View source for Thembu

{{short description|Xhosa speaking people based in South Africa}}
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{{more citations needed|date=January 2011}}
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{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Thembu people <br> AbaThembu
|image             = AbaThembu Chief of the Thembu 1900's.jpg|image_caption = Siyaɓalala, chief of the Ndungwana clan of the Thembu, {{circa|1930s}}
| native_name      =
| population       = 3.3 million<ref name="M.M">{{cite journal |first1=Mzimala |last1=Mvelase |title=Population of AbaThembu |journal=Southern African Nguni Tribe |date=2024 |url=https://southernafricannguni.wordpress.com/2024/11/25/abathembu/}}</ref> 2023
| popplace         = {{flag|South Africa}} <br>{{flag|Lesotho}} 
| languages        = [[Xhosa language|IsiXhosa]]<br/>[[Sesotho]], [[English language|English]]<br/>Historically [[ǀXam language|ǀXam]]
| religions        = [[Christianity]], [[uThixo]]
| related_groups   = [[Xhosa people|Xhosa]], [[Mpondo people|Mpondo]], [[Swazi people|Swati]], [[Zulu people|Zulu]], [[Mpondomise people|Mpondomise]], [[Xesibe people|Xesibe]], [[Bhaca]], [[Mfengu]], [[Basotho]], [[Khoisan]]
| genealogy        = 
}}
{{Infobox ethnonym|UmThembu|AbaThembu|IsiXhosa|KwaThembu|The Thembu}}
The '''Thembu''' ({{langx|xh|'''AbaThembu'''}}) are a [[Xhosa language|isiXhosa-speaking nation]] that inhabited the Kingdom of Thembuland. They were established around the 16th century as one of the federations in what became the apartheid era [[Transkei|Transkeian territories]]. The federation was later annexed by the [[British Empire]] shortly after the death of [[Sarili kaHintsa|King Sarhili]].

According to Xhosa oral tradition, the Hala clan migrated along the east coast of southern Africa before settling in [[KwaZulu-Natal]]. The earliest known Thembu ancestor is Chief Mbulali Ka-Nanzinzaba, whose grandson (named uMthembu KaNtongakazi), led his people from what became the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal to Dedesi in the present-day Eastern Cape region of South Africa. The Thembu emerged as a single political entity during the reign of Nxeko, who settled in Dedesi and was awarded chieftainship by King Togu, who later handed him independence to form a new Xhosa state. Famous descendants of Nxeko include members of the royal line of the Xhosa Kingdom and politicians like [[Nelson Mandela]], whose father was a reigning [[nobleman]] from a junior branch of the AmaMadiba clan of kings, and [[Walter Sisulu]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120616181711/http://ancestry24.com/walter-sisulu/ Walter Sisulu]}} ''Ancestry24''</ref>

==Name ==
In Xhosa, the name is ''abaThembu'' (''aba-'' is a common [[prefix (linguistics)|prefix]] implying "people").<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oosthuysen |first1=JC |title=The grammar of isiXhosa |date=14 Sep 2016 |publisher=African Sun Media |location=Matieland, South Africa |isbn=9781928357070 |page=25 |edition=First}}</ref> The territory of the Thembu state was historically known as [[Thembuland]].

In the 19th century, the Thembu were frequently known as the "Tamboekie" or "Tambookie" people. This name was originally the [[Khoisan|Khoisan language]] term specifically for the followers of Chief Maphasa, who moved into the area west of the [[Great Kei River]] in the 1820s. However, Europeans used these terms as synonyms for "Thembu" for much of the 19th century.

==Origin==
The Thembu people were known as 'ǀXam bu !e' , 'ǀXam', and 'the Embo people'. In [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], ǀXam bu !e translates to 'Thembu'.<ref name="Yoyanda.M">{{cite journal |last1=Malotsi |first1=Yoyanda |title=Indigenous Origin |journal=Thembu Analysis |date=9 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_YnMaFkJHQ}}</ref>

AbaThembu is derived from 'ǀXam ka !ue'. 'ǀXam' means an oryx or an antelope. The original name of AbaThembu was 'ǀXam ka !eten' (Antelope water people). In [[Khoemana]], the word exists as 'ǀehem'.<ref name="Daluxolo.S">{{cite journal |last1=Sithule |first1=Daluxolo |title=AbaThembu |journal=Analysis |date=2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le1_OZWuJFk}}</ref>

