The Mpondomise people, also called Ama-Mpondomise, are a Xhosa-speaking people.Mpondo people, Encyclopædia Britannica (2007) Their traditional homeland has been in the contemporary era Eastern Cape province of South Africa, and during apartheid they were located Transkei region. Like other separate mostly Xhosa-speaking kingdoms such as Aba-Thembu and Ama-Mpondo, they speak Xhosa and are at times mistakenly considered as part of the Xhosa people.
The Ama-Mpondomise form part of the AbaMbo ethnic group of South Africa one of few indigenous groups of Southern Africa alongside the San and Khoekhoe. The formal establishment of the ethnic groups as a separate nation from the other local AbaMbo. They are not Nguni but some people turn to confuse them with Nguni people due to the intermarriage. Their Kingdom was established thousands of years before the European and other native tribes arrived. One of their notable kings is estimated around 13th century. The San and AmaMpondomise are the earliest residence of what was later to be renamed East Griqualand by the colonialist government of Hamilton Hope chief Magistrate. The area of Maclear did not have Griquas or Khoe descendants up until Adam Kok arrived later in the 1800s and found both the San and AmaMpondomise residing and intermarrying; in fact, one of the most notable royal clans of AmaMpondomise, the Jola/Majola clan, are descendants of the intermarriage between AmaMpondomise and the San. The Mpondomise encountered Dutch and English colonists migrating further inland and eastwards from the Cape of Good Hope.
As a result of colonial conquest, a majority of ama-Mpondomise speak Xhosa, with a minority who are bilingual speaking Isi-Mpondomise as their home language and Xhosa as a second language. Some people view Mpondomise as a dialect of Xhosa. However, the language is dying out.
History Origins The name Mpondomise, which means "to hold your horns upright", is a descriptor for the mountainous lands that the ethnic group occupied. It is also to signify the fighting strength of the nation. The Ama-Mpondomise-People originate in traditional Southern Africa and Embo|lands in south-east Africa and the northern parts of the Western Cape. They presently reside in KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. They are part of the Nguni people, being part of the greatest subdivision of the Ngunis i.e. the Aba-Mbo people. Aba-Mbo-people include some Zulus (Mkhize, Mavovo, Majola etc.), some Tswanas (Bapo), Swatis (particularly Dlaminis from which the monarch of Eswatini comes), Mpondos, Ama-Xesibe-people and the Ama-Bomvu or Ama-Bomvana are the descendants of princess Nomafu the daughter of King Sibiside. the Ama-Mpondomise-people did not migrate to Southern Africa because the region forms parts of their land. The Lebombo born that is estimated to be about 35 000 years the oldest mathematical tool in the world, which is similar to the Ishango bone found in the Lebombo border serves as proof that Abe-Nguni-people and the Ama-Mbo-people are indigenous to Southern Africa.
In the aba-Mbo-history and tradition, Ama-Mpondomise-people are seen as wise since the name metaphorically means to be dual in nature or to raise your horn: in other words, to be diplomatic but also be ready to attack (with the literal meaning being "hold your horns upright"). the Ama-Mpondomise-people are the descendants of King Mpondomise himself son of Khubazi, the grandson of King Sibiside Son of Sidwabasiluthuli who was the leader of the once-powerful Embo-nation (Aba-Mbo or Ma-Mbo). It is through King Sibiside's son Prince Khubazi Aka Njanya (the father of Prince Mpondomise & Prince Mpondo & Prince Xesibe & Prince Nyambose) so that's how the Ama-Mpondomise-nation emerged together with other Abe-Nguni-nations or ethnic groups as a force to be reckoned with. It is also through King Sibiside Son of Sidwabasiluthuli (the king of the aba-Mbo-nation and the grandfather of King Mpondomise) So that's how the Ama-Mpondomise-people are cousins to other aba-Mbo-people such as the Ama-Mpondo-people (who was King Mpondomise's the twin), Ama-Xesibe-people (born after the twins), ooMkhize and ooDlamini (regardless of Nguni affiliation, including those who are so-called "Mfengu").
