Lobengula

Lobengula was a king.

He led the Ndebele people. His people used large shields. They were called the men of long shields.

Many warriors came to his crowning. They wore feathers and animal skins. They also wore rings of metal.

They used long spears too.

Later, some men came to his land. They wanted to dig for gold. Lobengula signed a paper to help them. But the paper was not fair to his people.

He tried to talk to the Queen. He wanted to fix the problem. But he could not change the deal. This was a very hard time.

Lobengula died many years ago. His people remember him today.

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Lobengula was the last king of the Ndebele people.

His people lived in a place called Matabeleland. The name Ndebele means "the men of the long shields." This refers to the large shields the warriors used.

When Lobengula became king, many people came to his crowning.

About 10,000 warriors attended. They wore capes made of black feathers. They also wore leopard skins and metal rings. They carried long spears and ox-hide shields.

Later, men from Britain came to his land. They wanted to dig for gold and minerals. Lobengula signed a deal called the Rudd Concession. He thought the deal would help his people. However, the contract was not fair. Lobengula did not know the full truth of the paper. He tried to talk to Queen Victoria to fix it. But the Queen's side would not change the deal. This led to the First Matabele War in 1893. The war was very hard for the Ndebele. Lobengula died in early 1894.

His death was kept a secret for many months.

Lobengula was the second and last official king of the Ndebele people.

His people lived in a land called Mthwakazi, or Matabeleland. The name Ndebele means "the men of the long shields." This name comes from the large shields their warriors used. The Ndebele people were descendants of the Zulu people. Their first king was a man named Mzilikazi. He led his followers away from Zulu territory long ago. Mzilikazi built strong military towns to protect his people. One large town was named Kungwini. This town sat near the Wonderboom Mountains.

Lobengula became king after Mzilikazi died in 1868. Some leaders first tried to give the crown to others. However, Lobengula showed great courage during a battle with rebels. This led to him being chosen as the king.

His crowning was a very large event. About 10,000 warriors attended the ceremony in full costume. They wore capes made of black ostrich feathers. They also wore leopard skins and metal rings. The warriors carried long spears and large ox-hide shields. These shields could be black, white, red, or speckled.

As king, Lobengula ruled a very organized nation. The Ndebele army had about 15,000 men. These men were split into 40 different regiments. The army was based around his capital, Bulawayo. Every able-bodied man in the tribe had to serve. This tight discipline helped the Ndebele stay strong. The people followed strict rules to keep order. They had specific duties to help their whole society. This way of living helped them lead their neighbors.

Later, men from Britain came to his land. They wanted to search for gold and minerals. In 1888, a group of British men met with him. They wanted a deal to dig in his territory. Lobengula signed a paper called the Rudd Concession in 1888.

He thought the deal would bring money and weapons. He did not know the contract was actually very damaging. He was not able to read the papers himself. He tried to talk to Queen Victoria about it. He sent messengers to her in 1889. The Queen's advisors said they could not stop white men from coming.

Conflict grew between the Ndebele and the British. The First Matabele War began in October 1893. The British had a very large military force. This led to many losses for the Ndebele warriors. One famous fight was the Battle of the Shangani.

Lobengula became very sick during this time. He died sometime in early 1894. His death was kept a secret for many months. People were not sure exactly how he died. By 1897, many white colonists lived in the area. This land later became known as Rhodesia.

Lobengula Khumalo was the second and final official king of the Ndebele people.

His nation was known as Mthwakazi, which is often called Matabeleland in English. The name Ndebele translates to "the men of the long shields." This refers to the large Nguni shields used by their warriors. The Ndebele people were descendants of a faction of the Zulu people. They had moved away from the Transvaal area in South Africa. This movement happened after their leader, Mzilikazi, left Zulu territory following a disagreement with Shaka. Mzilikazi was a powerful leader who built several military strongholds. One large stronghold was Kungwini, located near the Wonderboom Mountains. Another was Dinaneni, which was north of the Hartbeespoort Dam. A third was Hlahlandlela in the territory of the Fokeng.

The Ndebele nation was built on a system of strict discipline. Every member of the tribe had specific duties and responsibilities. This social hierarchy helped the Ndebele dominate their neighbors. Members of the tribe held privileged positions compared to outsiders. However, they had to follow very strict rules to maintain this status. If anyone broke their social responsibilities, they could be punished with death. This loyalty and order were the secrets to their success. When Mzilikazi died in 1868, the chiefs, known as izinduna, chose Lobengula to be the next king. Although some regiments led by Chief Mbiko Masuku disputed his right to rule, Lobengula won a battle against the rebels. His courage in this fight led to his unanimous selection as king.

The coronation of Lobengula was a massive and colorful event.

About 10,000 Matabele warriors attended the ceremony in full war costume. They wore headdresses and short capes made of black ostrich feathers. Their kilts were made of leopard skins and decorated with white cattle tails. They also wore brass rings around their ankles. The warriors carried long throwing spears and short stabbing spears called assegai. They used large oval shields made of ox-hide for defense. These shields were colored black, white, red, or speckled to show which regiment, or impi, the warrior belonged to. During the ceremony, the people performed a war dance and offered meat to Mlimo, the spiritual leader. They also drank large amounts of millet beer to celebrate.

As king, Lobengula managed a highly organized military force. The Ndebele army consisted of 15,000 men organized into 40 different regiments. This army was based around the capital city of Bulawayo. Every able-bodied man in the tribe was required to provide military service. This structure allowed the Ndebele to maintain a strong position in the region. However, changes began to arrive when British interests moved into the area. In 1870, Lobengula had already granted a mining company the right to search for gold near the Tati River. This was known as the Tati Concession. By 1888, a new British team arrived to ask for more mining rights. This team included men named Francis Thompson, Charles Rudd, and Rochfort Maguire.

Lobengula was wary of these new negotiations. He eventually agreed to a deal after meeting Leander Starr Jameson. Jameson was a medical doctor who had treated Lobengula for gout. Jameson promised that the Ndebele would receive money and weapons. He also promised that any miners would be considered guests in the kingdom. The British insisted that neither the Portuguese nor the Boers could settle there. Lobengula signed the 25-year Rudd Concession on October 30, 1888. However, Lobengula could not read the document. He did not realize how much the contract would damage his country. He only learned the true terms after his subjects discovered them.

After discovering the truth, Lobengula tried to seek help. He sent emissaries to Queen Victoria to protest the contract. He also spoke with English missionaries. In April 1889, he sent a formal protest to the Queen. Unfortunately, his messengers were delayed at the port by associates of Alfred Beit. When the Queen's advisor responded, he said it was impossible to exclude white men. Lobengula and his indunas felt they had been tricked. This tension led to the First Matabele War in October 1893. The British South Africa Company used an overwhelming military force against the Ndebele. The warriors suffered devastating losses, especially during the Battle of the Shangani.

Following the war, Lobengula's health declined. He was reported to be very sick in December 1893. He died sometime in early 1894, though his death was kept secret for months. The exact cause of his death is still uncertain. After his death, white colonists settled in much of the territory. This area eventually became known as Rhodesia. Lobengula left behind a large family, including over 20 wives. His sons, such as Njube, were sent to South Africa for education. Njube's sons, Albert and Rhodes, later became founders of a football club in Bulawayo. The era of the Ndebele kings ended with Lobengula's reign.