A towering figure in Zulu history, an aristocrat and a freedom fighter of note. The pictures so not do him justice because they only portray him in his twilight years and as a prisoner. However Inkosi uSgananda kaZokufa wasemaChubeni was not always the frail old man we learn in our history.
A decorated member of the Nkulutshe regiment, one of iSilo uDingane’s many military units iNkosi uSgananda was born in around 1810 to Zokufa. His military career started early in his life where he began as udibi for iSilo uShaka, carrying the King’s personal belongings during military conquests that would see the formation of the Zulu nation into an empire. A squire of note, Sgananda would learn valuable lessons of discipline from his maternal cousin iSilo sakwaBulawayo.
After witnessing the assassination of King Shaka in KwaDukuza Sgananda continued to serve the Kingdom well under King Dingane and would witness one of the most important and historical event in Zulu history that sparked the war of eNcome; where King Dingane uttered a command that would be heard throughout the ages. “Bulalani abathakathi!” where the regiments decisively obeyed and indeed killed Piet Retief and his company. It would during King Mpande’s reign, just after Impi yabaNtwana, that Sgananda would stop serving the kingdom and fled from the sight of the king.
Sgananda had supported the young Prince Cetshwayo during the Impi yabaNtwana much to King Mpande’s dismay as he had made his choice on who should succeed him and that person was uMbuyazwe. The king expected everyone to support his choice but Sgananda stool firmly with uSuthu. After the war iSilo uMpande heard of Sgananda’s act and wanted to have him punished or possibly killed.
He fled to Jangeni of the Zondi’s who offered protection from the King and Sgananda only returned upon Cetshwayo’s request who had then taken over after the passing of iSilo uMpande. Sgananda fought in the Battle of iSandlwana with his Nkulutshe regiment, he was present when the king’s capital was attacked and burnt by uMandlakazi and act that left many officials in the army and the kingdom dead. He later offered refuge to the badly injured and spiritually defeated king who succumbed to his injuries in 1884 and Sgananda offered Nkandla forest as the final resting for the king.
Sgananda rose again in the early 1900s but time as a “rebel” who defied the British authorities and come to the aid of Bhambatha (Jangeni’s grandson) and refused to pay poll tax.
A staunch believer of the old Zulu order Sgananda disagreed with Bhambatha’s guerrilla tactics and insist they face the British head on.
He later realized that Bhambatha’s strategy was more effective and gave him and his followers support and even offering them refuge at his Ndlamadoda homestead. However after the uprising Inkosi uSgananda was arrested by the British Authorities where he died under mysterious circumstances in 1906 at the age of 96. It is believed that he was buried with handcuffs. Inkosi yasemaChubeni lived through four Zulu kings and served the kingdom with his all. He refused to give in to colonizers and stood firm in his beliefs until the bitter end.