BY: Aluve Nguza & Matthew Boy
THE RISE OF THE NDEBELE UNDER
MZILIKAZI
NORTHERN NDEBELE
The northern Ndebele are a nation and ethnic
group in Zimbabwe, who share a common
Ndebele culture and Ndebele language.
 Their history began when a Zulu chiefdom split
from King Shaka in the early 19th Century
under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former chief
in his kingdom and ally.

SPLIT OF THE NORTHERN & SOUTHERN
NDEBELE

Under his command the unhappy Zulus went
on to conquer and rule the chiefdoms of the
Southern Ndebele. This was where the name
and identity of the ultimate kingdom was
adopted.
MZILIKAZI
Meaning the ‘path of blood’

Was a grandson of Zwide

His father, Mashobane, chief of the Khumalo.

Was brought up within the Zulu army, he became
the commander of the Zulu army.

His successive actions lead many to consider him
to be the greatest Southern African military leader
after the Zulu king himself.
HOW THE NORTHERN NDEBELE TRIBE FORMED
In 1820’s Mzilikazi raided into the Transvaal to
capture cattle, he had captured so much cattle
that he decided not to return with the rich
reward in tribute to his chief.
 Instead he went westwards with a few hundred
followers until he was far enough away to settle
in safety and establish his own leadership free
of Shaka in 1823.
 His people becoming known as the Ndebele.