AbaThembu spoke [[ǀXam language|ǀXam]] or ǀXam ke (an extinct language). The Basotho used to call the Eastern Cape "Bathebu ke ing ke ma ǀXam" since it was known as an ǀXam area. There is no historical evidence of AbaThembu descending from Central Africa, but there is proof of a minority of them ascending to Central Africa due to Shaka's expansion known as 'Imfecane' (The Crushing).<ref name="Pieter.S">{{cite journal |last1=Swarts |first1=Pieter |title=Origin of Thembu people |journal=Documenty of AbaThembu |date=9 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_YnMaFkJHQ}}</ref>

==/Xam and Thembu history==
The town of [[ǂKhomani]], now known as Queenstown, used to be called /Xam land, then /Xam land later became [[Thembuland]]. ǂkhomani people still exist in the Kalahari (!kung ra ma ba), which is [[Upington]], Eastern Cape, used to be a Cape Colony. [[Queenstown, Eastern Cape|Queenstown (now called Komani)]] is named after AmaQoma, Qoma means (A tree where a lion would rest). The Ntsundu people are [[Nǀuu]] people; they exist in the [[Northern Cape]], [[Free State (province)|Free State]] and [[Kalahari]].<ref name="Anitta.V.Z">{{cite journal |last1=Van Zyl |first1=Anitta |title=Origin of People known as abaThembu |journal=Documenty of AbaThembu |date=9 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_YnMaFkJHQ}}</ref>

The name 'Thembu' directly translates to /Xam bu !e. /Xam intermarried with Abambo a minority, not the majority of Abambo they build a relationship with them, that's why today the /Xam bu !e, !e is a suffix when people say AbaThembu it is a [[Xhosa language]] it's not a Indigenous language in [[Transkei]] they speak a different type of dialect which is not their own original dialect it's a diversified dialect that kept connection with Abambo people. The original Thembus spoke five to six dialects.<ref name="Eunice.N">{{cite journal |last1=Ntlai |first1=Eunice |title=AbaThembu and Khoikhoi |journal=Analysis |date=9 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_YnMaFkJHQ}}</ref>

Thembus always praises a phrase called Sopitso or Yem-Yem, which means (/Xam - /Xam), it connects all the Madiba, Dlomo, Nxongo, and Qwithi people.<ref name="Thando.W">{{cite journal |last1=Williams |first1=Thando |title=/Xam bu !e or AbaThembu |journal=Documenty of AbaThembu |date=9 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_YnMaFkJHQ}}</ref>

==History==
{{main|Thembuland}}

AbaThembu is a nation independent of [[AmaXhosa]], from the eMbo/Aba-Mbo Empire. Zwide (''not of Ndwandwe''{{clarify|date=March 2025}}) was the first man to leave eMbo, and he begot Malandela (''not of AmaZulu years before''), who settled in Mozambique, who begot Mbulali, who begot Njanye, who begot Mthembu.

Mthembu settled with his people in a place known as [[Mbabane]] in [[Swaziland]] and then went to KwaMsinga in [[Colony of Natal|Natal]], where he got two sons, Ndilo and Mvelase, also known as Qudeni. He founded the tribe known as Abathembu BakwaMvelase. Ndilo left and died in a place known as Msana in the [[Eastern Cape]]. Ndilo's sons were Ntongakazi (dumakazi), Bhomoyi, Mncotshe, Mdlane, Qoma, and Jali. The houses of Mdlane and Jali, Qoma, and Mncotshe were unimportant because their mothers were commoners. The only houses that were respected were the houses of Bhomoyi and Ntongakazi, also known as Dumakazi; both their mothers came from Royal houses.,

Bhomoyi left Msana for [[Lesotho]] to a place known as [[Qacha's Nek]], he got into a battle with the [[Basotho people|Basothos]] and won his newfound land when Bhomoyi confiscated land Basotho came to ask him to leave so that they could continue to farm on their land Bhomoyi replied (Andizuhamba de ndizobe ndibhentselwa zintombi zabesotho), meaning  I won't leave until I'm awarded young Basotho women,{{clarify|date=March 2025}} the messenger went back to the Basotho King and returned with fifteen Basotho women, this is where Isiduko Zabathembu got the phrase (''VelaBembhentsele''). Bhomoyi begot Ceduma, who begot Mguti, who begot Mngxongo and a daughter named Khazeka, whose mother came from the [[Mpondo]] royal family, and who begot Ntoyi in the right-hand house, whose mother was a commoner.

