iNyosi Buzetsheni Mkhohliseni Mdletshe - Day 2

Описание: Date: 11 June 2022
Location: KwaCeza

This interview with Inyosi Buzetsheni Mkhohliseni Mdletshe provides a detailed narrative of the historical interactions between Europeans and Zulu leaders, focusing predominantly on the reign of King Dingane and the subsequent ascension of King Mpande. It portrays a complex tapestry of diplomatic overtures, cultural misunderstandings, betrayals, and conflicts that shaped the relationship between these two groups during a pivotal period in South African history.

Initially, the narrative depicts a semblance of cooperation between Europeans, represented by figures like Piet Retief, and Zulu chiefs. Retief and his men, seeking to assist King Dingane in recovering stolen cattle from King Sigonyela of the Sotho, offered their aid in exchange for land to settle. Dingane acquiesced to their request, indicating a seemingly amicable relationship between the Europeans and the Zulu kingdom at that time. However, tensions escalated dramatically following a visit to Sigonyela's palace, where Retief and his companions were falsely accused of wrongdoing and subsequently executed by Dingane's orders.

The betrayal at Sigonyela's palace proved to be a catalyst for increased animosity between the Boers and the Zulus, culminating in the infamous Battle of Blood River. This clash, fueled by mutual distrust, cultural differences, and simmering grievances, resulted in significant casualties on both sides, exacerbating existing tensions and deepening the divide between the European settlers and the Zulu kingdom.

The narrative further explores the strained relationship between Dingane and the Boers, highlighting a pattern of conflict and retaliation that ultimately led to Dingane's defeat and demise. Despite Dingane's fall, unresolved land disputes and lingering animosities continued to plague the region, underscoring the complexity and volatility of the political landscape in post-Dingane Zululand.

Moreover, the interview delves into the intricacies of Zulu royal succession and the internal power struggles within the royal family, particularly the tensions between King Mpande's sons, Cetshwayo and Mbuyazi. These internal conflicts culminated in the Battle of Ndodakusuka, which further destabilized Mpande's reign and contributed to the broader political turmoil within the Zulu kingdom.

In addition to historical events, the interview sheds light on contemporary issues within the Zulu community, such as the preservation of cultural heritage, the role of praise singers, and the challenges of maintaining traditional practices in a rapidly changing world. There is also a call for reconciliation between the Zulu and Boer communities, emphasizing the importance of mutual understanding and acknowledgment of past injustices in fostering peace and harmony in the region.

Overall, the oral history interview offers a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the complex dynamics that have shaped the relationship between Europeans and the Zulu kingdom, providing valuable insights into the historical, cultural, and political forces at play in South Africa's turbulent past.

NOTES:

Interview with long-serving Zulu Royal household Praise singer Buzetsheni Mdletshe.
Mdletshe has served in the role for the past 46 years and has an incredible wealth of knowledge about Zulu history and Culture. Although he was officially given the title of praise singer in 2001, Mdletshe first recited the king’s praise publicly in 1974 during the wedding of the king’s daughter in the absence of his then praise singer.
Buzetsheni Mdletshe fell in love with the art of praise singing when he was a little boy. He says his young self, with no opportunity to go to school, never thought his dream of becoming a praise singer would come true.
But today he is the official praise singer of the Zulu monarch. He would not call it a job though. For Mdletshe, it’s a gift.
“When I sing the praises it’s like a sangoma who is entered by the spirit of ancestors. A spirit needs to enter you. Anyone can read the praises in books, but you need to have that gift that is given to you by the spirits that guide your praises,” he told Times Select.
His gift of praise singing was quite literally handed to him on a plate.
“My love for praise poetry started when I was very young. I remember when my brother brought home a commemorative plate that had all the praise names of king DinuZulu and King Solomon. I was instantly hooked.”
Mdletshe has been the official praise singer for the monarch for well over a decade and is tasked with introducing the king at events and public gatherings.
“The praise names of the old kings never change. You always introduce the king with the praise names of the kings who once sat on his throne,” explained Mdletshe.

Source: 15 October 2018 - Lwandile Bhengu - Sunday Times