- Dingane kaSenzangakhona
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Dingane kaSenzangakhona 
Dingane in ordinary and dancing dressBorn 1795 Died 1840 (aged 44–45) Cause of death Died in Battle Residence Southern Africa Other names Dingaan Ethnicity Zulu Title King Predecessor Shaka Successor Mpande Religion Zulu Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu (ca. 1795-1840)—commonly referred to as Dingane or Dingaan—was a Zulu chief who became king of the Zulu Kingdom in 1828[1]. He set up his royal capital UmGungundlovu, and one of numerous military encampments or kraals, in the Emakhosini valley just south of the White Umfolozi River on the slope of Lion Hill (Singonyama).
Contents
Rise to power
Dingane came to power in 1828 after assassinating his half-brother Shaka with the help of another brother, Umhlangana, as well as Mbopa, Shaka's advisor. They were traditionally said to have killed Shaka because of his increase in brutal behavior after the death of his mother Nandi. The assassination took place at present-day Stanger.
Royal enclosure (isigodlo) at UmGungundlovu
Dingane's KraalLocation of Dingane's kraal, UmGungundlovu, within South Africa
Dingane orders the killing of Piet Retief's party of Voortrekkers (portraying their deaths in the kraal; in fact they were killed on the execution hill)
Dingane orders the killing of Piet Retief's party of Voortrekkers (portraying their deaths in the kraal; in fact they were killed on the execution hill) (detail)Dingane built his capital city of UmGungundlovu in 1829 and enlarged it five years later. UmGungundlovu was built according to the characteristic layout of a Zulu military settlement (singular: ikhanda, plural: amakhanda). The ikhanda consisted of a large, central circular parade ground (isibaya esikhulu), surrounded by warriors' barracks (uhlangoti) and storage huts for their shields.[2] The isibaya was entered from the north.
The royal enclosure (isigodlo) was situated on the southern side of the complex, directly opposite the main entrance. The king, his mistresses and female attendants (Dingane never married officially), a total of at least 500 people, resided here. The women were divided into two groups, namely the black isigodlo and the white isigodlo. The black isigodlo comprised about 100 privileged women, and within that group another elite called the bheje, a smaller number of girls, favoured by the king as his mistresses. A small settlement was built for them behind the main complex where they could enjoy some privacy. The remainder of the king's women were called the white isigodlo. These consisted mainly of girls presented to the king by his important subjects. He also selected other girls at the annual First fruit ceremony (umkhosi).
A huge half-moon shaped area was included in the black isigodlo; here the women and the king sang and danced. The huts in the black isigodlo were divided into compartments of about three huts each, enclosed by a two-metre-high hedge of intertwined withes, which created a network of passages.[3]
The king's private hut (ilawu) was located in one such triangular compartment and had three or four entrances.[3] His hut was very large and was kept very neat by attendants; it could easily accommodate 50 people. Modern archaeological excavations have revealed that the floor of this large hut was approximately 10 metres in diameter. Archaeologists found evidence inside the hut of 22 large supporting posts completely covered in glass beads.[2] These had been noted in historical accounts by Piet Retief, leader of the Voortrekkers, and the British missionaries Champion and Owen.
On the south side, just behind the main complex, were three separate enclosed groups of huts. The centre group was used by the uBheje women of the black isigodlo. In this area, they initiated chosen young girls into the service of the king.
Challenges of European advance
Some modern historians have assessed Dingane as the king responsible for the decline of the Zulu military superiority in southern Africa. He was a popular leader among the people and came into power at a challenging time. The fall of the Zulu kingdom to the European colonists might have occurred even under Shaka's rule. Numerous ethnic European colonists were entering the area from the Cape Colony, and they possessed guns and weaponry far superior to the Zulu spear.
Rebellion
Dingane lacked Shaka's military and leadership skills; rebel chiefs broke away from his rule. Their dissension was exacerbated by armed conflict with the newly arrived Voortrekkers.
Conflict with Voortrekkers
In November 1837 Dingane met with Piet Retief, leader of the Voortrekkers. In return for their recovering some stolen cattle, Dingane signed a deed of cession of lands (written in English) to the Voortrekkers.[4] After two days of feasting, on 6 February 1838, the chief had Retief and his diplomatic party killed.[5] At the same time, Dingane's forces ambushed and killed Retief's trek party, about 500 Boers, including men, women and children. The Boers called this the Weenen massacre. The nearby present-day town of Weenen (Dutch for "weeping") was named by early settlers in memory of the massacre.
Dingane ordered his army also to seek and kill the group of Voortrekkers under Andries Pretorius. The Zulu impis attacked the Voortrekker encampment, but they were crushingly defeated in the ensuing Battle of Blood River. An estimated 3000 Zulus were killed, while three Voortrekkers were slightly wounded. Dingane's commander at the battle was Ndlela kaSompisi.
Overthrow and death
In January 1840, Pretorius and a force of 400 burghers (Dutch for "citizens") helped Mpande in his revolt against Dingane, which resulted in the latter's overthrow and death. Zulu Nyawo, Sambane and Nondawana assassinated Dingane in Hlatikhulu Forest while on a military expedition. He was succeeded by Mpande as king, who was half-brother to both Dingane and Shaka. His grave is in the middle of Tembe elephant park.
King of the Zulu Nation Preceded by:
ShakaReign
1828-1840Succeeded by:
MpandeLiterary accounts
Sir Henry Rider Haggard's novels Nada the Lily and Marie include versions of some events in Dingane's life.
References
- ^ Felix N.C Okoye, [ "Dingane: A Reappraisal"], Cambridge University Press , 1969. Retrieved 2011/03/17.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Peter (2002). The Archaeology of southern Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 373–375. ISBN 0521633893.
- ^ a b Laband, John (1995). Rope of sand : the rise and fall of the Zulu Kingdom in the nineteenth century. Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball. pp. 66. ISBN 186842023X.
- ^ Bird, John (1965). [ANNALS OF NATAL, 1495 TO 1845 ANNALS OF NATAL, 1495 TO 1845]. 1. Cape Town: STRUIK. ANNALS OF NATAL, 1495 TO 1845. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ Jenkinson, Thomas B. (1884). Amazulu: The Zulus, Their Past History, Manners, Customs, and Language. W.H. Allen. pp. 123 (n139). http://www.archive.org/details/amazuluzulusthe02jenkgoog. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- EA Mare - South African Journal of Art History, 2009 - repository.up.ac.za
External links
Categories:- 1795 births
- 1840 deaths
- 1828 crimes
- 1840 crimes
- Zulu kings
- South African assassins
- Regicides
- 19th-century African people
- Murdered monarchs
- Assassinated South African people
- History of KwaZulu-Natal
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