you are currently viewing: Discussion Forum
 
 

 
 

The Rorke's Drift VC Discussion Forum
(View Discussion Rules)

** IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL USERS **

PLEASE NOTE: This forum is now inactive and is provided for reference purposes only. The live forum is available at www.rorkesdriftvc.com/forum


(Back To Topic List)

DateOriginal Topic
3rd September 2003Cetshwayo's brother's names
By Adrian wright
I'm hoping that this particular topic hasn't previously been posted.
can anybody let me know the numbers of and all the names of King Cetshwayo's brothers/half-brothers? I am aware of a hand full of their names but a full list would be excellent.
Thankyou Adrian
DateReplies
3rd September 2003Adrian Wright
Just to add the names that i'm familiar with:-
Dubalamanzi, Makwendu
hamu.sekhotha,Mbulazi,Ndabuko?

Adrian
3rd September 2003Peter Ewart
Adrian

Mkhungo (Umkungu, etc) was another of the brothers. Sekotha (Isikota, etc) was born around 1837/8, Mkhungo in about 1842/3.

These two arrived in Natal a few months after 'Ndondakasuka (Dec 1856), being placed in Ekukanyeni around May 1857, where Colenso's exultant assistants could hardly contain themselves at the "heaven sent" opportunity to mould Mpande's supposed heir into a compliant king-apparent. They also had fun with them ("little" Mkhungo was hugely obese) and, according to correspondence from one of the missionaries, "electrified and galvanised" them with some of the machinery in Bishopstowe's laboratory. These pranks at the expense of several members of the Zulu royal house ("queens, princes, princesses & chiefs") involved "charging them with electric fluid", getting one of the others to touch them on the nose, creating "a spark and a sharp smart." The victim would grasp his nose, walk out of the room sheepishly & eventually come back to see if anything had dropped off.

All good fun. Mkhungo, of course, got progressively fatter and settled in Natal, with Cetshwayo eying him suspiciously for years.

Peter
4th September 2003Keith Smith
Adrian

Mpande had about 20 wives and about 30 sons. The list below is taken from the James Stuart Archive by Webb and Wright, vol. 3 and is listed by Ibutho and therefore not necessarily in order of birth; Cetchwayo was the eldest son. The list may not be complete.

uThulwana regiment:
Cetshwayo
Mbuyazi (Mbulazi - killed at Ndondakusuka)
Hamu
Tshonkweni
Mantantashiya
Somklwana
Ziwedu
Siteku

inDlondlo regiment:
Mdumba

uDloko Regiment:
Dabulamanzi
Tshingana
Sikhota
Dabulasinye
Tolo (died after Ndondakusika)

uDududu regiment:
Silwana
Mlondo
Ngatsha
Msutu
Mantenesa (killed at Ndondakusuka)

uMbonambi regiment:
Ndabuko
Mtonga
Mahanana
Mgidhlana
Mkungo

uNokhenke regiment:
Sukani
Mgxutsheni
Mpoyiyana
Siga (died in his teens)


4th September 2003Adrian Wright
Amazing. I don't think anymore needs to be said on the subject!! Thankyou very much indeed for your help - excellent stuff.
kind regards
Adrian Wright
4th September 2003Adrian wright
As an after thought Keith. Do you know which of the brothers/half-brothers named above took part in the battle of Isandlwana?

Adrian
5th September 2003Peter Ewart
Keith

Besides those you annotated as killed at Ndondakusuka, I believe the following also perished there:

Mantantashiya; Mdumba; Tshonkweni; Somklwana & Dabulesinye. (Your spellings followed).

Adrian, this eliminates five more who therefore couldn't have fought at Isandlwana. I think a grandson fought (or served) there, but on the British side. His father was Mkhungo, technically on the NNC staff, but who was by then too fat almost to move, so his son substituted for him. (Think I've got that right from memory - notes in a mess!)

I thought I'd read somewhere that a high ranking Zulu or two was killed at Isandlwana on the British side, but don't recognise them in Julian Whybra's "Roll Call" so may have got that wrong. Julian will come to the rescue if it's relevant, I'm sure!

Peter
5th September 2003Peter Ewart
For grandson, read nephew!

PE