LOZIKEYI DLODLO: QUEEN OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE

“A very dangerous and intriguing woman”

QUICK FACTS

BORN: 1855
DIED: 1919 in Bubi, from influenza
PARENTS: Ngokho Dlodlo and uMaTshabalala
TWIN: Muntuwani Dlodlo
HUSBAND: King Lobengula Khumalo
RANK: Senior Wife
TRIBE: Ndebele

Queen Lozikeyi was a leader, military strategist, counsel to the royal advisor, trusted wife and a fighter https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Crown" aria-label="Emoji: Crown">

She was a firm, no-nonsense, strong-willed, principled, outspoken and greatly respected woman https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Crown" aria-label="Emoji: Crown">

A QUEEN in every sense of the word https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Crown" aria-label="Emoji: Crown">

Her vision was clear: “MAKE THE NDEBELE KINGDOM GREAT AGAIN!”

King Lobengula “Disappeared” after the 1983 Matebele War.

The Ndebele Kingdom was greatly weaked and displaced

Queen Lozikeyi stepped up and became the ‘King’ while the issue of & #39;Successor& #39; was being debated.

She became the Queen regent and assumed the role of acting head of state.

She was calmed the anxious people. It was after war and their King had deserted them, so spirits were very low.

She became THE MOTHER OF THE KINGDOM and kept everyone united.

She had her twin brother, Muntuwani Dlodlo rebuild the Imbizo (King Lobengula’s regiment)

Then in early 1896, She and her twin led the resistance against colonial rule and land dispossessions of the Ndebele people

She didn& #39;t just send people to go and fight, she led them!https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Crown" aria-label="Emoji: Crown">

This resistance is known as Imfazo or The War of the Red Axe (Impi Yehlok’elibomvu).

This resistance was what started the FIRST CHIMURENGA WAR - Zimbabwe’s first war of independence.

See, the Queen started the journey towards Independent Zimbabwe! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇿🇼" title="Flag of Zimbabwe" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Zimbabwe">

She had stored some of the weapons that weren& #39;t used in the last war and so the Imbizo used these against Rhodes’ army

I have no option but to STANhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙌" title="Raising hands" aria-label="Emoji: Raising hands">

She had everything thought through! Her Kingdom came first! And when the time to fight came, she got up and picked her spearhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙌" title="Raising hands" aria-label="Emoji: Raising hands">

The Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) referred to her as the Foremother of ZIPRA.

As a show of honour and for good fortune, the ZIPRA forces buried two bullets at her grave years after her death.

End of 1896: Rhodes’ and the Ndebele armyreached a stalemate

Queen Lozikeyi led the peace negotiations through runners and guided the izindaba in the Matobo mountains

This led to an amnesty and ceasefire

Sadly, the Ndebele people had already lost their best land and control

She established her courts in a plot of land in Bubi District, called iNkosikazi and continued to resist European occupation of Matabeland years after the war.

She didn& #39;t convert to Christianity

She allowed the missionaries to set up schools and give children education

Very little is spoken of Queen Lozikeyi https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💔" title="Broken heart" aria-label="Emoji: Broken heart">

Considering she was a female warrior in a patriarchal era and her role in the 1st Chimurenga, one would expect to hear her praises sung far and wide

Her story is not taught in History https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚸" title="Children crossing" aria-label="Emoji: Children crossing">. What a tragedy!

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Crown" aria-label="Emoji: Crown"> LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Crown" aria-label="Emoji: Crown">

Forgive the TYPOS, I& #39;m half asleep https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😔" title="Pensive face" aria-label="Emoji: Pensive face">

Oksalayo, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙌" title="Raising hands" aria-label="Emoji: Raising hands">