Sites

Archive Import: Nodwengu served as King Mpande kaSenzangakhona's Royal Residence during his reign from 1840 to 1872. He lies buried within the precincts of his capital.
History: AHomestead: very little archaelogical evidence of the site remains: present position of large beehive hut and palisade based on tradition: Reports in KMC file suggest a new Museum hut was to be constructed(original Museum opened in August 1983) no evidence on file that this took place.
King Mpande's royal Residence, occupied by him from 1840-1872, and where his regiments the Dududu, Ngqu, uVe were formed and trained; various excursions, he lies buried within the precincts of his Capital: his burial place, the original homestead being ceremoniously destroyed after his death.
The Zulu Chief Senzangakhona had three sons who succeeded one another as paramount rulers of the Zulus: Chaka, Dingane and Mpande. Chaka was murdered by his brothers Dingane and Mhlangana in 1828. Dingane was afraid of Mhlangana so he killed him, but he took little notice of Mpande who was a weakling. Nevertheless, Mpande was afraid of Dingane and built himself a kraal called Mahambehiala (‘the wanderer’s kraal’) near Tongaat, south of the Tugela River.
On 16th December, 1838, Dingane was defeated by the Voortrekkers at Blood River. He fled northwards and Mpande moved to a kraal in the vicinity of the present Eshowe. In 184AJ Mpande made common cause with the Voortrekkers and defeated Dingane decisively at the Magongo Hills—’the splinter of wood killed the elephant’. Mpande was recognized by the Voortrekkers as Paramount Chief of the Zulus and about 1845 he built his great kraal, Nodwengu, north of the White Umfolozi River.
The name Nodwengu has been interpreted in several ways. Some believe that it means ‘the place of revolt and strife’ and refers to the events that led to the civil war of 1840 between Mpande and Dingane. According to another derivation it means ‘the place of the irresistible one’.
Mpande lived at Nodwengu until his death in 1872. When his son Cetshwayo succeeded him, the kraal was destroyed in accordance with Zulu custom. Only Mpande’s grave and the trees round it remained as evidence of the former existence of the kraal. Even the grave was neglected for nearly fifty years until a local Headman erected a fence round it.
Bronze Plaque 1940"
Visual Description: Nothing left of the traditional Zulu settlement.
Colours:
Site Features:
Condition: Poor Much litter in vicinity
Construction Date: 1840c
Materials:
Catalogue: , No: , Significance Category: