MSANE CLAN HISTORY

 MSANE TRIBE HISTORY  AND CHIEFDOM

 (UMLANDO  WESIZWE NOBUKHOSI BAKWA-MSANE)

The Msane tribe paramount in traditional leadership, sometimes reffered to as UbuKhosi be Ndabuko baKwaMsane of which is where (eMaSanini) homestead (inxuluma), Msane Empire or Msaneland is traced back in 1700 before the arrival of white settlers and reign of Shaka Zulu as a king to be integrated with the Zulu tribe, after Shaka’s several attacks. Msane tribe is an indigenous species, or homo sapiens from Central Africa that arose in the 17^th century on the south of now called Delagoa Bay and inland in the Eastern Southern Africa. “ Msane” means “the kind hearted people”.

 History records and research tells us that Msane people are the original Nguni catagory of cluster as they are saluted as “ Mnguni was’ Ondini” as thakazela, whose modern identity dates back some 700 years ago. Msane tribe people can also be acronymically describes as;

 “ M-agnificent, S-uccessful, A-mbitious, N-on-violent, E-lites = M.S.A.N.E meaning that they are the type of people that is safe and beneficiary viable  for yourself to associate with.

There were among the Ngunis groups who left the Greate Lakes in Central Africa between 200 AD and 1200 AD. On arrival in Southern Africa, they settled around the mountains of Hluhluwe, mainly behind the uMthekwini Mountain, and estabhished themselves there as independant and powerful clan which rose to a tribe when it was joined by other clans, amaNcwango, amaNdwandwe, amaNzimela, abakwaMnqobokazi, and others as sub-clans to Msane Clan under their leader King Sontuli kaMsane, grandfather to Nxaba Msane, which later grew to be Msane Tribe, before leaving in the modern day at KwaZulu/Natal in Hluhluwe region towards uMfolozi region.

It consisted of more than 33 Nguni tribes, and perhaps others, unlike it’s successor, the Zulu Kingdom, the Msane Paramountcy was also a confederation of like tribes and clans (izizwe ezazizwana), after Shaka’s troops invaded their homesteads, land and have their cattle and all other domestic animals confiscated for themselves, to forge a nearly homogeneous nation with a single king.

It is believed that people of Msane tirbe are direct descendants of King Nxaba ka Mbhekane, son of Sontuli Msane, and Inkosi Mgobhoz' ovel' entabeni ,father of Inkosi Nonqewu, who was Shaka's military associate, ans Army Commander-in-Chief. These people were diligent, independent and naturally creative, and like farming, cattle grazing and cultivating fields with their wooden hoes and possessed not even a weapon wherewith to slay each other. They planted their purple-grained maize ( u Gidigidi) with their wooden hoes, and when not out on the field, they were busy with craftwork, and used to fetch clay from their spot called iNhlokohlela to make clay pottery and home brew containers called “izinkamba nezi mbiza”, and ornaments for decorating. 

And yet, than their king Nxaba Msane, none was more bellicose, and of doughty warriours, none renowned in Shaka’s army, than was u Mgobhozi ovel’entabeni (He who comes from the hill). As years progressed, the Msanes grew more cultured and civilized. Certain enterprising smith with Shabangos (who afterwards ran off with Nxaba) as their head, journeyed down from Nquthu district and profitable business in assegais and hoes, so much so that in course of time, by trade increase and natural multiplication. They became a quite seemly clan, proudly dubbed themselves as “Abakwa Bukhosini” (The of the Right Royal Blood).Msane tribe chiefdom was consolidated and merged to the Zulu chiefdom under the rule of Mgobhozi Msane who later became as Shaka right hand man and greatest warrior and chief-in- commander of his regiment to attack the Ndwandwe Empire which was led by Zwide kaLanga.

Inkosi Mgobhozi Msane entered into an alliance with the Zulu Chiefdom to establish, of which was later known and annexed as Zulu Kingdom. On the other hand of Mgobhozi Msane’s tribe, his half brother Nxaba ka Mbhekane, rejected to have Msane tribe subjected to Shaka Zulu’s tryrannic regime/rule. Nxaba faught heavily with Shaka, which ended him stabbing Shaka and decided to flee away towards north from further attacks from Shaka’s troop as he was resisting to be subjected to Shaka’s chiefdom., they went to settle along Delagoa Bay and began trading with Portuguese. While settled at Sawziland, Nxaba, tribe was highly recognised as royal people, that were greeted with respect, “Wena we Kunene”, meaning that in siSwati, “Your Royal Highness”, or “ You of the Right Royal Blood”. That is how “Kunene” became the very important “isithakazelo” (praise name) of Msane.

