Each and every cultural grouping has its own symbols, dressing, dancers and other practices that the grouping is associated with. The dressing of animal skins, shields made out of animal skins is more synonymous to the ngoni culture.
One of the most important animals, which is more significant within the ngoni culture is cattle. For starters it would be surprising to learn that the Ngoni people do not just value the importance of cattle as an animal or as a livestock but it’s dwelling place as well. The cattle kraal is an important place to the ngoni cultural grouping.
On 2nd July, 2022 was a big day in Ngoni culture as Her Majesty Inkosikazi M’mbelwa V was crowned as Queen after seven years of marriage with Paramount Chief M’mbelwa V.
Wearing black skirt, white long sleeve blouse covered on top by an animal skin, she walked majestically from the king’s palace at Edingeni headquarters in Mzimba District to community ground with ngoni dancers spicing the procession.
Looking ready for the event, her Majesty was flashed walking side by side with her mother in law, Queen M’mbelwa IV and her grandmother in law Queen M’mbelwa III covered by well-armed ngoni soldiers wearing animal skins armed with arrows and shields in their hands.
This is one of the richest traditional ceremonies as the queen is crowned to the full ngoni cultural values.
To cement it all, the queen was directed to no other place than to the cattle kraal where the climax of the coronation was to be conducted. Queen M’mbelwa III (gogo Sibande) and Queen M’mbelwa IV (Mama Mbite) and other elders poured cattle bile on the youthful Queen M’mbelwa V’s forehead symbolising authority.
Senior Chief Mtwalo said the coronation of her majesty queen M’mbelwa V is important as she is now called mkomo, (ngoni mother or queen).
However, the coronation came as a surprise to many observers as it had taken longtime to be conducted.
“Don’t be surprised that it took almost 7 years without giving her the title of Nkomo. There are assessment processes to be followed before the confirmation of a queen to become nkomo,” Senior Chief Mtwalo explains.
He then appeals to everyone to protect and respect the Ngoni Queen.
Another surprising element of the coronation was that the queen was taken to the cattle kraal for the ceremony. This is where the heart of the whole ceremony took place and it seems it could be done nowhere else.
Culture and heritage expert, Aupson William Thole, says cattle is the strength of the economics and power of a ngoni society.
He says when a man has got cattle it means he has got the whole wealth and when a village has a kraal it means they have got the best administrative centre.
Thole says if a woman is married, the source of it is the cattle in the kraal. He says if a woman comes as a wife in the village coming through the kraal that means she has already given the right of inheritance to her children because the ancestors have accepted her and have welcomed her.
“Every chief has a kraal because it is the source of power and the source of wealth. The kraal is very important in building a village in different ways. If you have married women without paying dowry it means all those are your women friends and they are not your wives. Their children will not inherit anything,” Thole explains.
He further says: “If a traditional leader did not pay dowry and the wife did not come through the kraal and dies, no child in that family will become the next chief.”
The woman should come through the kraal that’s the entry point. The kraal is very important in ngoni culture.
The importance of the kraal to the ngoni culture is not just manifested at the coronation of the queen, it also plays a significant role at the coronation of king or chief.
Thole, who is a retired Regional Museum Officer for the North, says chiefs are installed inside the kraal because the kraal is the centre of authority.
On 18 June, 2022 Inkosana Benjamin Charles Jele was installed as Sub Traditional Authority Yohane Jele in the kraal.
And on 24 November, 2023 Paramount Chief M’mbelwa V installed Inkosi Vuso Gwaza Jele in the kraal at a traditional ceremony held at Ensunduzela Headquarters in Ntchisi District.
“The kraal is a source of power. The only platform where one can say I am now your chief is in the kraal. When you are in the kraal and you are installed there, you’re also anointed by bile. A combination of the bile and the kraal give you total authority over anybody in your kingdom or in your society or in your village,” Thole concludes.