Khazeka is one of the two woman names mentioned in the history of AbaThembu because of their fearlessness and victories in unifying and stabilizing the Kingdom. Amagorhakazi esizwe saBathembu.

One day, Mtshutshumbe's section of [[Xesibe|AmaXesibe]] had to pass by the land of AbaThembu to reach [[Gcaleka|AmaGcaleka]]. But because AbaThembu namaXesibe had some history, Mtshutshumbe decided to hide his Xesibe identity by calling his people AmaQwathi, named after a cow used at his graduation from initiation school.

After arriving, they presented a cattle tribute to Mnguti in exchange for land, which they got from eNgcobo. Mguti then told his son Mngxongo to confiscate their land, and when he had done so, amaQwathi gave him cattle that were all black, which is preserved in iziduko zamaNgxongo Ntsundu (these were the cattle's colors).

It then happened that Mngxongo didn't return, and his father, Mguti, got lost searching for him to crown him the next King. He drowned with his dogs in the Qethume River.

Mngxongo's heir was Mphosesebeni, but the royal family refused his place on the throne. To this day, when Mguti and Mngxongo's names are mentioned, it gets awkward ebaThenjini because the rightful king was overlooked.

Mphosesebeni's uncle, Ntoyi, who had usurped the royal throne, begot Ntande and Zima. When Ntoyi passed on, Zima succeeded him as regent for the young Ntande. This is when amaTola arrived, led by Mkhume and his brother. They are the ones who introduced the use of spears to abaThembu.

Ntande took over the reins after Zima's death, and he begot Ngxeko, Maya, and the twins Qithi and Cube. During the 16th century, Ngxeko led the migration from Dedesi to Msana in the [[Mthatha|Mthatha district]].

Ngxeko was the first legitimate king of abaThembu because he assimilated various fragments from tribes such as [[Bomvana|amaBomvana]], amaVundle, [[amaMpondomise]], and [[mfengu|amaMfengu]] to build his kingdom. Nxekwa begot Hlanga by a [[Mpondo]] woman of the Mqiha clan, Dlomo, the eldest from another wife, and twins Balisa and Ndungwana, from a third wife.

All these women had not been classified into different ranks from major to minor. But it was clear that Hlanga, whose mother was a princess, would most likely be the royal successor.

At that time, AmaMfene asked to be incorporated into the Thembu nation. They were duly received, and Ndungwana was instructed to allocate sites to them.

Ndungwana never returned from his mission; instead, he remained with the strangers, enjoying all the respect accorded him, and he installed himself as their Nkosi.

Whenever Dlomo slaughtered a cow, he sent the inxaxheba (the right hindquarter) to Ndungwana, his junior. Then Hlanga would also send his nxaxheba to his junior Balisa, a popular costume displaying royal authority.

One day, cows were slaughtered in the homes of Dlomo and Hlanga. Dlomo decided to share meat with Welangaye, a maiden from the Mpemvu clan. She burst out in praise of how Dlomo had basically installed himself as King and left, shedding tears of joy.

Before the British conquest in the 19th century, the Thembu had an independent [[monarchy|kingdom]]. The [[Xhosa clan name]] of the Thembu kings is Ntlazi aNkosiyane.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AbaThembu|url=https://iziduko.wordpress.com/tag/abathembu/|last=mxhosa|website=Iziduko|date=26 April 2013 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=March 2021}} Recent kings, Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo, including [[Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo]], took the surname Dalindyebo after a 19th-century king.

After the conquest, the Thembu came under the government of the [[Cape Colony]] as part of [[Transkei]]. Except for a few missionaries and traders, Transkei was a [[Bantustan]]. The [[Transkei]] remained a Bantustan under [[apartheid]] and was regarded, along with [[Ciskei]], as the homeland of the Xhosa people.

