Mabuza in the Swazi record
The Mabuza are named among the 17 founding clans (bemdzabuko, the “true Swazi”) in Wikipedia’s article on the Swazi people, which our earlier listing used, and Wikipedia’s separate Bemdzabuko article lists them among its notable bemdzabuko clans. The only passage we found that gives a Mabuza a place in the early Swazi story is in Wikipedia’s article on King Dlamini III: it says Ngwane III, the first king of modern Swaziland, born in the Lebombo, had a brother Ndlela and uncles Shabalala and Mabuza who were settled nearby, and says no more about their roles.
What the sources say
That article, which is based on Matsebula (1972), Bonner (2002), Gillis (1999) and Hamilton (1990), presents Mabuza as a person, an uncle of Ngwane, not as a clan, and we cannot say whether the clan is named for him or he for the clan. The article carries tags for unsourced statements. Our OCR reading of Bonner’s and Gillis’s books found no mention of the Mabuza, so the books themselves do not give more.
Other people called Mabuza in search results (a South African educationist and politician, a Swazi minister, a writer and diplomat) are not evidence about the clan, and we do not use them.
Cautions
We found no Mabuza chief, origin story, praise text or totem. The surname Mabuza is common, and we claim no link between surname-holders and the early Swazi figure.
Izithakazelo and totem
We are printing no Mabuza praises or totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Mabuza and recite your izithakazelo, we would like to record them, with your permission and credited to you.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: King Dlamini III
- Wikipedia: Bemdzabuko (needs more citations)
- Wikipedia: Swazi people (list of the 17 founding clans)
Do you belong to the Mabuza? Tell us your praises and what elders say about the history, and we will add it, credited to you. Share what you know or WhatsApp 065 138 8213.