Dube in the sources
In Bonner’s history of the Swazi kingdom the Dube are a chiefdom a few miles west of modern Mbabane (a note on PDF p. 287 places an episode in “the Dube chiefdom” there), who were attacked and made captive during the reign of Mswati (p. 91). The point is part of his discussion of captives in the Swazi economy: he says some captives could rise to positions of authority and trust, and gives the example of Jabhane Dube, captured as a young boy in Mswati’s reign and raised in status until he was given charge of the king’s herds at Mpolonjeni and Ehlanzeni (p. 101).
What the sources say
Bonner cites an interview with Mlingwa Dube and Machango Kunene at Mpholonjeni on 17 May 1970 for these examples (pp. 264, 267). He says he came across the Dube and Thabede cases “without direct questioning on the subject”, so they are illustrations, not a full account (p. 91). See our Thabede page.
Cautions
This page concerns the Swazi Dube only. It has no connection to the Natal Dube of the educator and political leader John Dube, whom these books do not discuss. We found no Dube-authored history, praise text or totem. The surname Dube is very common, and we claim no link between surname-holders and this chiefdom. 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 Dube praises or totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Dube and recite your izithakazelo, we would like to record them, with your permission and credited to you.
Sources and further reading
- Philip Bonner: Kings, Commoners and Concessionaires (SAHO scan, read by OCR)
See also Zulu.
Do you belong to the Dube? 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.