Since Prince Mpondomise and Prince Mpondo were twins, there is an ongoing argument as to which twin was the eldest. The most commonly held view is that King Mpondomise is the senior twin. It is said that while out hunting, Prince Mpondo killed a lion and refused to hand over the skin to Prince Mpondomise as was the custom (the senior was entitled to skins of certain animals).Soga, John Henderson (1930). The South Eastern Bantu (Abe-Nguni-people, Aba-Mbo-people, Ama-Lala-people). Witwatersrand University Press. The tension between the two started from that day. Prince Mpondo and his followers had to leave and settle elsewhere away from their father's land, as custom dictates that the senior inherits the father's land.
In terms of genealogy of kings, King Sibiside Son of Sidwabasiluthuli begests:Mkhize, Siyabonga (2009). Uhlanga Lwas'eMbo. Sibiside Publishers. (01) Prince Khubazi Aka Njanya (Ama-Mpondo-people, Ama-Mpondomise-people, Ama-Xesibe-people) (02) Prince Mavovo (father of the Mkhize-clan) King Sibiside's heir apparent (03) Princess Nomafu (daughter of Sibiside) (whose descendants are known as Ama-Bomvu or Ama-Bomvana-people)
It is worth noting that Ama-Mpondomise-people also intermarried with the San people. This can be picked up in their language that has various clicks. Evidence is also found in their clan names. The Ama-Mpondomise-people openly assert themselves as a San woman's descendants (thole loMthwakazi).
The Ama-Mpondomise and Ama-Bhaca Conflict
According to Mpondomise counselor Vethe Mziziba, AmaBhaca found Ama-Mpondomise-people at Mcuthu and defeated them however the Ama-Mpodomise-people would just not submit to the letter because Ama-Bhaca-people were rather backward people who would gruesomely kill even defenseless old men women and children in times of battle, faced with this crisis Ama-Mpondomise-people appealed for help from AbaThembu, King Ngubengcuka agreed to join hands with Ama-Mpondomise-People against Ama-Bhaca-people and proceeded to cross the Tsitsa river to join them.
Both the Ama-Mpondomise-people and AbaThembu under King Ngubengcuka were defeated once again, however, after King Ngubengcuka sort a rather diplomatic approach towards the King of AmaBhaca Madzikane the war came to a halt and instead of continuing to expand, the Ama-Bhaca-people settled near Ama-Gcina for a short but peaceful period up until their eventual defeat by the combined forces of AbaThembu, AmaGcaleka, AmaQwathi, AmaMpondomise and some Irish Mercenaries who had defected from the Cape Colony.
Ama-Mpondomise-Kingdom After existing as a kingdom for over 800 years, the Ama-Mpondomise-people were stripped of their Royal status by the Union of South Africa in 1904 after King Mhlontlo Ka-Matiwane was accused of killing a Qumbu magistrate, Hamilton Hope, and two white police officers during the Ama-Mpondomise-people's Revolt in 1880–81. Although King Mhlontlo Ka-Matiwane was acquitted of the murder charge, he lost his kingship Status by administrative action. The Ama-Mpondomise-nation hopes were again dashed during the democratic dispensation when the Nhlapo Commission found in 2005 that they had no claim to a kingship. However, a 115-year battle, for this anti-colonial nation, to get their king and the kingdom reinstalled and reinstated respectively, ended when the Eastern Cape High Court (Mthatha) officially recognised the Ama-Mpondomise's-kingship. It ordered that the kingship be reinstated. With the presiding judge setting aside the Tolo Commission's decision to oppose the Ama-Mpondomise's claim of kingship.
Genealogy of the kings The most prominent of all the kings of the Ama-Mpondomise was King Myeki. Both royal houses include him in their clan names.
