Umlando Wesibongo SakwaQwabe

Isibongo sakwaQwabe sivela egameni lenye yamadodana kaMalandela, uQwabe. UQwabe wayelanywa nguZulu okwenza imilando yabo ifane. Njengazo zonke izelamani kwaba khona ukungaboni ngaso linye ngokubhekwa kwemfuyo yasekhaya ngoba uQwabe wayekhonze kakhulu ukuzingela engenaso isikhathi sokubheka imfuyo nezinye izinto zomndeni, okwenza ukuthi izinto eziningi zomndeni zenziwe nguZulu owayemncane kunoQwabe. Ngenxa yalokhu uQwabe ushiyile ekhaya waya kozakhela umuzi wakhe eduze nomfula uMhlathuze ngaphansi kwezintaba zoNgoye. Umuzi wakhe uwuqambe igama elithi ikwaMthandeni ngoba ethi abanye abantu bazomthanda ngoba abomndeni wakhe bengakhombisanga ukumthanda.

Isizwe sikaQwabe sandile impela ngoba indawo yaso yayisuka emngceleni wesizwe saKwaMthethwa siyofika esizweni saKwaDube siphinde siyoshaya ehalthini eNkandla. Ngokwanda kwalesizwe kuphume nezibongo njengoGumede, uMnguni, uSimamane, uKhuzwayo, uMakhanya noNqetho.

Ngesikhathi kubusa uDingiswayo KwaMthethwa, KwaQwabe kwakubusa uKhondlo. Ngesikhathi isizwe sakwaQwabe sithutha siyokwakha ngasemfuleni uMvoti ngaphesheya koThukela sase siholwa nguPhakathwayo. NoNdlunkulu uNandi ozala iSilo uShaka sake sakhosela ngaphansi komuzi wakwaQwabe kwaGedeyana. Lesizwe sazinza endaweni ephakathi kwakwaMaphumulo naKwaDukuza. Isizwe sakwaQwabe sisekhona endaweni yaseMthandeni osekuyikomkhulu laso siholwa nguMakhosonke W Qwabe.

Kukhona nabanye oGumede abangaveli endlini kwaQwabe. Laba ngoGumede bakaManukuza nabakaSiqalaba. Bayingxenye yamaThonga ngoba bangena ezweni beqhamuka eNyakatho neMpumalanga nelikaMthaniya.

Izithakazelo

Qwabe!
Gumede!
Phakathwayo!
Mnguni!
Malandela!
Ntabani leyayaya kuNgoye Gumede!
Dluya Nguni kubeyethwe!
Nazi Ezinye: Izithakazelo zakwaGumede
Mnguni!
Qwabe!
Mnguni kaYeyeye
KaKhondlo kaPhakathwayo
Abadl’ umuntu bembhuyabhuya ngendaba
Bedluya kuyabeyethwa
Abalw’ impi noShaka
Wath’ uShaka makusikw’ ugebhezi
Lwekhand’ aphuze kulona.
Mgwaqo!
Khuzwayo!
Wena kaMalandela
Ngokuland’ izinkomo zamadoda
Amazala nkosi lana,
Mpangazitha!
Makhanya!

More history about Qwabe kingdom:

The kingdom thrived in the 18th century as “one of the most ancient and famous tribes in Natal and Zululand.” At its peak, the amaQwabe occupied central KwaZulu-Natal, from beneath the Amandawe and Ngoye Hills, south of the Mhlathuze River, up to the Nkandla forest, and between the Mhlathuze and Tugela Rivers .

Under his leadership, the Qwabe kingdom had already expanded control over parts of Natal south of the Thukela River. His kingdom was characterized by seven large villages, each headed by an important member from the ruling lineage. He had the authority to form women regiments (isigodlo), a privilege only given to senior powerful kings such as Dingiswayo of the Mthethwa and Zwide of the Ndwandwe .

The Qwabe royal lineage remains an important traditional institution in KwaZulu-Natal .

Following his father’s death, Qwabe became king and built a new homestead called eMthandeni beneath the Ngoye hills, which served as the center of his kingdom. He left his younger brother Zulu to rule over a few people who remained at their father’s estate.

The kingdom thrived in the 18th century as one of the most ancient and famous tribes in Natal and Zululand. At its peak, the amaQwabe occupied central KwaZulu-Natal, from beneath the Amandawe and Ngoye Hills, south of the Mhlathuze River, up to the Nkandla forest, and between the Mhlathuze and Tugela Rivers.

Under his leadership, the Qwabe kingdom had already expanded control over parts of Natal south of the Thukela River. His kingdom was characterized by seven large villages, each headed by an important member from the ruling lineage. He had the authority to form women regiments, a privilege only given to senior powerful kings such as Dingiswayo of the Mthethwa and Zwide of the Ndwandwe.

The Qwabe royal lineage remains an important traditional institution in KwaZulu-Natal.