Kgosi Sekonyela of BaTlôkwa died on this day in 1856 in Herschel district in the Eastern Cape. I want to talk about his mother Queen Mantatisi, one of the most powerful and most feared military and political leaders of the early years of the Mfecane.

The Queen was obviously Kgosi Sekonyela's mum. His father, King Mokotjo died while Sekonyela was too young to take over so Mantatisi took over as regent. She had young Sekonyela removed from the kingdom so as to protect him from any rivals, until he was old enough to take over.

The Queen was known and feared for her military prowess so much so that surrounding communities absorbed themselves in her Queendom. Better to fight with her than against her. Her military conquests extended as far as Botswana.

She was also admired and respected by her people and it's one of the reasons she was able to unite her nation in these early years of migration as a result of the Mfecane wars. Her kingdom was affected by this. Amahlubi of KZN succeeded in attacking her nation so she moved them.

These were the AmaHlubi who had suddenly become refugees fleeing King Shaka as he expanded. This warrior Queen moved her people to the Caledon Valley driving Basotho out of that area and seizing cattle and crops.

Let's backtrack a bit. Queen Mantatisi was a royal of the Basia her marriage to her King Mokotjo was a form of creating a dynastical alliance between the larger Bakgatla group. She was also the 2nd Tlôkwa Queen to take over after the death of a husband. The 1st was Mamohlahlwe.

Queen Mantatisi's winning streak didn't last too long though even though she had a good run. Her 40 000 strong army suffered a huge loss in 1823 when she tried to gain further ground in Botswana. But she was was wise enough to retreat. Her son took over the kingdom in 1824.

The Queen reigned over BaTlôkwa between 1812 and 1824 when her son took over. She was such a fierce military leader, that jealous detractors accused her of sorcery. She was described as someone who breastfed her soldiers. Shame, they were hurt.

King Moshoeshoe would later regain the Caledon region after defeating Queen Mantatisi's son King Sekonyela, who later obtained land in Herschel where he died in 1856.

Apparently King Sekonyela wasn't as uniting a force as his mother. As a result a lot of BaTlôkwa from this kingdom left. Some were absorbed into King Moshoeshoe's and others migrated up to present day Tshwane.

Uncovering these histories leaves even more annoyed with some biographers and novelists. You compare Mam' Nomzamo to Penelope or Carmen or whatever when there is an abundance of African women who are far more interesting.