==Great House==
The great house of AbaThembu is called Eastern Thembu at Bumbane Great Palace and is situated in Mthata, Eastern Cape.

The right-hand house is called Western Thembu at Qamata Great Palace and is situated in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape.

The Western Thembus' house enjoyed autonomy for decades and was often referred to as the right-hand house, while the Eastern Thembus' house was referred to as the great house.

King [[Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo]], son of King Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo, became the King of the AbaThembu Nation in May 1989; his praise name is Aa! Zwelibanzi!.

==The invasion of Thembuland==

When King [[Moshoeshoe I]] of Basotho invaded [[Thembuland]] for more cattle, he went along with his younger brother Magabane and Morosi, his great friend and the king of BaPhuthi. Moshoeshoe then instructed Magabane to raid for cattle at Ngubengcuka’s royal estate, while he and Morosi relaxed on a mountain near Ngcobo. When Magabane returned with some cattle, Ngubengcuka's regiments gave him a tough time, but they failed to stop him.<ref name="D.P">{{cite journal |first1=Dlamini |last1=Patrick |title=Invasion of Thembuland |journal=Document of AbaThembu |date=2024 |url=https://kingngubengcuka.blogspot.com/2024/09/according-to-mpondomise-counselor-vethe.html}}</ref>

The AbaThembu gradually built their regiments as more and more warriors responding to the war drum kept joining them. They attacked the Basotho repeatedly but were repulsed every time. Just as Magabane was about to ascend eLuhewini mountain with the cattle, a joint army of AmaHala and AmaQwathi arrived and Basotho with their small axes, reaping havoc on the enemy's limbs. Still, they were thrown into confusion as AbaThembu attacked from behind.<ref name="M.PH">{{cite journal |first1=Mqwathi |last1=Phumi |title=Basotho and Thembu |journal=Analysis |date=2024 |url=https://kingngubengcuka.blogspot.com/2024/09/according-to-mpondomise-counselor-vethe.html}}</ref>

After some time, the [[Basotho]] gave in and sought refuge in a forest. Ngubengcuka instructed his army to completely expel Basotho from his Kingdom, but one of the men informed him that they had run out of weapons. Ngubengcuka then told them to get wood from the forest and make clubs. At once, the orders of the King were carried out, the Basotho were driven out of the forest with sticks and clubs, and Magabane was critically injured and later died as a result of his wounds.<ref name="K.L">{{cite journal |first1=Kaizer |last1=Lukolo |title=The great Kingdom |journal=AbaThembu is an Independent Tribe |url=https://kingngubengcuka.blogspot.com/2024/09/according-to-mpondomise-counselor-vethe.html}}</ref>

When the fight reached Moshoeshoe, he put up no resistance and joined the flight into a nearby forest, which Ngubengcuka ordered his men to surround at once. Evening soon approached, and the AbaThembu could not drive the Basotho out of the forest because of the darkness. By the following morning, there was not a single Mosotho in the forest, as they had all escaped in that way. Moshoeshoe was defeated by [[Ngubengcuka|King Ngubengcuka]].<ref name="W.T">{{cite journal |first1=Williams |last1=Thandeka |title=Thembu's in South Africa. |journal=Nguni |url=https://kingngubengcuka.blogspot.com/2024/09/according-to-mpondomise-counselor-vethe.html}}</ref>

The forest was renamed Nduku, meaning (stick to commemorate how they were used to drive out Basotho who nearly perished in Thembuland). At the time when everything was under control in King Ngubengcuka’s country, no nation dared to touch him, and his power was accepted and recognized by all.<ref name="P.Z">{{cite journal |first1=Plaatjie |last1=Zandile |title=ZabaThembu |journal=The Conflict Between Thembu and Basotho |url=https://kingngubengcuka.blogspot.com/2024/09/according-to-mpondomise-counselor-vethe.html}}</ref>

