Nandi (mother of Shaka): Difference between revisions
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→top: fixed that Nandi KaBhebhe was not Nandi Bhebhe and I added the name of Princess Nandi's mother who was Queen Mfundi kaQwabe. Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit Android app edit |
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{{short description|Zulu queen}} |
{{short description|Zulu queen}} |
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{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
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| name |
| name = Nandi KaBhebhe |
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| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] --> |
| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] --> |
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| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> |
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> |
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| mother = Mfunda KaKhondlo KaQwabe |
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| father = Bhebhe KaNqeshe |
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| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> |
| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> |
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| birth_date |
| birth_date = c. 1760 |
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| birth_place = Melmoth, |
| birth_place = Melmoth, [[Zulu Kingdom]] |
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| death_date = {{Birth date|1827|10|10}} |
| death_date = {{Birth date|1827|10|10}} |
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| death_place = |
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| death_place = |
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| nationality = [[Zulu Kingdom]] |
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| partner(s) = [[Senzangakhona kaJama]] <br/> Gendeyana |
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| partner(s) = [[Senzangakhona kaJama]] <br/> Gendeyana |
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| children = [[Shaka kaSenzangakhona]]<br/>Nomcuba kaSenzangakhona<br/> [[Ngwadi kaGendeyana]] |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Nandi |
'''Nandi''' KaBhebhe (c. 1760 – October 10, 1827) was a daughter of Bhebhe, a past Elangeni chief and the mother of [[Shaka|Shaka kaSenzangakhona, King of the Zulus]].<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ijhss/article/view/105742 | title=The royal women of the Zulu monarchy through the keyhole of oral history: Queens Nandi (C. 1764 – c.1827) and Monase (C. 1797 – 1880) | journal=Inkanyiso: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences | date=25 July 2014 | volume=6 | issue=1 | pages=1–14 | last1=Shamase | first1=M. Z. }}</ref> |
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==Birth== |
==Birth== |
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Queen Nandi Bhebhe was born in [[Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal|Melmoth]] in 1760. Her father was |
Queen Nandi Bhebhe was born in [[Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal|Melmoth]] in 1760. Her father was a chief of the Elangeni (Mhlongo) people. |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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Nandi Bhebhe was impregnated out of wedlock by Jama's son, Senzangakhona. The Mhlongo people demanded Senzangakhona pay damages for his non-traditional act. The Mhlongo approached the Jamas to settle the matter. Nandi was on the fore-front of this case and discussion. She personally demanded 55 head of cattle as payment for damages done to her and the herd was delivered to the Mhlongo people. The Jamas and Senzangakhona agreed to pay the damages demanded by Mhlongo people so as to avoid war. On the other hand, Senzangakhona did truly love Nandi. After Nandi gave birth to her son, Shaka, she initially spent some time at Senzangakhona's kraal before her relationship with Senzangakhona deteriorated, forcing her to leave the kraal. Nandi returned to her people, the Mhlongo of Elangeni, leaving Shaka behind. Shaka's life at Senzangakhona's kraal proved dangerous and finally his uncle Mudli brought him to Nandi at Elangeni.<ref>Pathisa Nyathi, Igugu likaMthwakazi: Imbali yamaNdebele, 1820-1893.'' {{ISBN|0-86922-580-4}}</ref> During that time Nandi had to protect her son from [[famine]], [[assassination]] attempts, and enemies. However, Nandi's stay at Elangeni proved dangerous as well, so she left with her son to live amongst the [[ |
Nandi Bhebhe was impregnated out of wedlock by [[Jama kaNdaba|Jama]]'s son, Senzangakhona. The Mhlongo people demanded Senzangakhona pay damages for his non-traditional act. The Mhlongo approached the Jamas to settle the matter. Nandi was on the fore-front of this case and discussion. She personally demanded 55 head of cattle as payment for damages done to her and the herd was delivered to the Mhlongo people. The Jamas and Senzangakhona agreed to pay the damages demanded by Mhlongo people so as to avoid war. On the other hand, Senzangakhona did truly love Nandi. After Nandi gave birth to her son, Shaka, she initially spent some time at Senzangakhona's kraal before her relationship with Senzangakhona deteriorated, forcing her to leave the kraal. Nandi returned to her people, the Mhlongo of Elangeni, leaving Shaka behind. Shaka's life at Senzangakhona's kraal proved dangerous and finally his uncle Mudli brought him to Nandi at Elangeni.