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The Mpondo people, also called AmaMpondo and Pondo, are a Southern African ethnic group. Their traditional homeland has been in the contemporary era Eastern Cape province of South Africa, more specifically what used to be the Transkei region. They speak a Nguni / Mbo language called isiMpondo which is grammatically similar to both isiXhosa and isiZulu.
Contents
- Origins
- Language
- Kingdom
- Genealogy of kings
- Mpondo Clans and tributory clans
- Tributory clans
- Apartheid
- Arts and entertainment
- Mpondo culture and heritage festival
- Beliefs and cosmology
- Mpondo lunar calendar
- Notable Mpondos
- References
During the colonial and Apartheid era, the Mpondo people lived in Pondoland of the Republic of Transkei along with Xhosa people and others. They are sometimes incorrectly referred as a Xhosa subgroup. While they share some history and culture with the ethnic groups they live with, the Mpondo people have their distinct roots, culture, history and heritage.
Origins
According to the Mpondo oral tradition, they are the legendary descendants of Mpondo, the grandson of Sibiside who was the leader of the once-powerful Mbo nation (AbaMbo or MaMbo). Mpondo people are part of AbaMbo group who migrated from the Great Lakes into modern-day South Africa, having settled along the way in areas like Zambia and Swaziland. It is through king Sibiside that Mpondo the forefather of the nation emerges together with other well known nations. Mpondo people share a common lineage with AmaMpondomise, AmaXesibe, AbakwaMkhize, AmaBomvu and AmaBomvana.
Sibiside's offsprings:
- Mavovo (Sibiside's heir and father of the Mkhize clan)
- Gubhela (his descendants also call themselves abakwaMkhize)
- Nomafu (AmaBomvu and AmaBomvana)
- Njanya (AmaMpondo, AmaMpondomise, AmaXesibe)
Mpondo and Mpondomise were twins. There's an ongoing argument about which twin is the eldest, the most commonly held view is that Mpondomise is the senior twins. It is said that while out hunting, Mpondo killed a Lion and refused to hand over the skin to Mpondomise as was the custom (the senior was entitled to skins of certain animals). The tension between the two started from that day and Mpondo and his followers were the first ones to leave and settle elsewhere away from their father's land.
Language
The Mpondo people are currently seeking for their language to be recognised as the 12th official language of the Republic of South Africa. Other Mbo languages include isiSwati, isiNdebele and the vaious "tekela" languages of nations such as AmaHlubi and AmaZizi. However, since isiXhosa was introduced in schools around Mpondoland most Mpondo people are also fluent in isiXhosa. AmaMpondo also interbred with the San people at an earlier stage and this can be picked up in their language that has various clicks.
Kingdom
The great house of Mpondo is called Qawukeni and is situated in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape. The right-hand house is called Nyandeni and is situated in Libode, Eastern Cape. The Nyandeni house enjoyed autonomy for decades and was often referred to as Western Mpondoland, while the Qawukeni house was referred to as Eastern Mpondoland.
The towns in the Mpondo kingdom include Lusikisiki, Siphaqeni (known as Flagstaff), Mbizana (erroneously called Bizana), Ntabankulu, Port St John's, Libode and Ngqeleni.
Mzintlava (now known as Kokstad) was allotted to Adam Kok of the Griquas
Genealogy of kings
The most prominent of all kings of the Mpondo nation is Faku (1780–1867); he resided in Qawukeni as it's still the tradition today. The Nyandeni house was established by Ndamase, Faku's right-hand son and a prominent general of the Mpondo army during the Mfecane wars.
The genealogy of Mpondo kings in order:
King Cabe was the first king of the Mpondo nation to cross Mthamvuna river and settled in Siphaqeni. King Ngqungqushe's mother was the first woman whose "ikhazi" (dowry) was paid for by the kingdom, which makes King Ngqungqushe the first "kumkani" in the modern sense.
