South African Military History Society


Glossary for

First Black African writers who had published
in the field of Southern African military history


Msebenzi kaMacingwane
Msebenzi was an imbongi and ultimately an author whose father was Macingwane
Albert Hlongwana
Transcriber for Msebenzi
amaNgwana
the tribal group to which Msebenzi belonged
Mfecane
description in text of video
Imbongi
description in text of video
Thembuland
an area south-east of Lesotho occupied by the amaThembu
amaPondo
a small Zulu-speaking ethnic group in the Eastern Cape
Khoi
one of the original indigenous ethnic groups of southern Africa, sometimes grouped together with the San or 'Bushmen'
amaXhosa
One of the major ethnic groups of the Nguni people
Mbholomo
a place near modern-day Mthatha where a significant battle took place
Mthatha
a large town in the northern part of the Eastern Cape. Was formerly Umtata, capital of the Transkei
Nguni
a major group of Southern African Bantu-speaking people - and their languages including amaZulu, amaXhosa, amaSwazi, and amaNdebele
Mfengu
now colloquially referred to as 'Fingo"
amaHlubi
a Zulu-speaking tribe
amaNdebele
an Nguni tribe aka 'Matabele'
Mzilikazi
chief/king of amaNdebele aka Mosilikaats
Moshoeshoe
aka Moshweshwe or Moshesh founder of the Basotho nation
Thaba Bosiu
Moshoeshoe's mountain stronghold
Ekukhanyeni
'Place of enlightenment' mission station
Magema Fuze
The author's name
Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo.
A Zulu King whose father was King Cetshwayo
Abantu Abamnyama Lapa Bavela Ngakona
translates as The Black People and Whence They Came

Pat Irwin
Sept 2025

South African Military History Society / scribe@samilitaryhistory.org