Embhuleni

The village of Embhuleni has existed since approximately 1842.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/01/13/s-africa-orders-blacks-out-of-142-year-old-village/5ae55ee9-2b9c-4f92-9602-03810fa32874/ South Africa orders blacks out of 142-year-old village], Washington Post, 13 January 1984. Retrieved 13 July 2024. It was established by Mswati II as a military outpost to protect eSwatini's land from potential invasions by the Bapedi.Matsebula, J.S.M. 1980. A History of Swaziland. Cape Town: Creda Press.

The original royal residence of Embhuleni was built in Tjakastad, at the foot of Mkhingoma Mountain.Myburg, A.C. 1949. The Tribes of Barberton District. Pretoria: Government Printer.Myburg, A.C. 1949. Chiefs and Tribes of Nelspruit District. Pretoria: Department of Regional and Land Affairs. One of King Mswati II’s wives, Queen Ngodzela Mkhonta, initially resided there, later joined by Queens Butsikati and Mnkabi, who were sent from mainland Eswatini. However, Ngodzela was soon recalled to Eswatini after being accused of concealing the misconduct of another of Mswati II's wives, Ndzinga Jele.

Following Ngodzela’s recall, Queen Nandzi Khumalo, known as LaMagadlela, was sent to Embhuleni as her replacement. She was the daughter of Magadlela Khumalo, a Zulu chief from the Mkhondo region who was a cousin of Mzilikazi.

Over the years, the Embhuleni royal residence relocated multiple times within the Dlomodlomo areaMyburg, A.C. 1956. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL18940179M/Die_stamme_van_die_distrik_Carolina Die Stamme van die Distrik Carolina]. Pretoria: Staatsdrukker.[https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9335117 A Preliminary Survey of the Bantu Tribes of South Africa by N.J. van Warmelo]. Pretoria: Government Printer, 1935. before settling in its present location in Badplaas. This final move was largely due to colonialism, which disrupted traditional life and divided Embhuleni lands into farms controlled by the Boers.

LaMagadlela bore two daughters, Princesses File and Lozindaba, but no male heirs. After Mswati II’s death in 1868, the Swazi royal family sought to ensure the continuation of the Embhuleni lineage. They negotiated with LaMagadlela's family in Mkhondo, who sent a young woman, Bikwaphi Khumalo, to marry Prince Ntjentje, a son of Mswati II’s brother, Prince Kufa. Bikwaphi and Ntjentje had a son, Prince Sunduza, who was intended to become the Chief of Embhuleni. However, following Ntjentje’s death and Sunduza’s passing from illness at a young age, the leadership succession was disrupted.

To secure the lineage, Prince Mgwevu, another of Prince Kufa’s sons, married Bikwaphi. They had five children, including Princes Maquba, Mazingela, and Makinobho Amos. Since Sunduza had died, Maquba became the first recognized Chief of Embhuleni.

After LaMagadlela’s death in 1922, Bikwaphi served as regent of Embhuleni until Maquba formally assumed chieftaincy in 1931. She died in 1939. Maquba was later succeeded in 1953 by his son, Prince Mkolishi.Matsebula, J.S.; Mlotshwa, D.K.; Mlotshwa, J.M.; Ntiwane, N.D. (2016). The History of Emaswati in South Africa. South Africa: Mbokodo Publishers. pp. 169–187. {{ISBN|9780620653848}}.

During the apartheid era, the Embhuleni royal kraal and King Sobhuza II advocated for the incorporation of KaNgwane (now part of Mpumalanga) into Eswatini. Their campaign was based on historical territorial claims and the controversial borders established during the Scramble for Africa, but these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

{{reflist}}

• Matsebula, J.S; Mlotshwa, D.K.; Mlotshwa, J M; Ntiwane, N.D (2016): The History of Emaswati in South Africa. South Africa: Mbokodo Publishers. {{ISBN| 9780620653848}}
• Matsebula, J.S.M (1980): A History of Swaziland. Cape Town: Creda Press. {{ISBN|9780582642126}}

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Category:Royal residences in Eswatini