festival known as inxwala.

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@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE NGUNGUMBANE CHIEFTAINCY OF MBERENGWA EAST 🇿🇼 Umnxeba....📝 Today we look at the Ndebele community of Chief Ngungumbane which was relocated to Mberengwa in the late 1920s. Their migration story is similar to that of the Chief Gwebu community of Buhera we once discussed.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. LEARN BASIC NAMBYA 🇿🇼 BaNambya people are found in Hwange & surrounding areas in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe. Learn some basic Nambya phrases here.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

11. Seeing them coming back with a goat hide was a cause for joy and celebration for the girl's family. That hide would then be tanned, ukutshukwa, to make her maternity dress, ingcayo.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE TREASON TRIAL OF CHIEF LOTSHE HLABANGANA 🇿🇼 Umnxeba.... 🏮 Lotshe Hlabangana was one of King Lobhengula's trusted advisors & friend. He grew up with Lobhengula & they were in the Amawaba regiment together as young men.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

Did you know that Chiefs Babayana Masuku and Lotshe Hlabangana travelled to London in November 1888 on a diplomatic mission at the instigation of King Lobhengula. Our African leaders were equally advanced in international geo politics, state craft & international relations!

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

9 months

1. CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE NDEBELE KINGDOM 🇿🇼 Fo the smooth running of his government, King Mzilikazi employed royal civil servants who were on the state pay roll and welfare. They included amanxusa, inyanga yomuzi ,isanusi, imemezi yomuzi , abasiki bezinhlangu , impisi etc

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE ROLE OF AMADLOZI IN NDEBELE SPIRITUALITY 🇿🇼 Amadlozi are spiritual beings & their name is derived from dloza, meaning "to care for or to protect". Because the spirit world is believed to be situated below the earth (phansi), amadlozi are often referred to as abaphansi.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

4. They would wait until someone is sent from the growingly anxious family to enquire about their presence outside their premises. Without greeting the aunt would say, 'Sizobika umthwalo' /We are here to announce the burden/load.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

8 months

1. ON THIS DAY in 1893 Cecil John Rhodes' Pioneer Column conquered the Ndebele kingdom under King Lobhengula. The decisive and last battle was fought at a place called Gadade in Ntabazinduna.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

1 year

1. UNLOCKING FORTUNE & SUCCESS : NDEBELE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES🇿🇼 In the olden days people did not visit spiritual practitioners as a first resort. Life challenges were normally dealt with within the family before they could be escalated to higher sources.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. BARBARA MAKHALISA A short thread.... Barbara Clara Makhalisa is a prominent writer, editor and publisher. She is one of the earliest female writers published in Zimbabwe. She has penned many books in isiNdebele & English. Her books are still being used as school set books.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. THE FALL OF THE NDEBELE STATE (Part 2) Umnxeba... 🧵 In our previous thread on the collapse of the Ndebele state & the creation of Southern Rhodesia we discussed the defining war between the Ndebele army & Rhodes' Pioneer Column.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. SOLOMON SKUZA : MUSICIAN A thread...... Solomon Skuza (1954–1995), also known as 'Jah Solo' or 'Batshele' was one of the finest & most popular musicians in Zimbabwe. His music style was versetile. Solomon was born in Plumtree.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1.THE ZEZURU COMMUNITY OF BOTSWANA A thread.... There are significant populations of Shona communities who permanently settled in Botswana & Kenya. Their migration to those countries was mainly for missionary work as members of the Gospel of God Church : Johane Masowe.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

6 months

1. MODERN NDEBELE MARRIAGE PRACTICES 🇿🇼 In the previous threads on Ndebele marriage customs we dealt broadly with the ancient practices. The ancient elaborate practices have however, been modernised, though the core foundations of marriage practices have been preserved.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. THE NGONI PEOPLE OF MALAWI Umnxeba omfitshane.... The Ngoni people of Malawi are predominantly in Mzimba - Jele clan & Ntcheu - Maseko clan. The Maseko Ngoni originated from Swaziland while the Jele Ngoni originated from Zululand.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

7 months

Only black parents will beat you in rhythm Kade 👋 ngiku 👋 khuza 👋 ngithi 👋 yeka 👋 lento 👋 oyenzayo 👋 kodwa 👋 awu 👋 👋 laleli 👋 👋 👋 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

13. A beast would be sent by the young man's family to be slaughtered for welcoming the baby. The beast was commonly known as inyama yomntwana. However, the real term was imbuzi yokukhupha itshatha /a goat for removing the stain.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

23. Parting shot : According to the late nationalist Joshua Nkomo, Ndebeles are not a tribe but a collection of tribes. What is your take on Ndebele identity in modern day Zimbabwe?

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

3 years

1. THE HLENGWE/TSONGA PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE🇿🇼 Umnxeba......🧵 The Hlengwe people of Zimbabwe are a subgroup of the Tsonga people – an ethnic group found in four SADC countries : Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Hlengwe means wealth.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

2 years

6. If the young man affirmed and said, 'Umthwalo ngowami' , the two women would then be invited and ushered into the homestead to spend the night. It is only at this point that pleasantries & greetings were exchanged.

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Mzala Tom

@RealMzalaTom

4 years

1. HOW MFECANE TRANSFORMED THE ZIMBABWE PLATEAU A thread... Mfecane ( Difaqane or Lifaqane in Sesotho) was a period of widespread chaos and warfare among indigenous ethnic communities in southern Africa during the period between 1815 and about 1840.

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