Genealogy of Mpondo kings
The most popular of all kings of the Mpondo nation is Faku (1780–1867);
he resided in Qawukeni as it’s still the tradition today. The Nyandeni house was established by Ndamase, Faku’s right-hand son and a prominent general of the Mpondo army during the Mfecane wars.
The genealogy of Mpondo kings in order:
▪ Mpondo
▪ Sihula
▪ Mthwa
▪ Santsabe
▪ Mkhondwane
▪ Sukude
▪ Hlambangobubende
▪ Ziqelekazi
▪ Hlamandana
▪ Thobe
▪ Msiza
▪ Ncindisi
▪ Cabe
▪ Gangatha
▪ Bhala
▪ Chithwayo
▪ Ndayini
▪ Thahle
▪ Nyawuza
▪ Ngqungqushe
▪ Faku
▪ Mqikela
▪ Sigcau
▪ Marelane
▪ Mandlonke
▪ Bhota
▪ Mpondombini
▪ Zanozuko (current)
King Cabe was the first king of the Mpondo nation to cross Mthamvuna river and settled in Siphaqeni. King Ngqungqushe’s mother was the first woman whose “ikhazi” (dowry) was paid for by the kingdom, which makes King Ngqungqushe the first “kumkani” in the modern sense.
King Sigcau is known for his militancy in his fight against colonial rule and imposition of colonial policies, notably the hut taxes in the Mpondo Kingdom. He was later arrested for these actions and incarcerated in Robben Island. He remains a hero to the Mpondo people and admired for his bravery. King Sigcau Bravery Award was launched in his honour. His son King Marelane would become one of the founding Kings of the oldest political party in Africa the African National Congress in 1912 in support of the fight against colonial rule in South Africa. His grandson Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau would follow in the footsteps of his forefathers and become an ANC liberation activist, contributing in the struggle for liberation in South Africa. This also saw him arrested and harassed for his political activities.