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27 All about ‘Matshayisikhova’ - from a mobile library Wrinkles on both his face and neck bear testimony to his advanced age. Grey hair and feeble footsteps complete the picture of one who has witnessed many Christmases. He is Nyumbana Dube of Sankonjana in Sear Block, Matobo District. He and his family came to Sankonjana in 1943. “I came here at the same time as your father who was coming from Nkonyane,” says Dube. “Here we found Mhlatshwa Ncube, Nzibane Ncube, Silebuho Nyathi and Sitshela Nyathi. The first two are Kalanga who came from across the Shashani River. The last two are Birwa by origin. They also came from across the Shashani River. There were also men like Manja Nyathi, Motsamayi Nyathi, Zintsere Mdlongwa, Thatha Ngulube and Phulu Mguni. These came before us. They are the pioneers of Sankonjana.” Sear Block fell under Chief Marahwane Ndiweni, the son of Sinti Ndiweni. Both he and his father were acting for the young Dumezweni, the son of Siqalaba Ndiweni and the grandson of Nyangazonke. Though both Gijimani and Sinti were sons of Faku Ndiweni and MaThebe kaMkhithika, they could not succeed their father. Faku had later married Princess Nedlana, who bore him a son, Nyangazonke. By virtue of being the king’s nephew, Nyangazonke took precedence over the older Gijimani and Sinti. Faku then built MaThebe her own home, as a result of which she was aptly named Khutshwekhaya (‘Removed from home’). Silebuho Nyathi, who was a clever dip attendant, was appointed headman by the administration ahead of his elder brother Sitshela. Both men were descendants of the Birwa Chief Kgwatalala whose death was ordered by King Lobengula Khumalo in the 1870s over the Nkulumane affair. “Have you heard of Umswiliswili wenkosi?” inquires Mr Dube. I confirm that I have heard about him. Both the late Fiti Nare and my own father used to tell me about him. Umswiliswi is a bird that warns animals about impending danger. Hunters don’t like it as it scares away the animals they are hunting. Chief Kgwatalala had been appointed to become the eyes and ears of King Mzilikazi Khumalo. The King was afraid the Boers would attack him from the south. Indeed, Andries Hendrick Potgieter, uNdaleka, did invade Matabeleland in 1847. Following the installation of Lobengula Khumalo in 1870, reports came that Nkulumane, the rightful heir, had arrived and was camped at Sizeze – an area under Chief Kgwatalala. Chief Kgwatalala reported this arrival to Chief Thunzi Ndiweni of Ezinaleni, and not directly to the King. Chief 28 Kgwatalala’s report on Nkulumane failed to reach the King in Bulawayo. Consequently, Chief Kgwatalala and other Birwa chiefs were executed for seemingly failing in their role as imiswiliswili yenkosi. Chief Thunzi Ndiweni was also executed in 1875 for supporting Nkulumane. Following his death, Faku Ndiweni became regent for Thunzi’s son, Tala, who was the rightful heir. However, Faku entrenched himself in his position. King Lobengula Khumalo married Faku’s sister Mpoliyana, Njube’s mother. By later marrying Princess Nedlana and supporting the whites during Imfazo II, Faku secured the Ndiweni chieftainship. The present chief, a son of Tapi, is Faku’s great grandson. “Locanda Ndiweni tried to revive the issue of chieftainship after Dumezweni’s death, but was decampaigned by Ntinima Ndiweni,” claims Mr Nyumbana Dube, who has lived under three Ndiweni chiefs. Locanda Ndiweni was a direct descendant of the original Zisongo/Zinala Chief Thunzi – whose father was Mabuyana, the son of the famous Gundwane Ndiweni. My interviewee, Nyumbana Dube, born on December 25 1907, grew up in the Fort Usher area, Efodini. His father, Tikitiki, left the Gulati area where Thekwane, Nyumbana’s grandfather lived. They trace their origins to Hanana in Limpopo Province on the western fringes of the Soutpansberg mountains. Ntoba, the son of Nkwalabwani, was brought to this country by Goboyi Khumalo, the father of Nyovane – most probably as his captive. “Let me tell you how I got my name. My father Tikitiki married MaLuphahla, who failed to conceive. Then my father married MaNdlovu, who bore me and my brother Major. One of his neighbours, Nyumbana Tshongwe, said to the people, ‘You said Tikitiki was incapable of fathering a child. Now look, he has got a son. I shall name the son after myself’.” While a young boy, Nyumbana Dube faced eviction from the Fort Usher area. A white man took over their land and built himself a house, which today is part of Gulati School. Nyumbana Dube and his people...

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