== King ==
[[Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo]], son of [[Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo]], became the Thembu king in May 1989; his [[Isibongo|praise name]] is ''Zwelibanzi''. Sabata deposed [[Kaiser Matanzima]], whom the government had installed and who advocated against South African liberation movements. In December 2009, King Buyelekhaya was convicted of offenses including [[culpable homicide]], [[kidnapping]], [[arson]] and [[assault]]. In response, he proposed secession from South Africa,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Troubled monarch sentenced to 15 years |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/troubled-monarch-sentenced-to-15-years-466849 |access-date=2021-10-21 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Convicted king plans independent state |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/convicted-king-plans-independent-state-468539 |access-date=2021-10-21 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}}</ref> and later demanded that the government pay Dalindyebo [[South African rand|R]]900&nbsp;million and the tribe a further R80&nbsp;billion in compensation for the humiliation caused by his criminal trial.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120910205654/http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/d73b673c21fd43a8a35f7fbcd88b487c/06-01-2010-06-02/Tribe_suspends_secession_plans Tribe suspends secession plans] ''News24''</ref>

Dalindyebo was imprisoned in December 2015. He was also dethroned and was expected to be administratively dethroned.<ref>
Compare: {{cite web 
| url= http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2016/01/01/Intrigue-in-the-royal-household-as-King%C2%A0Buyelekhaya-Dalindyebo-sits-in-jail 
| title= Intrigue in the royal household as King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo sits in jail 
| publisher= Times Live | date= 1 January 2016 | access-date = 2016-11-01
| quote = In terms of laws governing traditional authorities, he also had to be administratively dethroned. This involved President Jacob Zuma withdrawing the certificate that recognized him as a king and cutting off the benefits that went with his status. [...] Mtirara said Zuma gave Dalindyebo a chance to say something when the certificate was about to be withdrawn, but he chose to go to court instead. This meant the matter of withdrawing the king's certificate still had to be dealt with.
}}
</ref>

Prince Azenathi Dalindyebo, Buyelekhaya's heir, served as the [[Prince regent|acting king]] of the tribe while Dalindyebo was in prison.

On 23 December 2019, following President [[Cyril Ramaphosa]]'s [[Day of Reconciliation]] speech, the abaThembu king was released from prison after serving one-third of his sentence.

Following his release from prison, an imbizo was called to remove Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo from the throne permanently. The king declared the imbizo to be invalid, and reportedly assaulted the regent and his wife with an ax.<ref name="AM">{{cite web|last = Ngcukana|first = Lubabalo|title = King Dalindyebo arrested after causing chaos at the Great Place| publisher = [[News24 (website)|News24]]| url = https://city-press.news24.com/News/king-dalindyebo-arrested-after-causing-chaos-at-the-great-place-this-morning-20200313| accessdate = March 13, 2020}}</ref>

Eastern Cape premier [[Oscar Mabuyane]] intervened, restoring Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo to the throne.<ref name='n24_dethrone'>{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Muhammad |title=AbaThembu royals call for Dalindyebo to be dethroned after Israel visit, Gaza comments |url=https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/abathembu-royals-call-for-dalindyebo-to-be-dethroned-after-israel-visit-gaza-comments-20251211-1128 |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Thembu Kingship line==

