STATUS IN THE NDEBELE KINGDOM

Head of Empire: King - INkosi

Upper Class: AbeZansi

Middle Class: AbeNhla

Lower Class: AmaHole

There Ndebele Kingdom was divided into three social classes.

Which class one fell in was determined through a simple questionnaire:

1. Are you royal?
2. Did you leave Zulu Land with us?
3. Are you a captive?
3.1. Were you captured on our way here or did we find you here?

TOPPEST

ROYALTY - KINGS - INKOSI

The Ndebele Kingdom had 3 Kings
Mzilikazi Khumalo
Nkulumane Khumalo
Lobengula Khumalo

UPPER CLASS - ABEZANSI

MEANING: AbeZansi - From the South

MEMBERS: The royal family, their relatives, anyone who left KwaZulu with King Mzilikazi (+ descendants).

They had Nguni surnames like Mkhize, Gatsheni, Khumalo, Mkwananzi, Hlabangane, Mabhena, Gumede

TRIBES: Zulu

The senior chiefs in the Ndebele state were drawn from this class.

They suffered with the King on his long walk to freedom from Zulu land, so they were greatly rewarded.

RICH: Wealthy you mean!
They were given cattle by the king and were highly privileged.

MIDDLE CLASS - ABENHLA

MEANING: Abenhla - From the North

MEMBERS: Those captured along the way, before crossing the Limpopo River (In South Africa)

They suffered with the king as they accompanied him up to Matabeleland. Not as much as the Zansi but more than the amaHole

Headmen were drawn from this class.

RICH: Not wealthy. They were comfortable.

TRIBES: Sotho, Tswana, Venda.

LOWER CLASS - AMAHOLE

MEMBERS: Indigenous tribes that were found in present day Zimbabwe and assimilated into the Ndebele Kingdom.

They formed the largest group

RICH: Nah!

TRIBES: Kalanga, Rozvi, Nyubi, Nyayi, Birwa, Venda etc

The Hole were subordinated to the Zansi and Enhla groups socially and politically.

They were looked down upon by others, but were not slaves to the Ndebele. Servants maybe but not slaves

[NB: The term "Hole" is considered a derogatory term. Please don’t use it!]

RANKING UP

These classes were fixed but not fixed

AmaHole could work their way up to the Zansi, usually by marriage, merit, loan of cattle

A respectable Hole was able to move closer to the Ndebele chiefs and could become richer than a chief! If he had Focus and ambition

eMatshetsheni, a Zansi chief, Sinanga Khumalo was succeeded by a Hole, Ntuthu Msimangu

Ntuthu was succeeded by another Hole, Swina Nkala

[Is that where the Shona derogatory term came from? If yes, then do those who use it know that it refers to a chief?]

NB: Don't use it!

WARS AND SPOILS

As the Rozvi did the Kalanga so did the Ndebele do the Rozvi (and the Kalanga automatically) and other indigenous tribes.

The NDEBELE warriors captured people and welcomed them into their society.

The captives were brought before the king for distribution

Females old enough for marriage were distributed among their captors, especially chiefs

The king took a few to reside in the capital and to work as royal servants - IMBOVANE.

They received Zansi-class treatment, which led them to be fanatical supporters of the king.

Any Ndebele man of substance such as AMAQHAWE (Military Heroes?) who wanted to have a young captive, female or male, could ask for permission from the king.

Permission was granted only on full understanding that the applicant had the means of looking after a captive.

If the request was successful, the applicant would take the captive to his home and the captive would become a member of his "master’s" family

Captives obviously had to learn the Ndebele language and culture. When in Rome do as the Romans do type of thing...

Captured boys were recruited into amabutho (Soldiers?) and underwent the same stages as any Ndebele boy

Girls grew up in the same way as other Ndebele girls then either married their "Masters" or other men

If she married another man, the "master" would receive the lobola

Some captives enjoyed (sic) being Ndebele so much that they voluntarily translated their totems from Shona, Kalanga etc to IsiNdebele.
Eg:
Shumba to Sibanda
Nyanga to Nkomo
Gumbo to Msipa
Shiri to Nyoni
Dziva to Siziba
Shoko to Ncube
Moyo to Nhliziyo

The Ndebele State was patriarchal. Women were considered 'minors' (abesintwana).

Before marriage, they were under their fathers or eldest brothers, if the father was late.

After marriage, custody was transferred to their husbands.

[Q: And independent women?
A: What's that?]

Women weren't allowed to partake in war ls and they weren't represented in public forums like umphakathi or izikhulu where national issues were discussed

But women (Being clever and all) affected politics through their husbands, brothers or sons who were prominent in the state

INTER-MARRIAGES

Zansi men could marry Zansi, Enhla and Hole women.

Enhla men could marry Enhla and Hole women.

Hole men could marry Hole women.

Zansi and Enhla men looked down upon Hole women but that didn't stop them from getting with them

A child born with a Hole was belittled and termed incukubili (half-breed)

[I always thought incukubili was a person with both the male and female genitals ]

NB: Both Mzilikazi and Lobengula encouraged social harmony within the state and were ok with intermarriages

After all, one of King Lobengula's treasured wives was a Hole, a Kalanga to be specific

PS: Not all Holes were captured, some indigenous chiefs and clan leaders voluntarily surrendered to Mzilikazi and were given land, protection & they 'kept' their titles

NB: The Ndebele were not as violent as we were made to believe

They just loved their x plenty + + +