It has become the norm that whenever we study Zulu history we tend to look at the already famous figures who had a great impact on the events that occurred at that period in time. We put great focus on iSilo uMgengi noJinindi in particular and the royal house at large and forget about the pillars of the monarch and the nation at large, the ordinary men whose extraordinary deeds ensured the prosperity of the nation.
In my series, I aim to highlight those men and women who made great sacrifices for the betterment of the Kingdom, focusing on the actions and achievements of those individuals. In this article, I am focusing on the famous Myamana kaNqengele wakwaButhelezi, an accomplished warrior of the Nkulutshe regiment and a general in King Cetshwayo’s army. Mnyamana who was the “Godfather” of all the King Mpande’s children after giving young Prince Cetshwayo and his brothers as well as Myamana’s own children a few disciplinary lashes for a task that had not been done properly. The King angrily sent out his attendants to see what was going on eSgodlweni seNgonyama and what dared disturbed the Princes in their home. The attendants came with reports that iNduna uMyamana was the one who chose to discipline the children. King Mpande made a remark that he is giving all his children to Myanama and he is now their father. Even when King Mpande gave his daughter Princess Mthabayi to marry Mnyamana, he refused. Stating that it would be a sinful act for him to marry the King’s daughter since the King had said all his children are Myamana’s children. Princess Mthabayi would then go on to marry iNkosi uBantubensumo eMbongobongweni.
uMyamana went on to become uNdunankulu – the prime minister to King Cetshwayo as well the general in the King’s army. As a “godfather” to King Mpande’s descendants, iNkosi uMnyamane helped raise the young King Dinuzulu – Mpande’s grandson- and continued to be a guiding figure and a beacon of light to the young King right until the battle between uSuthu and Mandlakazi.
The prime minister always viewed Prince Zibhebhu of kwaMandlakazi as a British lackey and so going to war with him would mean going to war with Britain. The young King continued with his plan of destroying Zibhebhu to a point where uMnyamane recused himself from being a prime minister stating, “ngoba ukhethe ukungangilaleli ngiwuyihlo lendaba angisekuyingena kodwa ngeke ngibanqabele abantu ukuba baye ngoba abantu ngabenkosi.” He even sent two of his sons to that war. He lived out the rest of his life eMahlabathini and would pass away in 1892.
UZondwa lwakithi ekuShumayeleni
Inkashana encinyane yasekuShumstekeni
isikhukhukazane esimaphiko
sifukamele amasinyan’eNgonyama.