According to documented history, in the “The Great Trek: The Transformation Of Southern Africa. 1815-1854”, by Norman Etherington, the Msane Tribe Chiefdom is told the other way round compared to the oral traditions that were consulted, it says that before Zwangendaba’s departure, a third former Ndwandwe ally arrived ( of which reffered to Msane tribe ally arrived) in Mozambique. King Nxaba, of Msane Tribe royal lineage came in a roundabout way from the Highveld. At some dispecifiable time following Zwide’s defeat in 1879, the Msane paramount chiefdom split, those who joined Inkosi Mgobhozi Msane, rose to high positions in Shaka’s kingdom

The reason for Nxaba’s relocation to Mozambique has been stated, that he could not stand Shaka’s cruelty and oppression, to be subjected to another man’s clan. On one oral account recorded in 1905, it is said that he went to pay tribute to Shaka, but became very frightened when he observed a man being executed for a trivial offence in a harsh and inhuman punishment. Another oral account dating from 1921, it also implies that Nxaba had joined Shaka, and later changed his mind to avoid ill treatment from Shaka because he kept cattle for other people that were attacked by Shaka.

Another history places the date of Nxaba departure in 1821which could have coincided with the onset of drought. Whatever the reasons and whatvever the initial date could be, it appears that Nxaba and his followers travelled north along the spine of the Drankensburg, crossed the Limpompo River and descended into Mozambique. The only date in this long progression which can be put down with some confiderence is 1824, when Nxaba Msane attacked Inhambane. By 1827, he had defeated two Tsonga chieftaincies north of the Sabi River. With each success he rounded up their cattle of the conquered people and seized young men and girls to boost the number of paramountcy further.  

5. MSANE TRIBE IMPACT IN CORPORATION WITH THE ZULU KINGDOM

Inkosi Mgobhozi Msane became very popular and respected within the Zulu nation because of his intelligence and bravery. He was recognised by Shaka and granted a position to look after his regiment as it’s Commander –in- Chief, he faught many successful battles and was offered indemnity by Shaka to rule his own people and land along the  coast of the region which was then known as Zululand, towards Swaziland.  Mgobhozi’s regime could n’t last because it was the time of arrival of British Settlers, and many wars erupted which ended up Mgobhozi being shot to death by white settlers land invaders( Oral account can be explained much b prospective Inkosi Mzikaw’tshingwa Msane). UMgobhozi Msane was the traditional leader of the status of inkosi during Shaka’s regime. Although documented historical information cannot be acquired because in olden days, people could not read or write, they were only telling stories, of which some of them were regaderd as myth, but real.

In most of the documented history that was captured and kept in archives was done by colonists authorities that could favour their interests.  Ubukhosi beSizwe sakwaMsane existed and honoured, it could because of some political implications that it was sabotaged and ignored by previous authorities, avoiding that people might became clear and good understanding about their real identity, which might result them loosing that wealth and heritage resources to be acquired by rightful beneficiaries, the best thing they could do is to hide the information that can challenge them to restore all heritage that was lost back to the rightful heirs.

According to another archival information, it has been discovered that one of the Msane clan by the name of Mr Nkipho Samsoni Msane of Nongoma who died in 1913 at the Swedish Hospital in Dundee was the closest adviser to Inkosi Dinizulu Zulu, and one of our own tribe Mr Nuttal Vuma Msane, son to Mr Saul Msane, was also a right hand man to King Cetshwayo kaDinizulu, and still those whose history was not documented, but played a very important and crucial role of building up this nation.

6. EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO RESTORE MSANE TRIBE CHIEFDOM

The efforts to meet with the Zulu Monarch, King Zwelithini in discussing about assistance to restore Msane tribe chiefdom has been gone through and declared historically valid and authentic, and some umndeni and tribe meetings has been held for several times to discuss about the way forward in reinstalling the Msane Tribe traditional leader.

