Queen Nandi ka Bhebhe
The forgotten mother of the Zulu nation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6030258 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Butholezwe Mtombeni (0000-0002-0370-6856, History, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, corresponding author), Muzi Shoba (0000-0001-9474-4577, Development Studies, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 1-12 |
| Publication date | 2024-12-24 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | African Identities (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1472-5843 • E-ISSN: 1472-5851 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14725843.2024.2442632 |
| OpenAlex | W4405738086 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 6 |
There is a dearth of scholarly literature on the mother of the Zulu nation, Emperor Shaka’s mother, Queen Nandi ka Bhebhe. In the precolonial Zulu Kingdom, royal women enjoyed various privileges and responsibilities and contributed significantly to the Kingdom’s aggrandisement, but written sources of detailed accounts of their contributions were limited. Queen Nandi, who, as a single mother, raised Shaka and nurtured him into adulthood is not sufficiently celebrated in the available scholarly literature. Although Nandi’s history is intertwined with Emperor Shaka’s history, in the available mainstream historical literature, she is mentioned merely as Shaka’s mother, and her sacrifices in raising and protecting him are consigned to the background. This article pays due homage to Queen Nandi using the available oral accounts and secondary data sources. It explores her historical background as a Langeni Princess, how as a single mother she raised an emperor and her political influence in the Zulu Kingdom. It adds that besides being Shaka’s mother, Nandi was a strong-willed woman who served as a bridge between Shaka and relevant stakeholders. The article concludes that the rise and growth of the Zulu Kingdom must also be credited to her motherhood account
Ancient history · Art · Biology · Genealogy · Linguistics · Literature · Sociology · Zoology · Zulu · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Gender Studies · History · Philosophy · South African History and Culture
| Highly cited | No |
|---|