Hlatshwayo in the sources
Wikipedia’s Tsonga people article lists the Hlatshwayo under the AmaShangana, with the Ndwandwe, Nxumalo and Mkhatshwa, and says the name “Shangaan” strictly applies only to the group tied to Soshangane. Soshangane’s people came north from the Ndwandwe country, which is why Nguni names appear in the Tsonga list. See our Ndwandwe and Nxumalo pages.
What the sources say
The Commission’s determination on the amaHlubi kingship claim, in a separate context, records the claimant’s account that Hlatshwayo was one of the clans that joined the amaHlubi under their kings, along with Ndaba, Khumalo and others. That is a Nguni Hlatshwayo in Natal and the Hlubi country, and we have no source linking it to the Tsonga Hlatshwayo.
We could not find the name in Junod’s 1912 book, which describes the Thonga before the Shangaan label was widely used.
Cautions
This page records that the name appears in two different contexts, not that the two are one family. We found no Hlatshwayo chief, praise text or totem. Page numbers for Junod are approximate, read from machine-scanned text.
Izithakazelo and totem
We are printing no Hlatshwayo totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Hlatshwayo and recite your praises (miLao), we would like to record them, with your permission and credited to you.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Tsonga people (its post-1890 community list has no inline citation)
- Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims: Determination on the amaHlubi kingship claim
Do you belong to the Hlatshwayo? 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.