Izithakazelo zakwa-Qwabe
Gumede,
Wena kaMalandela kaluzumana,
Phakathwayo kaKhondlo kaMncinci,
Osidlabehlezi kaPhakathwayo
Abathi bedlumuntu bemyenga ngendaba,
Bethi dluya kubeyethwe umakoti ubeyethe kabukhuni,
Wena owabuza intaba ngabomu wathi ntabani leya?
Zaphendula icathalala zathi “uNgoye Gumede,uNgoye Phakathwayo”,
Wena waseMthandeni ezweni loju nezinyosi,
Mpangazitha ozikhangayo,
Mnguni kaYeyeye,
Khondlo,
Wena kaNjakaba kaSophana,
Meseni kaMusi ,
Mkhayiphe kaGodolozi!
📜
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Ntokozo Qwabe (Legal)
Lawyer and Rhodes Scholar, co-founder of Rhodes Must Fall movement at Oxford. -
Mzonjani Michael Qwabe (Historical)
Name recorded in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) archives.
- Ntokozo Qwabe (Legal) – South African lawyer and Rhodes Scholar. Co-founder of the Rhodes Must Fall movement at Oxford University. Holds degrees from UKZN, UCT, and Oxford.
- Felokwakhe Qwabe (Community) – Father of Ntokozo Qwabe, a school caretaker from Oyaya, Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal who raised 13 children, with Ntokozo being the first to attend university.
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.