<ref>Pathisa Nyathi, Igugu likaMthwakazi: Imbali yamaNdebele, 1820-1893.'' {{ISBN|0-86922-580-4}}</ref> During that time Nandi had to protect her son from [[famine]], [[assassination]] attempts, and enemies. However, Nandi's stay at Elangeni proved dangerous as well, so she left with her son to live amongst the [[Ncholo]] people. There, she met Gendeyana, whom she married and had a son, Ngwadi. Nandi's stay amongst the Qwabe was not pleasant at all and this forced her to leave Qwabe to live amongst the [[Mthethwa Paramountcy|Mthethwa people]] led by chief [[Dingiswayo ka Mohlatsane]]. Nandi was warmly welcomed by the Mthethwa. She found it a good place to raise her sons, Shaka and Ngwadi, and her daughter, Nomcoba. Her son Shaka joined a Chwe regiment led by [[Bhuza]]. It was amongst the Mthethwa where Shaka devised military tactics. |
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==Death== |
==Death== |
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Queen Nandi Bhebhe died of [[dysentery]] on October 10, 1827. Her grave can be found outside [[Eshowe]], off the old [[Empangeni]] road. The grave is marked ''Nandi''. On 11 March 2011 the Mhlongo Committee met at Eshowe with the Office of the KZN (kwaZulu-Natal) Premier and Amafa to finalise plans for Princess Nandi's grave near Eshowe. It was agreed that there would be an official opening day in May 2011 to present Queen Nandi Bhebhe's grave after the approval of the designs suggested by Mhlongo people. Queen Nandi Bhebhe was born into the Mhlongo people and for that reason it was also agreed that the name on the grave shall be "Princess Nandi Mhlongo, Mother of King Shaka". The Bhebhe and Mhlongo people of eLangeni are one people. The direct descendants of King Shaka's mother Nandi have expressed dissatisfaction with the state of her grave which has lain unattended for over 200 years.<ref>SABC Digital News (2018), Descendants of King Shaka's mother Nandi want her grave uplifted, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjyMmWix-XA</ref> The [[Zulu |
Queen Nandi Bhebhe died of [[dysentery]] on October 10, 1827. Her grave can be found outside [[Eshowe]], off the old [[Empangeni]] road. The grave is marked ''Nandi''. On 11 March 2011 the Mhlongo Committee met at Eshowe with the Office of the KZN (kwaZulu-Natal) Premier and Amafa to finalise plans for Princess Nandi's grave near Eshowe. It was agreed that there would be an official opening day in May 2011 to present Queen Nandi Bhebhe's grave after the approval of the designs suggested by Mhlongo people. Queen Nandi Bhebhe was born into the Mhlongo people and for that reason it was also agreed that the name on the grave shall be "Princess Nandi Mhlongo, Mother of King Shaka". The Bhebhe and Mhlongo people of eLangeni are one people. The direct descendants of King Shaka's mother Nandi have expressed dissatisfaction with the state of her grave which has lain unattended for over 200 years.<ref>SABC Digital News (2018), Descendants of King Shaka's mother Nandi want her grave uplifted, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjyMmWix-XA</ref> The [[Zulu royal family]] blames the government for this because according to them, the graves of prominent people are the responsibility of government. Amafa heritage which administers protected structures in the province will soon erect a sculpture symbolic of Nandi's status once the Mhlongo and the royal family have settled their differences. |
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Despite the hard times they endured together, or perhaps because of them, Shaka loved his mother almost to the point of [[worship]].<ref>[http://www.associatepublisher.com/e/n/na/nandi_(mother_of_shaka).htm Nandi]</ref> |
Despite the hard times they endured together, or perhaps because of them, Shaka loved his mother almost to the point of [[worship]].<ref>[http://www.associatepublisher.com/e/n/na/nandi_(mother_of_shaka).htm Nandi]</ref> |
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According to Donald Morris, Shaka ordered that no crops should be planted during the following year of mourning, no milk (the basis of the Zulu diet at the time) was to be used, and any woman who became pregnant was to be killed along with her husband. At least 7,000 people who were deemed to be insufficiently grief-stricken were executed, although the killing was not restricted to humans: cows were slaughtered so that their calves would know what losing a mother felt like.<ref>Morris, Donald R. (1994) [1965]. The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation Under Shaka and Its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879. London: Pimlico. {{ISBN|978-0-7126-6105-8}}. P. 99</ref> |
According to Donald Morris, Shaka ordered that no crops should be planted during the following year of mourning, no milk (the basis of the Zulu diet at the time) was to be used, and any woman who became [[Pregnancy|pregnant]] was to be killed along with her husband. At least 7,000 people who were deemed to be insufficiently grief-stricken were executed, although the killing was not restricted to humans: cows were slaughtered so that their calves would know what losing a mother felt like.<ref>Morris, Donald R. (1994) [1965]. The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation Under Shaka and Its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879. London: Pimlico. {{ISBN|978-0-7126-6105-8}}. P. 99</ref> |
