Posted on August 6, 2012
ILanga Newspaper: 'Who is Malandela's heir, again?'
Ilanga newspaper, one of the two leading KZN based newspapers, published in isiZulu in KwaZulu Natal recently published a full page article where Dr Themba Khathi covers the history of the Zulu Nation from its origins in the Great Lakes. Khathi starts his research from Luzumane who then fathered Malandela, who fathered Zulu and Qwabe. Khathi mentions Zulu as having been the heir to Malandela thus contradicting all other documented information that both the Zulu Royal House and Ubumbano lwamaQwabe have in their possession.
Mr I. M. Gumede, chairperson of Ubumbano lwamaQwabe, was shocked by this information and was therefore quick to dispute its truthfulness. He also expressed his shock and concern that a Newspaper as reputable as Ilanga would publish such an article without having consulted either with them and or the Zulu Royal House to verify their facts. He then provided me with documents used by Ubumbano to ascertain their findings and none of them agreed with Khathi. These are the very same documents that they had been given at the Zulu Royal House. They include a speech by Prince Gideon Zulu, which he wrote with information sourced from his elderly advisers and some of the Royal House's archived documents.
In the speech Zulu states, "uQwabe wayeyindlalifa kaMalandela owayengumfowabo kaQwabe (uZulu) wagcina eseyingonyama ngoba abantu bengagculisekile ngoQwabe yize wayeyindlalifa kaMalandela. Kodwa uQwabe waqhubeka nokubusa isizwe okwagicna ngokuthi sibizwe ngaye kwathiwa ngesakwaQwabe". ("Qwabe was the heir of Malandela, his brother (Zulu) ended up being the King because the people were not happy with Qwabe even though he was the heir of Malandela. Nevertheless, Qwabe continued reigning which ended up with the nation being referred to as the Qwabe nation").
Mr Gumede explained that they as Qwabe's descendants are offended by what is implied in this article. They are mostly concerned about this article being published in a newspaper whose aim has always been to educate, empower and mobilize the Nguni nation by distributing news and information that has always been beneficial in the many facets of their identity. His reaction to this article was also somewhat bittersweet. He stated that they had approached the newspaper back in the days of the establishment of the organization (Ubumbano lwamaQwabe) seeking assistance in reaching masses about their vision of correcting the history of the Ngunis. The then editor-in-chief had made it clear that they were not willing to associate themselves with such a movement in fear they were going to publicize information that could potentially inspire conflict over identity in the public.
Gumede pointed out that it was during the preparation phase of my latest research-based theatre production called 'uZulu noQwabe', after the issue of our press statement, that for the first time members of Ubumbano LwamaQwabe started noticing articles in this newspaper covering issues around Nguni identity.
One such article was written by Mabusi Kwgete and published on the 26th of March 2012 under the titled column: 'Awungisho Wethu; AbakwaQwabe'. In this article Kgwete surfaces the origins of the Qwabe people with her findings, affirming that Qwabe was indeed the heir of Malandela and Zulu was one his younger brothers. Unfortunately, Kgwete, like Khathi, does not mention her sources. While the chair of Ubumbano is indeed excited by the increased interest of Ilanga and their contributors in issues of Nguni identity, the contradicting statements on who Qwabe is published by the same newspaper in a space of less than four months raises concern. ILanga is a powerful newspaper with a readership of millions who might assume what is published to be true. Ubumbano is planning on writing to the editor to express their concerns and to request that what they perceive to be errors be corrected accordingly. Part of Gumede's concern about these articles also involves the fact that these articles are presented as the writers' very own knowledge. They make no mention of how the writers gathered this knowledge and or information for one to be able to verify it if not contest against their sources. Is this not plagiarism? We are also concerned that someone whose educational credentials are as high as Dr Khathi's can make such a mistake with the editor of the newspaper passing the publication of the article, says Gumede.
We are going to follow up on Ubumbano's quest to correcting this mistake and report back on how ILanga responds to their request.
King Goodwill - 'Mnguni'
It is not all dark and gloomy on ILanga as far as Ubumbano LwamaQwabe is concerned. On King Zwelithini's birthday, 27 July 2012, ILanga also served as a platform where different organizations sent their wishes to the King in many celebratory ways. ILanga gave this moment of celebration front-page coverage, publishin a message with a caption 'Khula Mnguni Omnyama'. They also wrote on the King celebrating his birthday and showed a picture of the King enjoying his birthday cake, which also hailed him as 'Mnguni'. This then comes as exciting news to uBumbano LwamaQwabe as they feel that saluting the King as 'Mnguni' is indeed an acknowledgement of him being a descendant of Nguni blood. This, the Qwabe feel, is a very positive move in the newspaper's understanding of the correct Nguni history. Could this perhaps be taken as a positive sign of the newspaper perhaps having understood the intentions of Ubumbano LwamaQwabe? Could it have been the resonance of our work 'uZulu noQwabe' that inspired this? Or Is our Newspaper simply getting bolder in fostering our acknowledgement of our true history and identity? Whatever the response is, I join hands with Ubumbano LwamaQwabe in applauding our ILanga Newspaper on a positive step in the right direction. Here's to wishing our King, Isilo Samabandla, UNdabezitha, uBayede, a happy belated birthday; 'Ukhule uze ukhokhobe Mnguni!'.
References.
1. Mntwama GL Zulu, 2003 April 24
2. The Daily Sun; Biyela K & Jele M, 'Give us piece of the action!', 2012 July 2 (page 4).
3. ILanga; Khathi Themba (Dr); 'Isizwe sakwaZulu sakhiwe ngokuhlonipha nobuqhawe', 2012 July 9-11 (page 9)
4. Ilanga: Kgwete Mabusi; 'Awungisho Wethu; AbakwaQwabe.' 2012 March 26, page 8.
5. A series of telephonic and one on one interviews with Mr. I.M. Gumede; 2010-2012
6. Telephonic interview with Mr. Zazi Gumede; August 1, 2012.
7. Telephonic interview with Prince Mbonisi Zulu; August 1, 2012.
See uZulu noQwabe': a trending debacle in KZN Newspapers? Part One
Musa Hlatshwayo is a choreographer, performer and an Archival Platform correspondent.