{{tree chart/start|align=center}}
{{tree chart|||||||Mthembu||||||Mthembu=Mthembu}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ndilo||||||Ndilo=Ndilo}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart| |,|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart| Qoma | | | | |!|||||||| Mdlane | | | ||||||||||| Jali ||||| Mncotshe |||||||Qoma=Qoma (AmaQoma) Sigqu,<br/>Qomukuyitya, Mvand'inyama, Nyoyela|Mdlane=Mdlane (AmaMdlane) Tutuse,<br/>Nomdimba, Qandashe, Mbhomboyi|||Jali=Jali (ooJali) Juta,<br/> Mbhomoyi, Nxeko, Ngciva ||| Mncotshe=Mncotshe (AmaNcotshe) Ndala, Momamana, Msunu, Ngxunga, Thole}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ntongakazi||||||Ntongakazi=Ntongakazi}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Bhomoyi||||||Bhomoyi=Bhomoyi}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ceduma||||||Ceduma=Ceduma}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Zima||||||Zima=Zima}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Mnguti||||||Mnguti=Mnguti
 | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ngxongo||||||Ngxongo=Ngxongo}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ntoyi||||||Ntoyi=Ntoyi }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ntande||||||Ntande=Ntande}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Nxeko||||||Nxeko=Nxeko}}
{{tree chart| |,|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | || | | || | | |}}
{{tree chart| Ndungwane | | | | Dlomo | | | | | Hlanga | | |Ndungwane=Ndungwane (AmaNdungwane)|||Dlomo=Dlomo||Hlanga=Hlanga (AmaQhayi)}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Hala||||||Hala=Hala}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Madiba||||||Madiba=Madiba}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Tato||||||Tato=Tato}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Zondwa||||||Zondwa=Zondwa (Zondwazintshaba) (he never became a King because he died before his father)}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ndaba||||||Ndaba=Ndaba (Ndabenyamazana)}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ngubengcuka||||||Ngubengcuka=1800 -10 August 1830 Vusani [[Ngubengcuka]] Aa! Vusani!
}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | |,|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Mthikrakra||||||||||||||||||||||||||||Mandela||Mthikrakra=Mthikrakra||Mandela=[[Mandela family|Mandela]] ([[Tribal chief|chief]])}}
{{tree chart| || | | | |,|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.|| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Ngangelizwe|||||||Matanzima|||||||||||||||||||Gadla|||Ngangelizwe=Ngangelizwe (Qheya)||Matanzima=Matanzima||Gadla=Henry Gadla Mphakanyiswa Mandela<br>Aa! Gadla!}}
{{tree chart| || | | | ||! | | | | | | | ||!||||||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | ! | |}}
{{tree chart|||||||Dalindyebo|||||||Mvuzo|||||||||||||||||||Nelson Rolihlahla||Dalindyebo=Dalindyebo (Alava)||Mvuzo=Mvuzo||Nelson Rolihlahla=[[Nelson Mandela|Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela]]<br>Aa! Dalibhunga!}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | |||||||||,|-|^|-|.|}}
{{tree chart|||||||Sampu Dalindyebo|||||||Sihlobo|||||||||||||||||Thembekile Mandela||Makgatho Mandela||Sampu Dalindyebo=Sampu Dalindyebo
Aa! Jongilizwe!||Sihlobo=Sihlobo||Thembekile Mandela=[[Thembekile Mandela|Madiba "Thembi" Thembekile Mandela]] [1945–1969]||Makgatho Mandela=[[Makgatho Mandela]] [1950–2005]}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | || | | | | | | | | | | | |||||!|}}
{{tree chart|||||||Sabata Dalindyebo|||||Kaiser Matanzima||George Matanzima|||||||||||||||||||Mandla Mandela||Sabata Dalindyebo=[[Sabata Dalindyebo]] Aa! Jonguhlanga!||Kaiser Matanzima=[[Kaiser Matanzima]]<br>Aa! Daliwonga!||George Matanzima=[[George Matanzima]] Aa! Mzimvubu!||Mandla Mandela=[[Mandla Mandela]]<br>Aa! Zwelivelile!}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | |!| |||||,|^|-|-|-|.| | | || | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||}}
{{tree chart|||||||Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo|||||Mthethuvumile Matanzima||Siyambonga Dalimvula Matanzima||Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo=May 1989 -  [[Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo]] Aa! Zwelibanzi!||Mthethuvumile Matanzima=Mthethuvumile Matanzima!||Siyambonga Dalimvula Matanzima=Siyambonga Dalimvula Matanzima<br>Aa! Dalimvula!}}
{{tree chart| || | | | | || | | | |  | |! | | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart||||||||||||||Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima||||Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima=[[Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima]] Aa! Zwelenkosi!}}
{{tree chart/end}}

==See also==
*[[Dalindyebo]]
*[[Matanzima]]
*[[Xhosa clan names]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Citation |type=manuscript |title=Who are abaThembu and Where Do They Come From? |last=Sihele |first=E. G. |translator-last=Tisani |translator-first=N. C. |url=https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/corylibrary/documents/MS18534.pdf |access-date=2023-09-12 |via=Rhodes University}}
*[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/South_Africa_Bantu.html Royal lineage] at worldstatesmen.org

{{Ethnic groups in South Africa}}

{{authority control}}

<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Nguni]]
[[Category:Xhosa]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Africa]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Lesotho]]
[[Category:Indigenous peoples of Southern Africa]]