As a clan we collectively agreed that an organised structure should be established as a trust to apply for recognition by the government and other private stakeholders, and KZN Traditional Leadership Commission On Claims And Disputes was approached , and advised that, the matter does n’t need their intervention anymore, because Msane tribe traditional leadership has already been recognised by the provincial monarch, and we have to proceed lodging application for recognition to the office of the premier.  On the recent Msane tribe households meeting held on the 7^th Septemeber 2014, it was agreed that Mr Muzikawutshingwa Msane should be appointment as Inkosi yeSizwe sakwaMsane. The households that were represented were as follows ;

1.Indlu yakwaZoneyane
KwaZoneyane Royal House, Lena iHlalaNkosi/iS'godlo
 le Nkosi Mgobhozi Msane

2.Indlu yas' Ogobeni 
Ogobeni Royal House, Lena iHlalaNkosi/IS'godlo 
le Nkosi Nxaba Msane
3.Indlu yakwa Mteng’hlupha

4.Indlu yase Nqiwaneni

5.Indlu yakwaDumangeze

6.Indlu yaseVambini
7.Indlu yaseMthungululu

  8.Indlu yakwaNsukuzonke

  9.Indlu yaseMhawini
  10.Indlu yaseKwendemeni
  11.Indlu yakwa Bhekuk’phiwa
  12.Indlu yasey’Hlazini
  13.Indlu yase  Bhuyandlebe
  14.Indlu yaseNdleleni
  15.Indlu yase Mzungelezo
  16.Indlu yakwaNkodibe
  17.Indlu yakwa, Bembulalebuka.
  18.Indlu yakwa Zitike.

In this trying times of our democray, it is difficult for our government to satisfy everybody simutaniously, as they so those in power, because the government can not be able to reach out to each and every community in a short space of time, but is also affects our rural communities as well because freedom and prosperity through democratic government can only be seen to certain individuals who are benefiting from millions of tender contracts continuosly.

The trust of this nature has been established to fight poverty, and restoration of traditional leadership, because our people still feel being ppressed by their own people now they vote for. Msane Tribe people will exercise their constitutional rights to fight collectively against any stubling blocks and evil forces that stand against their traditional rights rights in the land of their origin. That is why thes homesteads has been identified, and to be recognised during our gatherings.

At the current moment,, the KwaZoneyane Royal Kraal ( Indlu ye Nkosi Nonqewu ka Mgobhozi) is the one which have been discovered, identified and assessed by all Msane tribe families of different traditional households as mentioned above, that is the one being recognised as the royal household, meanwhile we still tracing the immediate descendants as heirs of Ogobeni Royal Kraal (Indlu ye Nkosi Nxaba ka Mbhekane) .  All household agreed with one voice that the one who will lead the tribe is from that household as the history also confirms that.

Discussions have been held through traditional meeting to reconstruct the royal household of Msane tribe, that is has to be given the image and respect it derserves as a traditional royal kraal.  The concers were raised by inkosi himself about other traditional homesteads for Msane tribe that have been abandoned and ignored because forebears who were grandparents, and great grand parents have since past away.  We believed that our ancestors will guide and protect us throughout this difficult task to ensure that Msane tribe heritage and history is restored.

The Msane tribe homesteads “amanxuluma”were given special names for easly identification in case of any social needs that needed to be attended to by the chief or inkosi. It was not an easy thing for homestead members to engage themselves in any criminal activities because discipline was the order of the day, unlike today where people don’t care about each other.  Extended family members were very important to each other regardless of their standard of education and social status.

IZITHAKAZELO ZAKWA MSANE/MSANI

By Ulwazi Web Editor on February 20, 2013 in New Submissions

Izithakazelo zakwa-Msane

Majoka,

Kunene, 

Mtimande

Nxaba kaMbhekane owabhekana nokuhlupheka

Wena kaNonqewu,

Wena kaMgobhozi,

Madl’uvalo lwengonyama abanye bedl’olwenkomo,

Mthantathwa,

Lombo ka Lokothwayo,

Mnguni wasOndini,

Wena kaNonqewu, ka Sontuli ka Nonjonjo

Delela !

Wena kaMgobhozi, owehl’ entabeni,

Ntetha, Vangisa,

Mageza ngobisi abanye begeza ngamanzi,

Mvune!

Izithakazelo zakwa-Msani

Majoka

Mtimamnde,

Kunene, Majoka,

Nxaba kaMbhekane owabhekana nokuhlupheka,

Madl' isbindi sengonyama abanye bedl’esenkomo,

Lombo ka Lokothwayo

Nonjonjo, Khwila,

Zashula,

Joka lensimbi, abanye bebophela ngawokhuni !

Mthantathwa,

Mnguni wasOndini,

Wena kaNonqewu,

Wena kaMgobhozi,

Ntetha, Vangisa,

Mageza ngobisi abanye begeza ngamanzi,

Mvuna!