Ndlela kaSompisi
Encyclopedia
Ndlela kaSompisi was a key general to Zulu
Kings Shaka
and Dingane
.
. His sister Bibi was one of Senzangakona's wives. He grew up with Zulu princes, and therefore had a good understanding of all of them.
He served as Dingane's inDuna
- his chief advisor and Ndunankulu (Prime Minister) and uMkhuzi wamaButho kaZulu - Commander-In-Chief of the Zulu Army. He was general of Dingane's forces at the Battle of Blood River
(16 December 1838) with Dambuza Nzobo, a significant defeat for the Zulus as the spear
s and large numbers of Zulus were unable to breach the Boer
laager of Andries Pretorius
defended with musket
s.
Neither Shaka nor Dingane had children. Mindful of the lineage of the Zulu kings, Ndlela repeatedly defied Dingane's request that he assassinate Mpande
, half-brother of Shaka and Dingane as he was a threat to Dingane's power. He argued that it would diminish his greatness and that, in any case, Mpande did not aspire to the throne. The Battle of Maqongqe where the forces of Mpande and Dingane clashed in 1840 culminated in Dingane calling Ndlela a traitor. During this battle Ndlela strayed from the normal Zulu attack method of shock and awe where the Zulu army overwhelmed its enemies with great numbers. Instead he chose to send the army into battle by battalion (amabutho). This resulted in a great loss for Dingane against his brother Mpande who had co-opted the Boer to fight on his side.
Dingane ordered his death through slow strangulation by cow hide thong.
in turn succeeded him. All subsequent Zulu monarchs are descended from Mpande.
Ndlela ka Sompisi understood that there were challengers to the Zulu hegemony. Some of these challengers did not of themselves seek to challenge to Zulu Kingdom but any introduction of a new and different culture to the frontier of human contact threatens the prevailing political and cultural hegemony. In such a clash the superior culture always emerges as the dominant culture. The Zulu Nation needed strong and pragmatic leadership at this particular point in time to preserve first their Kingdom and second their way of life (culture).
Zulu Kingdom
The Zulu Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or, rather imprecisely, Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the south to Pongola River in the north....
Kings Shaka
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
and Dingane
Dingane
Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu —commonly referred to as Dingane or Dingaan—was a Zulu chief who became king of the Zulu Kingdom in 1828...
.
Upbringing
Ndlela grew up in the Zulu household where his father Sompisi ka Gugqa was an influential advisor to King SenzangakonaSenzangakona
Senzangakhona kaJama was a chief of the Zulu clan, succeeding his father Jama kaNdaba, and primarily notable as the father of Shaka Zulu.- Biography :...
. His sister Bibi was one of Senzangakona's wives. He grew up with Zulu princes, and therefore had a good understanding of all of them.
Under Dingane
After Dingane assassinated and succeeded Shaka he remained the highest ranking political and military officer in Dingane’s regime. With Dingane’s volatility and thirst for blood, Ndlela proved he was a shrewd operator by maintaining these highly influential positions in a changing regime where Dingane was quick to order an execution of his perceived enemies.He served as Dingane's inDuna
InDuna
InDuna is a Zulu title meaning advisor, great leader, ambassador, headman, or commander of group of warriors. It can also mean spokesperson or mediator as the izinDuna often acted as a bridge between the people and the king...
- his chief advisor and Ndunankulu (Prime Minister) and uMkhuzi wamaButho kaZulu - Commander-In-Chief of the Zulu Army. He was general of Dingane's forces at the Battle of Blood River
Battle of Blood River
The Battle of Blood River, so called due to the colour of water in the Ncome River turning red with blood, was fought between 470 Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 10,000–15,000 Zulu attackers on the bank of the Ncome River on 16 December 1838, in what is today KwaZulu-Natal,...
(16 December 1838) with Dambuza Nzobo, a significant defeat for the Zulus as the spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
s and large numbers of Zulus were unable to breach the Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
laager of Andries Pretorius
Andries Pretorius
Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius was a leader of the Boers who was instrumental in the creation of the Transvaal Republic, as well as the earlier but short-lived Natalia Republic, in present-day South Africa....
defended with musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
s.
Neither Shaka nor Dingane had children. Mindful of the lineage of the Zulu kings, Ndlela repeatedly defied Dingane's request that he assassinate Mpande
Mpande
Mpande , uMsimude owavela ngesiluba phakathi kwamaNgisi namaQadasi, as he was praised, was king of the Zulu nation from 1840 to 1872, making him the longest reigning Zulu king. He was a half-brother of Shaka and Dingane, who both preceded him as kings of the Zulu...
, half-brother of Shaka and Dingane as he was a threat to Dingane's power. He argued that it would diminish his greatness and that, in any case, Mpande did not aspire to the throne. The Battle of Maqongqe where the forces of Mpande and Dingane clashed in 1840 culminated in Dingane calling Ndlela a traitor. During this battle Ndlela strayed from the normal Zulu attack method of shock and awe where the Zulu army overwhelmed its enemies with great numbers. Instead he chose to send the army into battle by battalion (amabutho). This resulted in a great loss for Dingane against his brother Mpande who had co-opted the Boer to fight on his side.
Dingane ordered his death through slow strangulation by cow hide thong.
The name
The name Ndlela means way or the way or the one who charts a path, in the Zulu culture it is believed that one always follows their name. Ndlela used this premise to make some of his decisions; Mpande means "root" in isiZulu while Dingane means "one who is banished".Mpande and after
Ndlela's inaction against Mpande preserved the blood line of the Zulu monarchy. Mpande, the king after Dingane, was married to Ndlela's daughter Msukilethe. Mpande's son CetshwayoCetshwayo
Cetshwayo kaMpande was the King of the Zulu Kingdom from 1872 to 1879 and their leader during the Anglo-Zulu War . His name has been transliterated as Cetawayo, Cetewayo, Cetywajo and Ketchwayo.- Early life :...
in turn succeeded him. All subsequent Zulu monarchs are descended from Mpande.
Ndlela ka Sompisi understood that there were challengers to the Zulu hegemony. Some of these challengers did not of themselves seek to challenge to Zulu Kingdom but any introduction of a new and different culture to the frontier of human contact threatens the prevailing political and cultural hegemony. In such a clash the superior culture always emerges as the dominant culture. The Zulu Nation needed strong and pragmatic leadership at this particular point in time to preserve first their Kingdom and second their way of life (culture).
External links
- Unveiling of monument in honour of Ndlela ka Sompisi Ntuli