24/08/2026
With Following –
HOW OUR NAMES LEAD US HOME
My father, Magwamase Geremiah Simelane, told me: "You need to know your clan names, for they will always lead you home."
I did not understand. Now I do.
Our clan names are not just praise. They are maps. They are roads. They are how scattered brothers found each other in forests, near rivers, on mountains like Enkalaneni and eNtababovu.
If you are lost, shout your name. Your brother will answer.
*Simelane*! — We are those who support, who assist, who never leave a brother behind.
Ndlovu tidlekhaya! — The elephant that eats at home, the great one who protects the kraal.
Bhozongo! — Our founding father at KoNtjingila, son of Nsibandze, the one who led us after Mabonya fell at Pongola. When you say Bhozongo, you say: I belong to the Royal Kraal of KoNtjingila in Shiselweni.
Magida! — The warrior who never retreats. The general who had favor from the King's kraal. When you say Magida, you say: I am of the front line, the one who shouts "Yithi laba siyafika, sibuya ezulwini, abanye bayeza!" — I have arrived, the others are safe and coming.
Mnguni waseBuhleni! — We are the original Nguni from Empangeni, now trusted at Buhleni. Buhleni is Embhuleni, the royal military outpost built by Mswati II at Badplaas to guard against the Bapedi. The King placed us there because bomalume are trusted with life.
Mpembe kalokothwane! — We are children of Mpembe, son of Lokothwane, our grandfathers before Nsibandze. A bloodline older than the border.
Ndlebe timchewana! Ndlebe tikhanya lilanga! — Small ears that hear far, ears that shine in the sun. The wise ones who listen, who see danger early.
Mntungwa loluhlata! — We are of the old Mntungwa clan of the lush green valley, the beautiful fertile place where cattle are fat. Not rude people, but people of beautiful land.
NaboNgwane bakaLobamba! Naboyaka! — We are with Ngwane of Lobamba. Who is Ngwane? Ngwane is the founder of the Swazi nation. Ngwane III was the first King of modern Eswatini, and his people are called BakaNgwane — the people of Ngwane. The Dlamini kings are BakaNgwane. So when we say NaboNgwane bakaLobamba, we say: We are with Ngwane, we are of the Dlamini royal family of Lobamba. We are their maternal uncles, their bomalume, their protectors. We did not just serve Lobamba, we ARE Lobamba. Why is Lobamba in our name? Because our own blood ruled it. Lojiba Simelane, daughter of Nsibandze, was Queen Regent at Lobamba from 1836-1840. Her sister Somnjalose birthed King Sobhuza I. Our daughters birthed Ngwane.
Wena waseNkalaneni! — You of the hill of grazing. Nkalaneni is the hill in Nongoma and in Lubombo where our cows grazed. When we say it, we remember our cattle.
Wena wakoNtjingila! — You of KoNtjingila! The land granted to us by Ndvungunye after we sought refuge. Our deed. Our home.
Nine natala Sobhuza! Natala Somhlolo! — You who gave birth to Sobhuza, who gave birth to Somhlolo. Our sisters birthed kings. That is why Dlamini trusted us as bomalume with their lives.
Ndlangamandla, Magutshwa, Tshingila, Ntengwane! — The sub-houses, the many kraals, but one root.
So when you are in Barberton, in Mbombela, in Kanyamazane, in Shiselweni, in Empangeni — and you feel lost — just shout:
Simelane! Ndlovu tidlekhaya! Bhozongo! Wena waseNkalaneni!
Somewhere near a river, another will answer: Mnguni waseBuhleni! Wena wakoNtjingila! NaboNgwane bakaLobamba!
And you will know you are home. One blood, two kingdoms, many houses, one return.
