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13/09/2024

Four lessons for self-knowledge.
'You are your own best teacher.
Take responsibility for your actions. No one else should be held responsible.
It is possible to learn anything you desire.
True understanding can only be gained through reflection on your experience.' wb

07/09/2024

Mzilawegazi lika Mashobana from a Military leader to a nation-builder.
Mzilikazi was a Southern African monarch who established the strong Ndebele Matabele kingdom in what is now Zimbabwe.
He was born in 1790 near Mkuze, in Zululand, now in South Africa, and died on September 9, 1868, in Ingama, Matabeleland, near Bulawayo, now in Zimbabwe.
Mzilikazi was King Shaka's greatest warrior, who led his followers over 500 miles from what is now South Africa to what is now Zimbabwe, forming an enormous and ethnically diverse nation along the way.
He was a powerful statesman who united the numerous Bantu groups he had conquered into a unified, powerful kingdom.
The underlying presumptions—that he was an exceptional statesman or a ruthless military leader—are contestable.
There are assertions that the Ndebele settlement consisted of a hierarchy of "divisions" or provinces that was exclusively militarised.
J. Cobbing's book ‘Evolution of Ndebele Amabutho’ argues that the 'divisions' never happened. The collective group conceptions of Amhlope, Amakanda, Amnyama, and Igapha were derived from four initial or proto-amabutho that were developed before the Ndebele migrated to the Matopos region.
It is possible to simply figure out the order in which amabutho was created in the post-1850 era, with bursts of ibutho development typically occurring in connection with historical challenges for the kingdom.
Cobbings underline even more that while older, more established imizi continue to exist as conceptions of allegiance to this day, Amabutho creations from the late 1860s, such as Imbizo and Insuka, fell apart following the European occupation in the 1890s.
It is essential to understand the development of the Ndebele ibutho in order to understand other facets of Ndebele society, including the rise of the chieftaincies (izigaba) and the major local lineages, as well as the social and political context in which individuals were intended to achieve their aims.
These are the regiments that eventually gave sections their names.
AMHLOPHE meant the color white, some claim that the men had white hair, but the majority of customs attribute the color to the feathers in the headgear.
They came into being as a group in Zululand, under the leadership of Mzilikazi during the migration. They made their home in the middle of Matabeleland, with Mhlahlandlela as their operational base.
AMAKHANDA The forehead was the metaphorical term employed to refer to the frontline. They moved northward under Gundwane during the migration, establishing Enzwananzini as its headquarters as they settled in the eastern side of Matabeleland.
AMNYAMA Maybe black was the color of their shields. It was originally meant for a section of the Amakanda and evolved from the unit known as "Amnyama angankomo" (black, like oxen), which conducted the initial inspection before the migration.
IGABA This came from the Igaba regiment, which was stationed in Egabeni at Mzilikazi's Kraal. The migration, led by Mzilikazi, settled in Matabeleland's western region.
During the reign of Lobengula, Emagogweni was utilized as its headquarters.
Zulu-named units that were considered very senior.
It is possible that these units were assimilated into later regiments as they had no documented history following the occupation of Matabeleland.
DUKADA, ENGWA, IMFAGOCEBA, INDAMANE, INZANAYO, ISIPHIGA, ISITSHAMA, IZIQUQA, MAJOLO, MFIHLO.
From 1822 until 1837, these migration-related regiments were established.
The following traveled towards the Zambezi with Mzilikazi.
MHLAHLANDLELA (The Pioneers). This regiment, which had always been at the forefront, commanded the Amambambo, Isizinda, and Magoloza groups in addition to serving as the main one in the Amhlope division. Situated 12 miles south of the current Bulawayo, at the location of its kraal, is a memorial dedicated to Mzilikazi. It was eventually divided into four: Sikulu, Amadiba, Ihlati, and Incinyane: Induna (1840), Gwabalanda Mate, (1870), Mlizana Mate, (1893), Lethuli Mate, (1893) (Amadiba) Manyewu Ndiweni.
