Empire of the South: Clans of Bukalanga

Clans of Bukalanga



At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Butwa state under the rule of the Changamira dynasty remained the largest and probably wealthiest indigenous state in southern Africa. Yet by 1840 it had ceased to exist. Its fall came as a result of a series of invasions by external groups, beginning with various Batswana groups united under the leadership of the Bangwato Kgosi Kgari and culminating in the conquest of the core areas of the kingdom by the Amandebele of Mzilikazi.

Batalaote

In what is now north-eastern Botswana, the Mambo's presence was reinforced through the migration of several Banyayi groups led by junior members of the royal lineage. These included the Badalaunde or Batalaote, Bamen'we, Banambia, and Batshangate.


Dalaunde or Ntalaote is commonly said to have been a junior son of Changamira II first house, although oral traditions are not consistent on this point. While he died in Zimbabwe, under his son, Langane, the Batalaote migrated into Botswana settling at a place called Manyalala. The southward expansion of Batalaote brought them to the borders of the emerging Bakwena kingdom under Kgosi Motshodi. At least one early clash resulted from this proximity when Motshodi's senior son and heir, Legojane, led his "Mateane" regiment on a cattle raid into Legane's country. The expedition resulted in Legojane being killed in battle, while those of his followers who survived returned to Motshodi's kraal empty-handed.

Later, during the time of Legane's son Sankoloba, the Batalaote became allies of the Bangwato. Sankoloba, himself, is said to have been killed by the Amandebele. Thereafter, the Batalaote became divided. Two of Sankoloba's sons, Matsuga and Motsume, along with many of their relatives ultimately fled to Shoshong; where they lived under the Bangwato Kgosi Sekgoma I, father of Khama III. The Batalaote who remained behind at Manyalela were initially reduced to living as vassals of the Amandebele under the authority of an induna named Manyami. Later, they also switched their allegiance to the Bangwato. In 1863, following their defeat by the Bangwato at Shoshong, the Amandebele under Lobengula attacked the Batalaote for their disloyalty. Many Batalaote were then captured and taken to Zimbabwe. The survivors who remained behind were scattered, with most resettling at Shoshong. This disaster brought an end to the group's independence.

Banambiya

The Banambiya, Bananzwa, Zange or Hwange clans according to traditions Wange was the younger brother of Changamira I, Wange created his own clan shoko (monkey). Banambiya conquered the people they called Bananzwa who were a Batonga or Bathoka community under a local ruler named Ngula. The forenames of the known royal descendants of the first Wange are as follows: Tshilobamagu, Lesumbame, Sebemkhula, Nikatambe, Tshilisa, Nimanaga, Tshipaja Mosojane, Makulukusa Wumbe, Dalaunde (Ntalaote), Men'we,

Banambiya country became a temporary base for a section of the Amandebele army of Mzilikazi but in 1853 Amandebele attacked Banambiya who refused to pay tribute. On hearing this, Mzilikazi ordered that She Lesumbame Wange be skinned alive(the skin was used to make shoes) for having conspired with Makololo to gain Banambiya freedom. The Amandebele attacked the Banambiya again in 1863, scattering many. Thereafter those who did not flee remained under Sebemkhula Wange who ruled as Mzilikazi's vassal.

BaKalaka / Bakgalaka

There are many Ikalanga speakers whose patrilineal descent is of non-Bakalanga, often of either Bapedi or Batswana, origin. Although communities traditionally led by such lineages are sometimes labelled by ethnologists as "assimilated groups", their members generally consider themselves to be true Bakalanga based on their mother language and cultural practice. Some prominent examples of such groupings include the BakaMathangwane, Nswazwi, Selolwane, and Tshizwina (Sebina) lineages. Assimilation across ethno-linguistic boundaries is not an exclusive phenomenon. Many Batswana can trace patrilineal descent to what were once non-Setswana communities.

As previously noted, Bakalanga bakaNswazwi were originally a Bapedi community that became integrated into Ikalanga culture. An exception to the above is a branch of the BakaNswazwi who settled in Mochudi during the reign of Kgosi Linchwe I after their headman, Ramotswetla, remained loyal to the Bangwato Kgosi Matsheng. In 1872 Khama III ousted Matsheng in a battle at Shoshong with armed Bakwena support. Such historical complexities make any estimation of the percentage of the population who belong to this or that ethnic group problematic, notwithstanding the listing of people in colonial-era censuses according to their supposed tribal affiliation.


Mambo - Banyayi

The battle of the Matopos is remembered as the beginning of the end. For in the wake of the battle Mambo Chilisamhulu and his lieutenant, Tumbale offended their protector Mwali. As a result, the kingdom was left vulnerable. The guardian of the south-western frontier, Tumbale (Tombale) and the Nswazwi leader, Ntsope. The Mambo's authority was being eroded before 1840 due to the declining role as a middleman in the movement of gold and other commodities to the trading ports of East Africa.

A small but disciplined group led by the female warlord called Nyamazana, who had broken away from the long march of the Jere-Ngoni Nkosi Zwagendaba to settle in the heart of Bukalanga. Thereafter, she defeated Tumbale's forces. Deserted on the battlefield, it is said that Tumbale committed suicide by poison. Nyamazana then pressed her advantage by moving rapidly against the now isolated Chilisamhulu. According to some sources, the king(Mambo) and his retainers also committed suicide to avoid capture after being cornered at Manyanga.


One of Chilisamhulu sons, Chigadzike, was proclaimed as the new Mambo with the support of the royal guard, including the gunmen still under Ninjigwe. In 1839 Nyamazana's warriors were reinforced by the much greater Amandebele horde of Nkosi Mzilikazi who had migrated through eastern Botswana following their defeat by the Voortrekkers and allied Batswana. The two groups united, with Nyamazana becoming one of Mzilakizi's Queens. The expanded Amandebele decisively defeated Chigadzike's Banyayi. With the defeat of Chigadzike and Ninjigwe, the remnant of the Banyayi royal holdouts turned to Chilisamhula's surviving son, variously identified as Ntinima and Tohwechipi Zharare. Ntinima held out from his hilltop stronghold at Buxwa before fleeing to the northeast where merged among the Vazezeru, others escaped into Botswana, the era of the Bakalanga kings was over.

Pages:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9.

*Video: Empire of the South: Mutapa.

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