Mar 21, 2011 · The Ndebele or Matabele (‘people who duck behind their shield’) had a long warrior tradition. The Ndebele amabutho (regiments) were similar in organization to those of the Zulus but much smaller, seldom exceeding 500 men.

The First Matabele War was fought between 1893 and 1894 in modern-day Zimbabwe. It pitted the British South Africa Company against the Ndebele (Matabele) Kingdom.

May 10, 2018 · Originally known as the Ndebele (‘men of the long shields’), the Matabele were a fierce warrior tribe. Originally a faction of the Zulu nation, they had fled north after Mzilikazi had a falling out with Shaka in 1823.

Jun 14, 2013 · The northern Ndebele (Northern Ndebele: amaNdebele) /Matebele are a Bantu-speaking nguni people of southwestern Zimbabwe (formerly Matebeleland) who now live primarily around the city of Bulawayo and form 20% of the population of Zimbabwe.

Mzilikazi (born c. 1790, near Mkuze [now eMkhuze], Zululand [now in South Africa]—died September 9, 1868, Ingama, Matabeleland [near Bulawayo, now in Zimbabwe]) was a Southern African king who founded the powerful Ndebele (Matabele) kingdom in what is now Zimbabwe.

A British South Africa Company column led by Major Patrick William Forbes was attacked during night by a large force of Ndebele Kingdom warriors. Equipped with superior weaponry, the column, consisting of British South Africa Police troopers and African auxiliaries, repulsed them with a heavy loss of life to the Ndebele force.

Lobengula Khumalo (c. 1835 – c. 1894) was the second and last official king of the Northern Ndebele people (historically called Matabele in English). Both names in the Ndebele language mean "the men of the long shields", a reference to the Ndebele warriors' use of the Nguni shield.

Apr 13, 2021 · For the next few years, Mzilikazi led his Ndebele (called the Matabele by their Sotho and Tswana enemies) in warfare against the Pedi (the Northern or Transvaal Sotho) and other communities living on the eastern Highveld.

Dec 6, 2015 · The Ndebele impis made use of the short-handled, broad-bladed stabbing-assegai (iklwa) (ca 122 em) and the large body-shield (ca 137 to 183 cm by 76 cm). Each warrior also carried a few throwing assegais ( umkhonto ) (ca 135 em) (Smail, 1969, p40).

Jan 18, 2020 · In his autobiography, the famous David Livingstone, one of the most popular British heroes of the late-19th-century Victorian era, in his autobiography, referred to Mzilikazi as one of the most impressive leaders he ever encountered on the African continent – second only to that of King Shaka.