AMAGOGO The leaders had names that contained the word "go-go." Impongo, Umgogo, and Amahlogohlogo.
This was the main regiment of the Igaba section and was composed of the following Indunas under Mzilikazi's reign; Magqekeni Sithole; Mcetshwa (acting); and Gambo Sithole (1885).
INYANDA, This was a huge regiment composed of smaller units, as explained by the word "inyanda" under Induna Mazzini Khumalo and Induna Mlagela Khumalo.
UMSIZI ravenous, which means they could easily destroy their rivals. Ruled by Induna Mcetshwa Masuku, and Nsukumbili Khumalo.
AMAMAMBO (steadfast).
ILINGA the adventure, an Amapetelo (border) regiment: under Induna Nungu Khumalo.
INKANI thornbush a hard nut to crack: under Induna (1870) Magobela.
KHUMALO. Little is known of this regiment, whose kraal was on the edge of the Matopos. It may have been associated with INYANDA which was nearby and always had a member of the Khumalo family as its Induna.
The following traveled with Gundwane straight to Matabeleland.
GODLWAYO held back, which denotes an excessive desire to progress. With the ex*****on of their famous Induna, Mtikana Mafu, in 1885, this regiment came very close to an uprising. Induna Dambisamahubo Mafu, executed in (1885) Mafu Mtikana, (1893) Maduna Mafu.
AMATSHETSHE the swift ones: (1870) under Induna Sido Masuku, Manyakavulu Masuku.
ENXA of the same house: under Induna Ntshumane Kanye, (1870) Loyiswayo Dlodlo, and in (1893) Mgandane Dlodlo.
IMPANGELA refers to guinea fowl, feather headgear. may have been vanished or destroyed soon after ending the Nkulumane "revolt" in 1840. In June 1837, Dingane's invasion of Mosega nearly destroyed them.
INGWEKWE the hook, which could capture an opponent by surprise. participated in the Mosega Battle in 1837, and one of the injured men went on an expedition to Lake Ngami in 1883: Induna Mkanyeli Masuku.
INSINDA (oppressor). Around 1840, Princess Nyamazana's "Swati" followers were merged into this regiment: Induna Tshuwe Gwebu.
INSINGO (the razor): ruled by Induna Dlundluluza Dlodlo, and in (1893) Somabulane Dlodlo.
INTEMBA (trust). They raided baTswana at Lake Game in 1885 and suffered a severe defeat that, despite its existence at the time, it was not known to have fought in 1893: Induna Mojo Mlotshwa, Xukutwayo Mlotshwa, and in (1893) Salomon Mnguni.
INZWANANZI wide awake. Later on, it rose to become the Amakanda division's main unit: under Induna Mantinti, (1870) Mpiliwa Magutshwa, and (1893) Malevu Magutshwa.
ISIPHEZI the fleet of foot. This was also the name of Shaka's regiment: ruled by Induna Maqundela Sigola, and Nqabeni Sigola.
IZINKONDO the spearheads. Also known as Izinkondo Zimnyama spears of Amnyama: Induna Xukutwayo Mnguni.
OYENGA the deceivers. Induna Mlotha Khumalo, and in (1893) Mligulu Khumalo.
UMZINYATHI (black buffalo). The principal regiment I. Amnyama — later Amabuto division: Induna Majijili Gwebu. The names given by Norris Newman kid Indunas of this regiment in 1894 — Inkoni and Inshlabe—do not appear in any other list, they may have been Abalisa.
INTUNTA. it was created by Umzinyati's subdivision: Induna Mahabahaba Mkwananzi, (before 1887) Dliso Mkwananzi with Singalela Nkomo as umlisa.
The following traveled northwards with Gundwane after they arrived in Matabeleland.
INYATHI the Buffalo. The Inyati Mission, the first European colony in Emhlangeni, was founded in 1859 close to the three kraals of a renowned regiment. It relocated to the current Douglasdale in 1867. In 1893, Mzilikazi frequently resided with this unit, whose veterans continued to protect his grave: Induna (1859) Ntabeni Gwebu, (1867) Mbumbulu Gwebu, (1893) Mhlatshana Nzima.
INHLANJWANE. This were a border regiment: Induna Manyoba Ndiweni.
ISIZINDA the grief makers. They Recovered Cattle Captured by Potgieters Commando in 1847 from Zwangendaba: Induna Mnengeza Fuyane, Mapisa Fuyane, and in (1893) Mgandini (Umlisa)
MAGOLOZA (the Smiters): Induna Dlekeleza Tebe, (1870) Mankanyiyana Tebe.
DIBINHLANGU the Shield carriers. Induna Nungu Tebe, Mletshe Tebe. While other sources question Gunyalitshe's account of these two regiments being the same, they were indeed closely related, and their stories are notably similar. Dibinhlangu may have been a minor company in the regiment, and its command may have developed independently of the main body despite being in the Tebe clan. They were both under MHLAHLANDLELA.

The Rise of Matebeleland
LIST OF MATABELE REGIMENTS.

06/09/2024

'History is a wheel, for the nature of man is fundamentally unchanging. What has happened before will happen again.' George R.R. Martin
“Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seemed invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.”.

05/09/2024

'More than one could express, everything is unutterably weary and tiresome. The ear can never have enough hearing, and the eye can never have enough seeing. There is nothing new under the sun; what has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again.'
'Knowing that the creator (the source of everything) is the real source of stability can be the first step towards developing wisdom that will shield us from the challenges of this world.'

21/07/2024

Is the evolution theory real? What are the origins of modern humans?

Evolution and the search for human origins continue to be crucial topics. The latest claims and evidence indicate that Africa is where humans first appeared.
According to current scientific research, the physical characteristics and behavioral features that all humans share have their origins in apelike ancestors and have been evolving for roughly six million years.
Every living individual can trace their genetic heritage back to Africa, where Homo sapiens are believed to have first developed.
It has long been believed that humans originated from a single population in East or South Africa and then expanded to Asia and Europe.
A recent study in Nature contradicts mainstream opinion by suggesting that Homo sapiens originated from several separate communities that spread throughout Africa, with the earliest visible separation happening between 120,000 and 135,000 years ago, following an extended period of genetic mixing.
An international research team led by McGill University and the University of California, suggested in a paper published in Nature in May 2023, that humans have been living in different parts of Africa for hundreds of thousands of years, migrating from one area to another, and mixing based on modern genomic evidence from across the continent.
Several popular theories on the origins of humans in Africa are at contradiction with this point of view.
What are the discoveries from other theories?
According to one view, there was a single ancestral population in Africa around 150,000 years ago, from which other groups split off.
Another theory puts this central ancestral population as the product of the hybridization of modern humans and Neanderthal-like hominins, or human-like creatures, which has been proposed to have occurred in Eurasia and led to a significant advance in human evolution.
According to Brenna Henn, a population geneticist in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, the supporters of the traditional theory of Homo sapiens' single origin have proposed that humans originated in either East or Southern Africa.
In the first systematic test of these competing anthropological models against genetic data, the team worked backward from contemporary genomic material of 290 individuals from four geographically and genetically diverse African groups to trace the similarities and differences between the populations over the past million years and gain insight into the genetic interconnections and human evolution across the continent.
Several ethnic groups were represented, including the Mende (from Sierra Leone); the Nama Khoisan (from South Africa); the Gumuz (recent ancestors of an Ethiopian hunter-gatherer group); and the Amhara and Oromo (eastern African farmers).
To account for the effects of colonial invasions and mixing in Africa, the researchers included some Eurasian genetic material.
As stated by Simon Gravel, an associate professor at McGill's Department of Human Genetics,. They tested hundreds of potential scenarios quickly using a new algorithm.
A far better explanation for the genetic variation we observe today came as a result of hundreds of thousands of years passed down across borders among people in different sections of the continent.
This in-depth investigation into human origins was made possible by the algorithm they created to better understand how the genetic risk of illness varies among populations.
This new study dramatically rewrites history and accepts views regarding the genesis of humans.

Evolution and the search for human origins continue to be crucial topics. The latest claims and evidence indicate that Africa is where humans first appeared.

14/07/2024

Is there evidence of the ancient Kush*tes' lineage in Kalanga culture?

The Kush*tes in the region of the Nile produced the finest ceramics, such as Kerma beakers.
Rich natural resources, especially gold, ebony, and ivory, made the region attractive. The British Museum collection includes many items composed of these materials.
Kerma's cultures reached their peak between 2500 and 1500 B.C.E. Ceramics were their most famous product.
Without the use of a wheel, the potters were able to create extremely beautiful objects by hand.

23/06/2024

"Every intention which does not assert itself by deeds is a vain intention, and the speech which expresses it is idle speech. It is action which proves life and establishes will. Hence it is said men will be judged, not according to their thoughts and their ideas, but according to their works. We must do in order to be."