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What Morris states comes from [[Henry Francis Fynn]]'s memory. Fynn's account has been disputed with some sources alleging that they were exaggerated since he may have had deeper motives.<ref>Daniel Alban Wylie (1995), White Writers and Shaka Zulu, Degree of Philosophy of Rhodes University.</ref> |
What Morris states comes from [[Henry Francis Fynn]]'s memory. Fynn's account has been disputed with some sources alleging that they were exaggerated since he may have had deeper motives.<ref>Daniel Alban Wylie (1995), White Writers and Shaka Zulu, Degree of Philosophy of Rhodes University.</ref> Fynn's earlier accounts were sometimes inaccurate and exaggerated which would become crucial to the growth of Zulu mythology. Many of the first white settlers were illiterate, with the exception of a few who controlled the written record. These writers have been accused of demonizing Shaka as a figure of inhuman qualities, a symbol of violence and terror, to obscure their own colonial agenda.<ref>[[Ian Knight (historian)|Ian Knight]] (2011), Zulu Rising: The Epic Story of iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift</ref><ref>Carolyn Anne Hamilton, (1992) The Character and Objects of Chaka': A Reconsideration of the Making of Shaka as 'Mfecane' Motor, The Journal of African History, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 37-63.</ref><ref>Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries (2005), Lessons on Leadership by Terror: Finding Shaka Zulu in the Attic</ref> [[Julian Cobbing]] also argues that these settlers' writers were anxious to create a myth which "cover up" colonial 19th-century slave raiding and general rapine across the sub-continent and justify the seizure of land.<ref>Julian Cobbing. "The Mfecane as Alibi: Thoughts on Dithakong and Mbolompo". Journal of African History, 29, 1988.</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nandi}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nandi}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1760s births]] |
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[[Category:1827 deaths]] |
[[Category:1827 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]] |
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[[Category:African queen mothers]] |
[[Category:African queen mothers]] |
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[[Category:18th-century Zulu people]] |
[[Category:18th-century Zulu people]] |
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[[Category:19th-century Zulu people]] |
[[Category:19th-century Zulu people]] |
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[[Category:History of KwaZulu-Natal]] |
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[[Category:African princesses]] |
[[Category:African princesses]] |
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[[Category:South African animists]] |
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[[Category:Deaths from dysentery]] |
[[Category:Deaths from dysentery]] |
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[[Category:Infectious disease deaths in South Africa]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:04, 11 October 2024
Nandi KaBhebhe | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1760 Melmoth, Zulu Kingdom |
| Died | October 10, 1827 |
| Nationality | Zulu Kingdom |
| Partner(s) | Senzangakhona kaJama Gendeyana |
| Children | Shaka kaSenzangakhona Nomcuba kaSenzangakhona Ngwadi kaGendeyana |
| Parents |
|
Nandi KaBhebhe (c. 1760 – October 10, 1827) was a daughter of Bhebhe, a past Elangeni chief and the mother of Shaka kaSenzangakhona, King of the Zulus.[1]
Birth
[edit]Queen Nandi Bhebhe was born in Melmoth in 1760. Her father was a chief of the Elangeni (Mhlongo) people.
Personal life
[edit]Nandi Bhebhe was impregnated out of wedlock by Jama's son, Senzangakhona. The Mhlongo people demanded Senzangakhona pay damages for his non-traditional act. The Mhlongo approached the Jamas to settle the matter. Nandi was on the fore-front of this case and discussion. She personally demanded 55 head of cattle as payment for damages done to her and the herd was delivered to the Mhlongo people. The Jamas and Senzangakhona agreed to pay the damages demanded by Mhlongo people so as to avoid war. On the other hand, Senzangakhona did truly love Nandi. After Nandi gave birth to her son, Shaka, she initially spent some time at Senzangakhona's kraal before her relationship with Senzangakhona deteriorated, forcing her to leave the kraal. Nandi returned to her people, the Mhlongo of Elangeni, leaving Shaka behind. Shaka's life at Senzangakhona's kraal proved dangerous and finally his uncle Mudli brought him to Nandi at Elangeni.[2] During that time Nandi had to protect her son from famine, assassination attempts, and enemies. However, Nandi's stay at Elangeni proved dangerous as well, so she left with her son to live amongst the Ncholo people. There, she met Gendeyana, whom she married and had a son, Ngwadi. Nandi's stay amongst the Qwabe was not pleasant at all and this forced her to leave Qwabe to live amongst the Mthethwa people led by chief Dingiswayo ka Mohlatsane. Nandi was warmly welcomed by the Mthethwa. She found it a good place to raise her sons, Shaka and Ngwadi, and her daughter, Nomcoba. Her son Shaka joined a Chwe regiment led by Bhuza. It was amongst the Mthethwa where Shaka devised military tactics.
