Makhubu in the Swazi record
Wikipedia’s Emakhandzambili article lists the Makhubu among the prominent Emakhandzambili clans, the groups of mostly Sotho and Tsonga origin already settled in the region before the Dlamini-led Swazi and later incorporated into the kingdom.
What the sources say
Bonner’s Kings, Commoners and Concessionaires names a man called Makhubu in his account of the Swazi attack on the Magagula stronghold: a follower of Sobhuza proposed smuggling Swazi soldiers into the encampment under cattle hides as the Magagula brought their cattle in at dusk, and Bonner says the suggestion was gratefully accepted and the stronghold was taken (PDF p. 42). He does not say that this Makhubu was the head of a Makhubu clan. See our Magagula page.
A note also cites an interview with a Chief Makhubu at Luyengo in June 1970 as a source for the conflict between Sobhuza and the Magagula chiefs at the Mdzimba mountains (p. 250), so a Makhubu chief was alive and consulted in 1970. We do not know how he relates to the Makhubu of the Emakhandzambili list or to the stratagem story.
Cautions
The books give no Makhubu praise text or origin story, and Gillis does not mention the name. We found no other source. The surname Makhubu is common, and we claim no link between surname-holders and the clan. We read Bonner and Gillis only through machine OCR of scanned copies, so names and page numbers may contain errors.
Izithakazelo and totem
We are printing no Makhubu praises or totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Makhubu and recite your izithakazelo, we would like to record them, with your permission and credited to you.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Emakhandzambili (cites Matsebula 1988, Hailey 1953, Kuper 1947, T. Thwala 2013)
- Philip Bonner: Kings, Commoners and Concessionaires (SAHO scan, read by OCR)
Do you belong to the Makhubu? 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.