Bulawayo My City You ever heard about Mtshana Khumalo - ??

Bulawayo My City You ever heard about 

Mtshana Khumalo - ??

He commanded the armies, it is important to know who Mtshana was. Born about 1832/33 at Mkhwahla (Marico Valley) in South Africa, Mtshana was son of Sinanga who belonged to the iNzonda kaLugebhe, kaMatshitshi ka Mdamba house of the Khumalos. The following were other houses of the Khumalos: eyeSikhosini(Matshobana), 

uDonda weZiziba, 

uMamba kaKlekekleke (Bhozongwana), uNgwende (aManyangana). 

An age mate of Prince Lobengula, he was born after King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana’s royal capital relocated from Mhlahlandlela on the Aapies River which flows through Tshwane(Pretoria). The Ndebele faced pressure from a number of adversaries at the time: the Zulu under King Dingane Zulu, the Griqua(aMalawu/amaHiligwa) and some Sotho/Tswana groups.

There has been a question whether he was Mtshana or Mtshane. Those men that I interviewed decades ago referred to him as Mtshana.

However, he is now generally referred to as Mtshane. This is not unique to his name. Examples abound: Nkulumana/Nkulumane, Halimana/Halimane, Fuyana/Fuyane and many more. Some white authors referred to him as Mtjan. It appears he and other Ndebele people remained behind in Botswana when parties under Khondwane Ndiweni(aMnyama angankomo under Majijili Gwebu) and aMakhanda, under Dlundluluza Dlodlo) and another under direct command of King Mzilikazi(aMhlophe under Gwabalanda Mathe and iGabha under Maqhekeni Sithole). Apparently, Mtshana was in the group that remained behind to keep a watchful eye on forces that would pursue the two advancing groups.

Mtshana’s star rose to prominence when political power within the Ndebele State shifted following the demise of founding King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana in September 1868. Following a two year search for the rightful heir, Prince Nkulumana, Mncumbatha Khumalo and other leading chiefs settled for Prince Lobengula whose mother was Queen Fulatha Tshabalala. Prince Lobengula took some time to move to Mhlahlandlela where his inauguration was to begin. He moved from Tshotsho near Tshabalala in the company of his friends and age mates, one of whom was Mtshana Khumalo. Fusi Khanye and another, and Mafu. Both Mtshana and Prince Lobengula had, in their youths, been conscripted to aMahlokohloko.