PLEA TO REINSTATE THE MPOFANA CHIEFDOM

I am a Mpofana & not exactly proud of that fact but believe in justice & see it fit that we as the Mpofana obtain our former lands, these being:

• the area where my ancestor Geya lived by Harding, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,

• the area south of Durban (known as The Bluff) & surrounds,

• the area where Mpofana Local Municipality currently is.

These could be three chiefdoms where three Mpofana kings/chiefs (Swazi or Zulu-speaking) could rule over. N. B. Any Mpofana that lives in those areas to be chiefs. It would be strange having a chief that does not live in his chiefdom.

We see all these tribes & families getting their lands back because of South Africa's land restitution programme & I see fit that the Mpofana should obtain the lands they ruled just two centuries ago.

History of the Mpofana by Mthoko M. Mpofana

I'm not very traditional, I'm more straightforward & basic & often disregard cultural nuances so this history of the Mpofana tribe is going to be as direct & concise as possible. Growing up, I grew up knowing that the clan praises or izithakazelo of the Mpofana are "Zulu" & "Ntombela", I never questioned that. What I know now for sure is that there's a lot more that's hidden in history. What I keep seeing being repeated from various sources is that the Mpofana were part of the Amazizi (or AmaTiti) tribe. I now know that in the midlands & perhaps further north, up to the northwestern parts of KZN, they use the greeting "MaZizi okuhlala", perhaps alluding to the fact that the Mpofana as well as other Amazizi tribes were among the original tribes to settle in present-day KZN from 200 AD onwards & the "Dlamini" praise or greeting was used among all Dlamini tribes i. e. the Amahlubi, Amazizi (Mtiti), Hlangwini...

A little about eSayidi ( Port Shepstone )...

Port Shepstone is a small town on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal known by the locals as "eSayidi". In Port Shepstone, attractions include; Port Shepstone Museum, the annual Sardine Rush, a mall, two shopping centres & the beach. Port Shepstone was settled by British, Boers & Norwegian settlers during colonisation. By Port Shepstone is the suburb of Marburg where it's said Emperor Shaka met with Henry Francis Fynn in 1828 after the Zulu's Mpondoland campaign in present-day Eastern Cape. Descendants of Norwegian settlers in KwaZulu-Natal include cricket all-rounder Lance Klusener & South Africa's most successful football coach Gordon Igesund. Despite many groups living in Port Shepstone including those of east African, west African, southern African, Asian, Arab & American descent, it remains a Zulu-speaking town. Famous names to come from this small town called Port Shepstone include: • Naima Kay (Singer...

KZN's first minted, mainstream currency.

If you read some of my blogs, you'll notice that I study history a lot. I was searching for old currencies used in South Africa one day a few years back & discovered something which was called by indigenous people of KZN as "ukhence" or "inkence" . To this day, a colloquial word for money by indigenous people is "inkence". This currency was said to be so popular among indigenous people that it infiltrated popular culture of the time viz. "Wangishaya ngokhence." Officially called Stratchan & co. token coins , it was likely the first mainstream currency used by indigenous people other than cattle, tools, weapons & crops even though it was said to be minted in England. Examples of Strachan & co. token coins & coin denominations. They claim the hole was so indigenous people could wear it with beads but maybe it was also for the practical purpose of saving metal to make the coins. The Str...

What's on Mthoko's mind?

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