Usibepu

UZibhebhu kaMaphitha (1841 - 1904) was a Zulu chief 1883-1884; son of Cetshwayo.

Zibhebhu was a son of Maphita, son of Sojiyisa. He was one of the 13 'kinglets' allocated land in the aftermath of the Anglo-Zulu War, and vied for the royal succession with another of Cetshwayo's sons, Dinuzulu. The British, seeing the futility of the division of Zululand, determined to restore Cetshwayo as the ultimate chief. However, they left Usibepu alone and his lands intact.

Both UZibhebhu and Dinuzulu befriended Boer mercenaries to help them in their claims. On the 22 July 1883, led by a troop of mounted white mercenaries, Usibepu made a sudden descent upon Cetshwayo's kraal at Ulundi, which he destroyed. All Usibepu's men wore a piece of tiger skin round their heads as a distinguishing mark. Cetshwayo escaped, though wounded, into Nkandla forest. After repeated pleas from the Resident Commissioner, Sir Melmoth Osborn, the king moved to Eshowe, where he died a few months later, possibly by poisoning.

Dinuzulu was left to fight for the succession, and with the help of General Louis Botha and Dinuzulu's Volunteers defeated UZibhebhu and his army at the Battle of Ghost Mountain (also known as the Battle of Tshaneni).

Skulls were so numerous at the site of the battle that they were used as road edge markers years later.Fact|date=February 2007

Zibhebhu (Usibepu) and Eckersley, a white trader, escaped by climbing the Lubombo mountain. In September 1884 Zibhebhu guided the remnant of the Mandlakazi, about 6000 people, into the Reserve; an area set aside for Zulu not loyal to the Zulu royal house. [The Destruction of the Zulu Kingdom
Jeff Guy
University Of Natal Press; 1994] .

References