# Paramount Chief Mpezeni

Inyandezulu Inkosi Yamakhosi Mphezeni KaZwangendaba is the King of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province, East Africa and Malawi's Mchinji district.

## Family

He is from the lineage of Prince Jele KaMfeka of the Ncwangeni Nguni family. His mother was Queen Soseya Nxumalo of the Ndwandwe royal house. Both his mother and her elder sister, Queen Loziwawa, were nieces of King Zwide.
His birthright title is Inkosi Yamakhosi or Inyandezulu. The title of 'Paramount Chief' was introduced on the Ngoni Nation after 1898 following the defeat of the Ngonis in their war with the British. King Njengambaso KaPontino has been the monarch of the Mphezeni. He is a great great grandson of the first Mphezeni since 1981. His mother was Ndlunkulu Tilekane from the Nzima clan. She came from Nyalongo village in the area of iNkosi Maguya.
Inyandezulu Inkosi Yamakhosi Mphezeni KaZwangendaba has Amakhosi who serve under him. These are grouped according to Izigodi (in Zambia they use the term 'Chibaya').

### Title controversy

Prince Gumbi Kaziguda Jele argued that this title is foreign and demeaning as compared to Inkosi Yamakhosi or King.
Most awakened Ngonis have rejected the title 'Paramount Chief', noting that foreign laws cannot supersede Ngoni customs and laws. More and more Ngonis are calling on the Zambian Government to replace it with Inkosi Yamakhosi.

## Dynasty

The Kingdom was founded by King uJzwangendaba KaHlwatshwayo, leader of the Jele clan of the Hluhluwe area in South Africa. King Zwangendaba was born in the St. Lucia Bay area in 1777. His mother was from the Nzima clan. He took over as the King of the Jeles when he was aged 35.
He first married Ndwandwe Princesses Loziwawa and Soseya whom he placed in his village of Ekuveleleni (also Emveyweyeni). Ekuveleleni means 'a place of prominence'. He later married another 65+ wives and fathered more than 200 children. King uZwangendaba was from a different Nguni group. His father was King Hlatshwayo, who reigned from eLangeni royal village in the North of Zulu Land. King Hlatshwayo was a son of King Magaganta. Their lineage is from King Mcwango of the Ncwangeni umbrella.
When the Ncwangeni settled on this coastal land, the Mkhwanazi, Mthethwa, Msweli and Mcambi clans had not yet arrived and other Ncwangeni clans such as the Phakathi, Mzimela and Msane among others had not yet emerged. King Mfekaye instructed his first son in iKhohlo (Junior house) Prince Jele kaMfekaye to establish himself in the St Lucia area and lead the Ncwangeni section in that part of the Kingdom. Those people became known as abakwaJele, the people of Jele. King Jele kaMfeka (also Nkabaluthuli) begot King Nguboyengwe who begot King Dlomo who begot King Nonyanda who begot King Mangangatha who begot King Hlatshwayo who begot King Zwangendaba and King Somkhanda. King Zwangendaba led an exodus that established the BaNgoni Kingdoms in Zambia and Malawi, with King Somkhanda (Gumbi) returning to the Mkhuze area to establish the Gumbi kingdom.
The group is named for Ngoni warrior-king Mphezeni (also Mpeseni). That kind gathered over 4000 warriors in 1897 to attack the British who were taking control of Nyasaland and North-Eastern Rhodesia, and was defeated. He signed a treaty that allowed him to rule as Paramount Chief.

## Chronology

* King uJzwangendaba KaHlatshwayo - (1815–1845)
* Inkosana Ntabeni KaHlatshwayo-Regency (1845–1847)
* Mphezeni I KaZwangendaba (1848–1900)
* King Xilowa (Mphezeni II) KaNsingo (1900-1941).
* King Khuzwayo Pontino (Mphezeni III) KaXilowa (1941-1981).
* King Njengembaso (Mphezeni IV) kaKhuzwayo (1982-) :current reigning King and Royal Patriach of all Jele Royal Houses.