Death
[edit]Queen Nandi Bhebhe died of dysentery on October 10, 1827. Her grave can be found outside Eshowe, off the old Empangeni road. The grave is marked Nandi. On 11 March 2011 the Mhlongo Committee met at Eshowe with the Office of the KZN (kwaZulu-Natal) Premier and Amafa to finalise plans for Princess Nandi's grave near Eshowe. It was agreed that there would be an official opening day in May 2011 to present Queen Nandi Bhebhe's grave after the approval of the designs suggested by Mhlongo people. Queen Nandi Bhebhe was born into the Mhlongo people and for that reason it was also agreed that the name on the grave shall be "Princess Nandi Mhlongo, Mother of King Shaka". The Bhebhe and Mhlongo people of eLangeni are one people. The direct descendants of King Shaka's mother Nandi have expressed dissatisfaction with the state of her grave which has lain unattended for over 200 years.[3] The Zulu royal family blames the government for this because according to them, the graves of prominent people are the responsibility of government. Amafa heritage which administers protected structures in the province will soon erect a sculpture symbolic of Nandi's status once the Mhlongo and the royal family have settled their differences.
Despite the hard times they endured together, or perhaps because of them, Shaka loved his mother almost to the point of worship.[4]
According to Donald Morris, Shaka ordered that no crops should be planted during the following year of mourning, no milk (the basis of the Zulu diet at the time) was to be used, and any woman who became pregnant was to be killed along with her husband. At least 7,000 people who were deemed to be insufficiently grief-stricken were executed, although the killing was not restricted to humans: cows were slaughtered so that their calves would know what losing a mother felt like.[5]
What Morris states comes from Henry Francis Fynn's memory. Fynn's account has been disputed with some sources alleging that they were exaggerated since he may have had deeper motives.[6] Fynn's earlier accounts were sometimes inaccurate and exaggerated which would become crucial to the growth of Zulu mythology. Many of the first white settlers were illiterate, with the exception of a few who controlled the written record. These writers have been accused of demonizing Shaka as a figure of inhuman qualities, a symbol of violence and terror, to obscure their own colonial agenda.[7][8][9] Julian Cobbing also argues that these settlers' writers were anxious to create a myth which "cover up" colonial 19th-century slave raiding and general rapine across the sub-continent and justify the seizure of land.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Shamase, M. Z. (25 July 2014). "The royal women of the Zulu monarchy through the keyhole of oral history: Queens Nandi (C. 1764 – c.1827) and Monase (C. 1797 – 1880)". Inkanyiso: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 6 (1): 1–14.
- ^ Pathisa Nyathi, Igugu likaMthwakazi: Imbali yamaNdebele, 1820-1893. ISBN 0-86922-580-4
- ^ SABC Digital News (2018), Descendants of King Shaka's mother Nandi want her grave uplifted, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjyMmWix-XA
- ^ Nandi
- ^ Morris, Donald R. (1994) [1965]. The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation Under Shaka and Its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879. London: Pimlico. ISBN 978-0-7126-6105-8. P. 99
- ^ Daniel Alban Wylie (1995), White Writers and Shaka Zulu, Degree of Philosophy of Rhodes University.
- ^ Ian Knight (2011), Zulu Rising: The Epic Story of iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift
- ^ Carolyn Anne Hamilton, (1992) The Character and Objects of Chaka': A Reconsideration of the Making of Shaka as 'Mfecane' Motor, The Journal of African History, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 37-63.
- ^ Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries (2005), Lessons on Leadership by Terror: Finding Shaka Zulu in the Attic
- ^ Julian Cobbing. "The Mfecane as Alibi: Thoughts on Dithakong and Mbolompo". Journal of African History, 29, 1988.
Further reading
[edit]- Bryant, Alfred T. (1929). Olden Times in Zululand and Natal. Longmans, Green and Co.
- Morris, Donald R. (1998). The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation Under Shaka and Its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879. New York: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-80866-1.
- Omer-Cooper, John D. (1969). The Zulu Aftermath: A nineteenth-century revolution in Bantu Africa. London: Longman. ISBN 978-0-582-64531-8.
- Ritter, E. A. (1955). Shaka Zulu: The Rise of the Zulu Empire
- Salmonson, Jessica Amanda (1991). The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. p. 192. ISBN 1-55778-420-5
- Queens Nandi (c. 1764 – c.1827) and Monase (c. 1797 – 1880) by Maxwell Z. Shamase
- Benedict Carton, Professor Benedict Carton (2000), Blood from Your Children: The Colonial Origins of Generational Conflict in South Africa
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