Ntsele
Wikipedia’s article, titled Nsele kaMashiya, describes Ntsele as an 18th-century king of the amaHlubi, reigning from 1735 until his death in 1760 (or 1761), the father of Bhungane II, who became ruler in 1760, and says that Hlubi people, especially in the Eastern Cape, often call him “Nasele”. Its infobox lists Bhungane II, Sondezi and Mualle (or Mwali) as sons, of whom only Bhungane II has an article. It says Ntsele is widely known for leading the Hlubi to victory over the amaNgwane under Tshani, before the prosperity of Bhungane’s time and the later power struggles under his grandson Mthimkhulu II. The name Mashiya in the title is his father’s: Wikipedia’s list of Hlubi kings places a Mashiya in 1710 to 1720, before Ntsele (1735 to 1760).
Where the dates disagree
The article is not consistent: the infobox gives a reign of 1735 to 1760, the succession box 1744 to 1775, and its categories include “1775 deaths”. The list of Hlubi kings leaves a gap between Mashiya’s end in 1720 and Ntsele’s start in 1735. These dates come from oral sources and genealogies, and we do not treat them as established.
What the Commission says
The Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims, in its determination on the amaHlubi kingship claim, does not mention Ntsele or Mashiya in the text we read; see Bhungane for the king the Commission does name. Wikipedia’s list of Hlubi chiefs, without a source, includes the names Ntsele or Nasele and Mashiya.
What we have not read
The article cites an online history of the Hlubi nation, an archived genealogy page, the 2004 Hlubi submission to the Commission and a page on the House of Bhungane; we have read none of them. We have not read Ndawo’s Iziduko zama-Hlubi (1939), Wright and Manson (1983), Bryant or Soga, which Wikipedia lists as further reading on the Hlubi. We found no source for the victory over the amaNgwane other than this article.
Izithakazelo and totem
We found no recorded praises or totem for Ntsele, so we are printing none. If you belong to the Hlubi royal house and recite its izibongo, we would like to record them, with your permission and credited to you.
Sources and further reading
Do you belong to the Hlubi royal house? Tell us the history you know and we will add it, credited to you. Share what you know or WhatsApp 065 138 8213.