UHamu kaNzibe facts for kids

uHamu kaNzibe (born around 1834, died 1887) was an important Zulu chief. He was the half-brother of King Cetshwayo and a major rival to him.

A Royal Family's Rivalry

King Mpande, the Zulu king, had many sons. Even while he was alive (he lived until 1872), his sons often competed to see who would become the next king. In the Zulu kingdom, the next king wasn't always the oldest son. It depended on which son's mother was chosen as the 'Great Wife' of the current king.

uHamu was Mpande's oldest son, but his father didn't prefer him. Mpande first thought his son Umtonga would be king, then Mbuyazi. Finally, he decided that Cetshwayo was the best choice. This competition led to a big fight in 1856, called the Battle of Ndondakusuka. Mbuyazi and several other sons of Mpande died in this battle. After this, Cetshwayo became the real leader, even though King Mpande still performed the official duties.

The Disputed Land

Later, another of Mpande's sons, Umtonga, tried to become important. But Cetshwayo became angry with him. In 1861, Cetshwayo ordered the deaths of his half-brothers, who were sons of Mpande's favorite wife. Umtonga understood the danger and ran away to an area in northwest Zululand. This area was controlled by the Boers, who called it the Utrecht district.

Cetshwayo offered the Boers more land if they would give his brother back. They agreed, but only if Cetshwayo promised not to kill Umtonga. King Mpande then signed a paper giving this land to the Boers. A stone marker was set up in 1864 to show the new border. However, in 1865, Umtonga ran away from Zululand again, this time to Natal. Cetshwayo felt the Boers had not kept their promise. He worried that Umtonga might be used to replace him, just as Mpande had replaced an earlier king. So, Cetshwayo had the stone marker removed. This area became known as the "Disputed Land" and was one of the reasons for the Anglo-Zulu War.

uHamu's Role as Chief

To stop his rivals, especially his half-brothers Umtonga and uHamu, Cetshwayo invited the British to his coronation in September 1873. Theophilus Shepstone, a British official, attended.

According to Zulu law, uHamu was the inKosi (chief) of the Ngenetsheni people. They lived in northwestern Zululand, including parts of the "Disputed Land." As the oldest son, he had inherited this role from his uncle Nzibe. uHamu kept his main home at a place called kwaMfemfe.

uHamu and the Anglo-Zulu War

During the Second Zulu Civil War, uHamu fought alongside Cetshwayo. He remained a member of the Zulu royal council until 1879. In late 1878, uHamu started talking with the British. He hoped they would help him become the Zulu king. In March 1879, he joined the British forces led by Evelyn Wood at the Battle of Kambula.

Because of this, Cetshwayo sent an army to destroy the Ngenetsheni villages and take their cattle. This event helped start the Third Zulu Civil War, which happened between 1883 and 1884.

See also

• Battle of Hlobane