Mbabane Kunene
Mbabane Kunene | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1820 |
| Died | before 1890 |
| Occupation | Royal servant |
| Known for | Namesake of Mbabane |
| Children | Maloyi Kunene |
| Father | Ngongoma Kunene |
Mbabane Kunene was a 19th century Swazi chief who served under King Mbandzeni as the governor of Mbuluzi.[1] He is the namesake of the city of Mbabane, Eswatini.[1][2]
Early life and background
Mbabane Kunene was born around 1820, the son of Ngongoma Kunene, who served as a personal spiritual intermediary for the Eswatini royal family at Ludzidzini during the reign of King Mswati II.[3] His father Ngongoma Kunene was responsible for preparing sacred cleansing waters for Queen Tsandzile Ndwandwe, the mother of King Mswati II.[3] The King later ordered his death when the sacred waters disappeared at the royal house.[3]
Following his father's death, Mbabane Kunene relocated to the Ezulwini Valley[3] and later appointed governor of Mbuluzi where he was responsible for overseeing the slaughtering of King Mbandzeni's cattle.[3]
Conflict and exile
Mbabane Kunene assisted Queen Sisile 'LaMgangeni' Khumalo, the Queen mother of Eswatini, in 1881 when she escaped King Mbandzeni during the night.[3] Mbandzeni regiments captured LaMgangeni in Gobholo, near Mbabane and taken to the royal kraal at Nkanini in Lobamba, where she was killed.[3]
Mbabane Kunene managed to escape during these events and fled to Chrissiesmeer (in present-day Mpumalanga, South Africa).[3]
He later returned to Eswatini but did not immediately rejoin the royal court, as King Mbandzeni no longer trusted him.[3] He died before 1890 and the Mbabane river was named after him. European settlers built a town in the river area and named it Mbabane.[3]
Mbabane's known son was named Maloyi Kunene and died in 1942.[3] Maloyi was raised in Zombodze and herded cattle with the young Sobhuza II.[3]
References
- 1 2 Annual Government Report 2022/23 PDF download, Municipal Council of Mbabane, accessed 21 July 2026
- ↑ About Mbabane city, The Kingdom of Eswatini. Accessed 21 July 2026
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Patrick, Richard Mdvumowencwala Chiefs and Chiefdoms of Swaziland: Part 2: Non-Dlamini Chiefs, Government of Swaziland (Swaziland Oral History Project), Manzini, September 2000