WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF THE NGONI?

While there are some disagreements on what the original Ngoni language sounded like, it is quite clear to any student of Ngoni History that that language was certainly a Nguni language. Some examples of Nguni languages are Zulu, Xhosa, Swati and Ndebele. These language are simply dialects and a speaker of one of them can easily converse with a speaker from the other without needing a translator. It is like Mang'anja from Chichewa.

Some scholars have of late promoted the idea that the Ngoni language spoken in some areas of Mzimba is more similar to Siswati than Zulu. This is contrary to the stand taken by the early Scottish missionaries who said the language was most certainly Zulu.

Read more...

The History Of Mzimba District (Home of the Northern Ngoni of Malawi)

Below is a narrative of the history of Mzimba district in Malawi as narrated by Reverend Dr Overtoun Mazunda at the Centenary Celebrations of the establishment of Mzimba district in 2008 at the foot of Hora Mountain in Mzimba district in Malawi.

Picture of Inkosi Chimtunga who reigned from 1896 to 1915

This is probably one of the few pictures of Inkosi yamakhosi Chimtunga called Chimtunga (knobkerry) by his Chewa subjects. From left to right seated are Chimtunga, then Mtwalo and Chindi. As pointed out in the history narrative above, Inkosi Chimtunga was deposed by the British in 1915 for resisting efforts by the British to recruit Mzimba people to join the British Army during the First World War. Bayethe Amakhosi.

Read more...

INSTALLATION OF INKOSI YAMAKHOSI GOMANI IV AND THE LOSS OF NGONI LANGUAGE

The History of the Maseko Ngoni and the Gomani dynasty as narrated by Inkosi Kwataine one of the Indunas of Inkosi yamakosi Gomani in Chichewa or chinyanja, the adopted language of the Maseko Ngoni of Malawi and Mozambique.

President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi installing Alex Gomani as Inkosi yamakosi Gomani IV, paramount chief of the Maseko Ngoni of Malawi and Mozambique on 21st June 2009.

The colourful coronation of Inkosi yaMakhosi Gomani IV at Lizulu or Lizwe lamaZulu (Land of the Zulu) in Ntcheu should bring to the fore the need for the Government and all of us to work towards the preservation of our cultures and languages. Seeing Ngonis dressed in traditional regalia and singing traditional dances was quite a spectacle. It made one feel good to be a Ngoni.

Read more...