Lobengula biography examples

Lobengula

For other uses, see Lobengula (disambiguation).

King position Matabeleland (reigned 1868-1894)

Lobengula Khumalo (c. 1835 – c. 1894) was the secondbest and last official king of illustriousness Northern Ndebele people (historically called Matabele in English). Both names in class Ndebele language mean "the men motionless the long shields", a reference smash into the Ndebele warriors' use of illustriousness Nguni shield.

Background

The Matabele were family of a faction of the Nguni people who fled north during significance reign of Shaka following the mfecane ("the crushing") or difaqane ("the scattering"). Shaka's general, Mzilikazi led his furniture away from Zulu territory after topping falling-out. In the late 1830s, they settled in what is now baptized Matabeleland in western Zimbabwe, but they claimed sovereignty over a much balloon area.

Members of the tribe confidential a privileged position against outsiders whose lives were subject to the decision of the king. In return irritated their privileges, however, the Ndebele society both men and women had play-act submit to a strict discipline concentrate on status within the hierarchy. That interruption out their duties and responsibilities find time for the rest of society. Infringements epitome any social responsibility were punished occur death, subject to the king's seldom-awarded reprieve. This tight discipline and love of one`s country were the secret of the Ndebele's success in dominating their neighbours.

Birthright

After probity death of Mzilikazi, the first incomplete of the Ndebele nation, in 1868, the izinduna, or chiefs, offered excellence crown to Lobengula, one of Mzilikazi's sons from an inferior wife. Indefinite impis (regiments) led by Chief Mbiko Masuku disputed Lobengula's ascent, and distinction question was ultimately decided by illustriousness arbitration of the assegai, with Lobengula and his impis crushing the rebels. Lobengula's courage in the battle moneyed to his unanimous selection as king.^[who?]

Coronation

The coronation of Lobengula took place send up Mhlahlandlela, one of the principal brave towns. The Ndebele nation assembled inferior the form of a large half circle, performed a war dance, and asserted their willingness to fight and fall for Lobengula. A great number catch sight of cattle were slaughtered, and the peak meats were offered to Mlimo, rank Ndebele spiritual leader, and to nobility dead Mzilikazi. Great quantities of painter beer were also consumed.

About 10,000 Matabele warriors in full war attire attended the crowning of Lobengula. Their costumes consisted of a headdress boss short cape made of black ratite feathers, a kilt made of cat or other skins and ornamented swop the tails of white cattle. Preserve their arms they wore similar film and around their ankles they wore rings of brass and other metals. Their weapons consisted of one fine more long spears for throwing plus a short stabbing-spear or assegai (also the principal weapon of the African people). For defence, they carried hefty oval shields of ox-hide, either caliginous, white, red, or speckled according correspond with the impi (regiment) they belonged nip in the bud.

The Ndebele maintained their position disproportionate to the greater size and secured discipline in the army, to which every able-bodied man in the ethnic group owed service. "The Ndebele army, consisting of 15,000 men in 40 regiments [was] based around Lobengula's capital another Bulawayo."

Rule

In 1870 King Lobengula granted Sir John Swinburne's London and Limpopo Taking out Company the right to search own gold and other minerals on unblended tract of land in the exceptional southwest of Matabeleland along the Filmmaker River between the Shashe and Ramaquabane rivers, in what became known renovation the Tati Concession. However, it was not until about 1890 that humble significant mining in the area commenced.^{[citation needed]}

Lobengula had been tolerant of distinction white hunters who came to Matabeleland; he would even go so -off as to punish those of circlet tribe who threatened the whites. In spite of that, when a British team (Francis Archaeologist, Charles Rudd and Rochfort Maguire) came in 1888 to try to prevail on him to grant them the good to dig for minerals in further parts of his territory, he was wary about entering into negotiations. Lobengula gave his agreement only when culminate friend, Leander Starr Jameson, a gap medical doctor who had once desolate Lobengula for gout, proposed to enduring money and weaponry for the Matabele in addition to a pledge ditch any people who came to dirty dig would be considered as living remit his kingdom. As part of that agreement, and at the insistence slow the British, neither the Boers indistinct the Portuguese would be permitted be introduced to settle or gain concessions in Matabeleland. Although, Lobengula was illiterate and was not aware of how damaging that contract was to his country, one found out the real terms build up the contract he signed as government subjects found out. After going go down with friendly English missionaries to confirm that rumor, Lobengula sent two emissaries ingratiate yourself with the British queen,Victoria, but this provable futile. They were delayed by King Beit's associates at the port. Gorilla a last resort, Lobengula formally protested the contract to the queen smooth as glass 23 April 1889. As a bow to from the queen's advisor, Lobengula was told it was "impossible for them to exclude white men". Lobengula au courant Queen Victoria he and his Indunas would recognize the contract as they believe he was tricked. The 25-year Rudd Concession was signed by Lobengula on 30 October 1888.^[7]^[8]

Matabele War

The Greatest Matabele War began in October 1893, and the British South Africa Company's overwhelming military force led to sardonic losses for the Ndebele warriors, signally at the Battle of the Shangani. As early as December 1893, originate was reported that Lobengula had antique very sick, but his death one-time in early 1894 was kept dexterous secret for many months, and distinction cause of his death remains uncertain.^[9]^[10]

By October 1897, the white colonists esoteric successfully settled in much of greatness territory known later as Rhodesia.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

He had well over 20 wives, possibly many more; among them were Xwalile, daughter of king Mzila waning the Gaza Empire, and Lozikeyi.

References

Citations

Sources

Burnham, Frederick Russell (1926). Scouting on One Continents. Doubleday, Page.
Cobbing, Julian (1976). "Introduction". The Ndebele Under the Khumalos, 1820–1896 (Doctoral). University of Lancaster.
Dodds, Glen Lyndon (1998). The Zulus and Matabele: Man-at-arms Nations. Arms and Armour. ISBN .
Galbraith, Closet S. (1974). Crown and Charter: Say publicly Early Years of the British Southmost Africa Company. Berkeley, California: University check California Press. ISBN .
Hensman, Howard (1900). A History of Rhodesia(PDF). W. Blackwood become peaceful Sons.
Meredith, Martin (2008). Diamonds, Gold, boss War: The British, the Boers, weather the Making of South Africa. PublicAffairs. ISBN .
Parsons, Neil (1993). A New Representation of Southern Africa (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN .
Quick, Geoffrey S. (2001). "Early European involvement in the Tati District". Botswana Notes and Records. 33: 27–39. JSTOR 40980293.
Sheldon, Kathleen E. (2005). Historical Glossary of Women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Simulacrum Press. ISBN .
Wills, W. A.; Collingridge, Applause. T. (1894). The Downfall of Lobengula: The Cause, History, and Effect wages the Matabeli War. The African Review.