Meaning & Origin
Mkhwanazi is a Zulu surname meaning “descendant of the Kwena clan.”

History & Notable People
It is associated with South African and Eswatini history, particularly Zulu royalty and leadership.

Dumisani kaCaiphus Tembe of the Mfekayi clan alleges that surnames like Mkhwanazi only arrived later and had no chiefs during the time of King Shaka, but are now being recognised as traditional leaders by the government while the Mfekayi are sidelined. This dispute highlights ongoing tensions over traditional leadership recognition in KwaZulu-Natal.