AmaNqolo Community

This book depicts the culture, history and dialect of a little known clan called the AmaNqolo. The term ‘little known’ is perhaps an overstatement; rather, this clan is not known and recognised at government level.

This book aims to resuscitate the culture and dialect of the clan. There is written evidence that the dialect of this clan was in existence by the year 1592, in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal and in parts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is common practice, even today, to erroneously classify the clan’s people of the AmaNqolo as either Zulu or Bhaca c*m Xhosa, depending on the area they live in i.e. whether north or south of the Mzimkhulu river.

There is also pictorial evidence obtained from the Wereldculteren Museum (Africa) of the University of Leiden, Netherlands, showing the clan celebrating their first harvest (ingcubhe) at Nyanisweni village with their Chief, Sigengane kaMagaqa. Nyanisweni village lies south-west of Mzimkhulu town in the midlands of Kwazulu-Natal.

Readers of this book will also learn of the role that was played by the successive leaders of the clan in the history of Nqololand (aka East Griqualand). These leaders also played a crucial role during the Gun War, when they led a force of 3500 warriors to victory. There was also the Battle of Nsikeni Forest, which negatively affected the royalty of the AmaNqolo and the neighbouring communities.

The author was born in the area and grew up amongst the clan elders who told him stories about the clan. These elders encouraged the author to keep a record of the stories about the culture and dialect of the clan, perhaps even to write a book about them. This is the book.