Magolwane kaMkhathini Jiyane and Mshongweni: Izibongo and the Construction of King Dingane’s Archive

Abstract

This chapter analyses the production by Africans of the original archive on King Dingane, the second king of amaZulu. The first part of the archive comprises mainly izibongo and oral traditions largely found in the James Stuart Archives. I examine the role of izimbongi, Magolwane kaMkhathini Jiyane and Mshongweni and the central role they played in the 1820s in creating the king’s image and archive through izibongo . Many primary sources still exist, such as oral traditions and izibongo that express various African perspectives of King Dingane and impi yaseNcome. These are both negative and positive. These contrasting negative and positive perceptions of the king also point to underlying political philosophy and survive because generally it is not easy to intervene and manipulate izibongo.