Shabalala in the sources
The name Shabalala appears in the Swazi histories as one of the uncles of the early Ngwane (Swazi) kings. Philip Bonner says that as the Ngwane threw off outriders into the country below the Lubombo, Ngwane’s brother Ndlela seems to have moved near modern Mlosheni and his uncle Shabalala, a brother of Dlamini, settled a little further west (PDF p. 22), and that Ndlela and Shabalala are supposed to have settled near Mahamba in Dlamini’s reign (p. 36). Wikipedia’s article on King Dlamini III likewise names uncles Shabalala and Mabuza settled near Ngwane. Wikipedia’s Emakhandzambili article also lists a clan Shabalala.
What the sources say
Bonner also names a chief of the Zululand side, the Nkosi Shabalala, whom Mswati attacked in the trans-Pongola region around 1858, after the Nhlapo, compelling the Nhlapo to submit and the Shabalala to retire to the south (p. 104). He does not say whether this chief belonged to the same line as the early uncle. His notes cite an interview with a Mtutwanana Shabalala at Nkamazi in June 1970 (p. 266).
Cautions
Our listing placed the Shabalala among the Zulu; the Swazi sources are the only ones we could read. We found no Shabalala-authored history, praise text or totem, and the books name no later Shabalala chief. The surname Shabalala is common, and we claim no link between surname-holders and the early uncle or the trans-Pongola chief. 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 Shabalala praises or totem because none has been confirmed. If you belong to the Shabalala 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)
- Wikipedia: King Dlamini III
- Wikipedia: Emakhandzambili
See also Zulu.
Do you belong to the Shabalala? 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.