The Lost Kingdom (Part 10) The Fall Of The Banyayi :: Mmegi Online

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Banyayi Kingdom under the rule of the Nichasike dynasty remained the largest and probably wealthiest indigenous state in southern Africa.

Yet by 1840s it had virtually ceased to exist. Its fall came as a result of a series of invasions by external groups, beginning with various Batswana groups united under the leadership of the Bangwato Kgosi Kgari and culminating in the conquest of the core areas of the kingdom by the Amandebele of Nkosi Mzilakazi.

Ikalanga traditions connect this calamity to the failure of the next to last of the Banyayi kings, Mambo Chilisamhulu II Nichasike, to appropriately appease the protector god Mwali (or Mwari). It is not clear, however, whether the Mambo in fact failed to pay proper homage to the Mwali priests, as alleged, or that the story subsequently emerged to provide a cosmological explanation for the kingdom’s fall.

Already have an active account? Log in here.

Or Sign up and get unlimited access to premium articles.

Explore

More

The Lost Kingdom (Part 10) The Fall Of The Banyayi

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Banyayi Kingdom under the rule of the Nichasike dynasty remained the largest and probably wealthiest indigenous state in southern Africa.

Rollers, Orapa brace for two-part sequel

Stanbic pretax profits up 11%

The audacity to be a unicorn

Faulty gadgets top complaints to BOCRA

Civil Society fights 'flawed' constitutional amendment

Civil Society calls for Constitution review governing Act

IEC rejects 2,513 registrations

Motshegwa prevails against detractors

Inspect the voters' roll!