Ndlela kaSompisi

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Ndlela kaSompisi (died February 1840) was a key general to Zulu Kings Shaka and Dingane.

Upbringing[]

Ndlela grew up in the Zulu household where his father Sompisi ka Gugqa was an influential advisor to King Senzangakona. His sister Bibi was one of Senzangakona's wives. He grew up with Zulu princes, and therefore had a good understanding of all of them.

Under Shaka[]

Ndlela was a distinguished general and leader in the era of Shaka.

Under Dingane[]

After Dingane assassinated and succeeded Shaka he remained the highest ranking political and military officer in Dingane’s regime. With Dingane’s volatility and thirst for blood, Ndlela proved he was a shrewd operator by maintaining these highly influential positions in a changing regime where Dingane was quick to order an execution of his perceived enemies.

He served as Dingane's inDuna - his chief advisor and Ndunankulu (Prime Minister) and uMkhuzi wamaButho kaZulu - Commander-In-Chief of the Zulu Army. He was general of Dingane's forces at the Battle of Blood River (16 December 1838) with Dambuza Nzobo, a significant defeat for the Zulus as the spears and large numbers of Zulus were unable to breach the Boer laager of Andries Pretorius defended with muskets.

Neither Shaka nor Dingane had children. Mindful of the lineage of the Zulu kings, Ndlela repeatedly defied Dingane's request that he assassinate Mpande, half-brother of Shaka and Dingane as he was a threat to Dingane's power. He argued that it would diminish his greatness and that, in any case, Mpande did not aspire to the throne. The Battle of Maqongqe where the forces of Mpande and Dingane clashed in 1840 culminated in Dingane calling Ndlela a traitor. During this battle Ndlela strayed from the normal Zulu attack method of shock and awe where the Zulu army overwhelmed its enemies with great numbers. Instead he chose to send the army into battle by battalion (amabutho). This resulted in a great loss for Dingane against his brother Mpande who had co-opted the Boer to fight on his side.

Dingane ordered his death through slow strangulation by cow hide thong.

The name[]

The name Ndlela means way or the way or the one who charts a path, in the Zulu culture it is believed that one always follows their name. Ndlela used this premise to make some of his decisions; Mpande means "root" in isiZulu while Dingiswayo means "one who is banished", where as Dingane means "One who seeks".

Mpande and after[]

Ndlela's inaction against Mpande preserved the blood line of the Zulu monarchy. Mpande, the king after Dingane, was married to Ndlela's daughter Msukilethe. Mpande's son Cetshwayo in turn succeeded him. All subsequent Zulu monarchs are descended from Mpande.

Ndlela ka Sompisi understood that there were challengers to the Zulu hegemony. Some of these challengers did not of themselves seek to challenge to Zulu Kingdom but any introduction of a new and different culture to the frontier of human contact threatens the prevailing political and cultural hegemony. In such a clash the superior culture always emerges as the dominant culture. The Zulu Nation needed strong and pragmatic leadership at this particular point in time to preserve first their Kingdom and second their way of life (culture).

External links[]

Unveiling of monument in honour of Ndlela ka Sompisi Ntuli

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