King-Mnguni-1st-(Son-of-??????????) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Yeyeye-1st=]
King-Yeyeye-1st-(Son-of-Mnguni-1st) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Godongwane-1st=]
King-Godongwane-1st-(Son-of-Yeyeye-1st) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Yeyeye-2nd=]
King-Yeyeye-2nd-(Son-of-Godongwane-1st) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Godongwane-2nd=]
King-Godongwane-2nd-(Son-of-Yeyeye-2nd) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Ntunsingana=]
King-Ntunsingana-(Son-of-Godongwane-2nd) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Mntalaba & Prince-Mumbo & Prince-Mbhinja=]
King-Mumbo-(Son-of-Ntunsingana) [Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Hlumbo]
King-Hlumbo-(Son-of-Mumbo) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Mbokane=]
King-Mbokane-(Son-of-Hlumbo) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Mbazane=]
King-Mbazane-(Son-of-Mbokane) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Lobamba=]
King-Lobamba-(Son-of-Mbazane) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Lubombo & Prince-Vozana=]
King-Lubombo-(Son-of-Lobamba) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Mbabane=]
King-Mbabane-(Son-of-Lubombo) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Mankayane & Prince-Shlengene=]
King-Mankayane-(Son-of-Mbabane) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Hlathikhulu=]
King-Hlathikhulu-(Son-of-Mankayane) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Zumbane & Prince-Zambuka & Prince-Zamula & Prince-Mjakane=]
King-Zumbane-(Son-of-Hlathikhulu) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Nhlangano=]
King-Nhlangano-(Son-of-Zumbane) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Mbombela=]
King-Mbombela-(Son-of-Nhlangano) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Zehlendaba=]
King-Zehlendaba-(Son-of-Mbombela) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Gubhela=]
King-Gubhela-(Son-of-Zehlendaba) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Khuboni=]
King-Khuboni-(Son-of-Gubhela) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Mgebelezana & Prince-Hlamazi=]
King-Mgebelezana-(Son-of-Khuboni) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Ndlozela & Prince-Ndizokuhle=]
King-Ndlozela-(Son-of-Mgebelezana) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Sidwabasiluthuli & Prince-Khuwawa & Prince-Kulwamba=]
King-Sidwabasiluthuli-(Son-of-Ndlozela) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Sibiside & Prince-Nyamuzi=]
King-Sibiside-(Son-of-Sidwabasiluthuli) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Khubazi [•Njanya•] & Prince-Shange & Prince-Ngcongo & Prince-Hlengwa & Princess-Madlebe & Princess-Lebuka & Princess-Nomafu=]
(Born:1120-Died:1202)
[=Reigned-From:1154-Till-1202=]
King-Khubazi-{•Njanya•}-(Son-of-Sibiside) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Chibi & Prince-Mpondo & Prince-Mpondomise & Prince-Xesibe & Prince-Nyambose=]
(Born:1151-Died:1225)
[=Reigned-From:1202-Till-1225=]
King-Mpondomise-(Son-of-Khubazi) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Snduntu & Prince-Hlahlane & Prince-Vamba=]
(Born:1204-Died:1277)
[=Reigned-From:1224-Till-1277=]
King-Snduntu-(Son-of-Mpondomise) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Nxunxa=]
(Born:1229-Died:1304)
[=Reigned-From:1277-Till-1304=]
King-Nxunxa-(Son-of-Snduntu) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Bambeza=]
(Born:1263-Died:1346)
[=Reigned-From:1304-Till-1346=]
King-Bambeza-(Son-of-Nxunxa) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Malangana=]
(Born:1291-Died:1368)
[=Reigned-From:1346-Till-1368=]
King-Malangana-(Son-of-Bambeza) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Sikhomo=]
(Born:1322-Died:1385)
[=Reigned-From:1368-Till-1385=]
King-Sikhomo-(Son-of-Malangana) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Hlombose & Prince-Rhudulu=]
(Born:1346-Died:1408)
[=Reigned-From:1385-Till-1408=]
Regency-King-Rhudulu-(Son-of-Sikhomo) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Sinukaza=]
[•He was the very first regent of the Ama-Mpondomise-Kingship and Held-power for about 2 years or more while his younger brother was being groomed and initiated into the responsibility of the Kingdom as he hadn't been seen their father King Sikhomo (Son-of-Malangana) Passed away and he didn't think he would be King of the whole nation until the last minute•]
(Born:1371-Died:1439)
[=Held-Power-From:1408-Till-1413=]
King-Hlombose-(Son-of-Sikhomo) [=Fathered:Crowned-Prince-Ntose=]
(Born:1376-Died:1443)
[=Reigned-From:1413-Till-1443=]