King Sigcau is known for his militancy in his fight against colonial rule and imposition of colonial policies, notably the hut taxes in the Mpondo Kingdom. He was later arrested for these actions and incarcerated in Robben Island. He remains a hero to the Mpondo people and admired for his bravery. King Sigcau Bravery Award was launched in his honour. His son King Marelane would become one of the founding Kings of the oldest political party in Africa the African National Congress in 1912 in support of the fight against colonial rule in South Africa. His grandson Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau would follow in the footsteps of his forefathers and become an ANC liberation activist, contributing in the struggle for liberation in South Africa. This also saw him arrested and harassed for his political activities.
Mpondo Clans and tributory clans
There are three types of clans you find in Mpondoland (kwa-Mpondo/emaMpondweni) today. First, there clans that arise out of the many houses of the Kings listed in the section above (Mpondo's descendents). Secondly, there are clans of the older AbaMbo/MaMbo tribe from which Mpondo himself was born out, therefore these are people of his ancestors. Thirdly, there are clans/tribes who have immigrated to Mpondoland and now pay tribute to the Mpondo kingdom.
In more detail:
Some of the following clans were followers of Mpondo kings from the beginning, some only came later during the reign of Faku:
Tributory clans
These tribes/ clans are not unique to Mpondoland, they usually are small groups in Mpondoland who left their tribes/kingdoms having been given land by Mpondo Kings and thus recognised as forming part of AmaMpondo Kingdom and paying tribute to Mpondo Kings.
Apartheid
The Mpondo Revolt (1960–1962) was the result of the resistance of the Mpondo people against the implementation of the Bantu Authorities Act, part of the Apartheid legislation. Under the Apartheid ideology, separate development of the various ethnic groups of South Africa was proposed and part of that was to segregate black Africans into 'homelands' that were granted independence from South Africa.
Arts and entertainment
The Mpondo people are one of the major tribes that produce and consumes the genre of music called Maskandi but the Mpondo people are unique in a performance of what is called "imfene" (baboon dance). This dance is performed by young ones and adults of both sexes to the sounds of Maskandi music.
Mpondo culture and heritage festival
Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival is celebrated annually by Mpondo to celebrate their culture and heritage. It is the biggest cultural event celebrated in the Kingdom attended by approximately over 15 000 people preceded by the Annual Mpondo Read Dance. It is held in September of every year at Lwandlolubomvu Great Place, Ntabankulu; palace of the customary head Jongilanga Sigcau. Ntabankulu is the mountainous part of the Mpondo Kingdom surrounded by the great Mzimvubu River. Ntabankulu in Mpondo language means Big Mountains. September is important in the Mpondo history as it was originally the Mpondo new year in the ancient Mpondo calendars and also two of the Mpondo Kings King Mqikela and King Sigcau were born on this month. The Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival also celebrates the roles played by these icons, including the legendary Kings Faku and Mqikela amongst others. This events also seeks to promote cultural diversity through sharing of Mpondo Culture and heritage with other cultures from South Africa, broader African continent and beyond the Oceans. It attracts a lot of tourists both local and international tourists and is one of the biggest events in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Beliefs and cosmology
The supreme being according to Mpondo people is known as "Umdali" (The creator) or "uNkulunkulu" (The Great great one). Mpondo people also practice the appeasement of ancestors like all other Bantu tribes.
Mpondo people still practice the old tradition of rain-making. Rain-makers usually come from the AmaYalo clan and some from AmaKhwetshube. Mpondo people also perform facial scarification known as "ukuchaza" which is normally necessitated by the sickness of the person to be scarified, which is interpreted as a patient needing the ritual of its ancestors.
In Mpondoland there are people are said to have a calling to be diviners, healers and medicine experts.
Mpondo lunar calendar
According to the ancient AbaMbo people, including Mpondo September is the first month of the year. There are some Mpondo people who recognise the appearance of the Pleiades ("isilimela") to signal the beginning of the year, but it is most likely that this interpretation was adopted from the Xhosa people. Mpondo calendar is as follows commencing with uMphanda the first month of the year according to the ancient Mpondo Calendar.