Mkabayi kaJama
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EMakhosini Valley, Babanango near Mahlabathini
KwaZulu Natal
| Mkabayi kaJama | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1750 EMakhosini Valley, Babanango near Mahlabathini |
| Died | 1843 KwaZulu Natal |
| Burial | KwaDukuza |
| Spouse | Never married |
| Father | Jama kaNdaba |
| Religion | Zulu traditional religion |
Princess Mkabayi kaJama (c. 1750–1843) was a Zulu princess[citation needed], the head of the Qulusi military kraal, and a regent of the Zulu Kingdom between 1781 and 1787. She persuaded her father, the Zulu King Jama kaNdaba, to remarry, and acted as a regent during the reign of her half-brother, Senzangakhona.[1]
She was a kingmaker for three succeeding reigns, leading coups and arranging assassinations. She is credited for bringing stability in the Zulu nation and ensuring the continuation of the Zulu line and monarchy.[2][3]
According to oral history Mkabayi was born a twin, and Zulu custom required that one of the two girls be killed at birth to avoid bad luck and the wrath of the ancestors but Zulu chief Jama acted contrary to tradition and spared both Mkabayi and her sister, Mmame. For this reason, and being of stronger character than her sister, Mkabayi grew up being resented by the Zulu people and was blamed for much of the chiefdom's misfortune.[4][3]
In 1762, recognising that her father the chief was growing old and still without a son, Mkabayi went about courting Jama a wife who would have a child, his heir, without his knowledge. From this effort, Jama would marry Mthaniya, of the Sibiya clan, who had a son with him. In recognition of Mkabayi's effort to ensure the continuation of the Zulu line and monarch, the child was named Senzangakhona, meaning "we have done accordingly."
Regency
For her role in ensuring an heir to the throne, Mkabayi was able to win the favour of the Zulu people but this did not last for long. In 1781, upon the passing of Jama and recognising that Senzangakhona was too young to ascend the chiefdom, Mkabayi appointed herself regent; something that was unheard of at the time.[5]
Role in Senzangakhona's reign
When Senzangakhona came of age in 1787, Mkabayi stepped down as regent but continued to serve an advisory role to the chief. Additionally, as was custom, unmarried chief's daughters served as head of military units and Mkabayi turned away many suitors to continue serving as the head of the ebaQulusini (the place where they turned out buttocks) unit.[6]