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The Shangaan Cultural Village
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The Shangaan people call themselves the Vachangana. These peoples have rich and interesting cultural heritage which came from the time when King Shaka of the Zulus sent a warrior who never came back.
King Shaka of the Zulus sent one of his warriors, Soshangana (Manukosi) to conquer the Tsonga people in the area of present-day Mozambique. Instead, Soshangana found a fertile place inhabited by scattered communities of peace-loving people, and decided to make it his home. He never went back to his people.
Soshangana gave his name to the Shangaan people. He started teaching them the Zulu ways of fighting and made them wear skins and ostrich feathers on their heads. He did not change their way of architecture - the round huts with their patterned thatch roofs, because these were beautiful.
Life however was not all peaceful for the new nation as Shaka was angry and he sent troops to attack Soshangana, but they too did not return.
Internal quarrels led to Shangaan people dispersing and some of the groups went as far north as the Congo.
Portugal claimed Mozambique as its colony in 1752 but allowed the local kings/rulers to continue ruling their respective peoples, but under the over-arching authority of Portugal. In 1858, Soshangana fought the Portuguese and died.
However, his new nation lived on.
Today, the Shangaans live in areas mainly between the Kruger National Park and the Drakensberg Mountains, in South Africa's Mpumalanga and Northern Province. Their sister tribe, the Tsongas, inhabit most of southern Mozambique.
The cultural heritage of these peoples is celebrated at the Shangana Cultural Village.
The traditional village lies midway between the Blyde River Canyon and the southern Kruger National Park. Here visitors can share the way of life of the Shangaan people. The picturesque village is set in the shade of ancient trees in a reserve of forest and grassland, and is open every day.
A bustling African market village forms the centre of Shangana, where local craftspeople make and trade their craft. From here, trained guides lead guests down to villages on daytime tours, midday tours with lunch, and the famed Evening Festival in the Chief's Kraal.
Shangana lies about 5km from the small town of Hazyview in Mpumalanga. From the centre of Hazyview, head north past Hippo Hollow, over the Sabie River. Then turn left onto the R535 towards Graskop. It's 4km from here on the right hand side, clearly signposted.
Shangana has been created and built by local Shangaan people, and forms a place of great pride and a way of preserving a rich heritage for tourists, and an example of South Africa's great cultural diversity.
Contact
Telephone: + 27 (0) 13 737 5804/5
Fax: + 27 (0) 86 653 3452
Cell: + 27 (0) 82 269 2383 (Sharon)
Email: reservations@shangana.co.za
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Comments |
| In the 1820s, during a period of severe drought, Nguni armies, southern African ethnic groups that speak related Bantu languages and inhabit southeast Africa from Cape Province to southern Mozambique, began to invade Mozambique from what is now South Africa. One Nguni chief, Nxaba, established a short-lived kingdom inland from Sofala, but in 1837 he was defeated by Soshangane, a powerful Nguni rival. Eventually Soshangane established his capital in the highlands of the middle Sabi River in what is present day Zimbabwe. Soshangane named his empire "Gaza" after his grandfather. ZIMBABWE has got a population of approximately two million people. Notable Tsonga surnames in ZIM are Chauke, Hobyane, Mabunda, Makondo, Baloyi, Maluleke, Hlungwani, Macheke, Ntlemo.
Posted by: Godfrey Mhlavendina Mabunda |
Avuxeni va kulukumba mina ndzi lava ku pfuniwa hi xithlovetselo xa ka Mnisi ndzi xitwa ti hafu-hafu, ndzi nga tsak ngopfu loko mo ndzi rhumela xona.
Posted by: Beezwell Mnisi |
Hi guys my name is Hlengani Nkuna. I would like you to tell me my clan name. I asked all the people I know and all they seem to know is "Nkuna mabhotana". Can you please help me with the full clan name. Thank you.
Posted by: hlengani |
Hi my name is Seen Goodwill Nkuna. I was born by Soly Matsintsi Nelson Nkuna born in 1945 @ Karino in Nelspruit by Lamaketsembane Madonsela, who his father was John July Nkunaaka Nhlurunhlurhu, Nkalabandze, Mthendethende, whom according to knowledge I have was from elder he use to call himself Livhentje and was speaking Sperongo language. They say he was originated from Tzaneen area and his mother's name was Ntshalati. As far as I know he has wife and kinds in Palaborwa and he died around 1978 in Tinswalo hospital and was buried @ Jerusalem village in the Game district. They also mention that he has childern @ Goromane close to Mkhuhlu. I did manage to track one of my aunties, but she has never gave me any info about relatives. please help, all I need is to know about my belonging.
Posted by: Goodwill Nkuna |
Ndzi kombela ku pfuniwa hi vutlhokovetseli bya xivongo xa ka Ubisi na Na Ndlovu Mahasule, help brothers n Sisters.
Posted by: Violet Ubisi |
| Proper knowledge and information is power. According to Credo Mutwa the word 'Tsonga'means'People of God' or 'God's people'just like everyone else being the people of God. I understand that the Tsonga people have been and are still been marginilised especially here in South Africa. The problem is that we black people dont know much about ourselves as Africans. If we knew a lot about Africa and ourselves as African then there would be no need of evils such as tribalism. Many South African or African cultures are so ignorant about the next persons culture so we end up thinking that some culture are superior to others. Our educational system is baised and way too corrupt. If they can teach children their true African histories, then Africa will overcome tribil war and poverty. But now the ball is in our hands as Tsonga people to realise that its up to us to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery. The true knowledge is that we are all one we all hail from the same source, physically we can identify ourselves as Tsonga, Venda or ect but the truth is we are far beyond our names and cultures, we are spiritual eternal beings. If we can realise that while we r still in our physically bodies then there would be no need to worry whether im embrace myself as a Tsonga or not. Lets rememeber that identifying ourselves with certain culture, country, name, religion and more only breeds violence toward one another and boosts our ego which is useless in trying to unify people.
Posted by: Rhulani Nkuna |
| For all those interestede in learning more about Tsonga/Shangaan (especially the Nkuna clan) I recommend a book by Henri Junod " The Life of a South African Tribe (1912), which can be downloaded from the website: http://www.archive.org/details/lifeofsouthafric01junouoft Please when you read it, you should take into consideration the era it was written in, and not be offended by terms such as "savages", "heathen" etc. refering to our fore-fathers, just be greatful that Junod did something great recording out history and tradition, never mind his perceptions about our people.
Posted by: Kenny Nkuna |
Ntshatsaka loko nivona mitshumu yotani. Mina nihuma Zimbabwe and I am proud to be Shangani.
Posted by: Misheck Lismart Mahungu |
@ Brain, I am also planning to go there with my family in December..I was reading about it now. I think i'll go December.
Posted by: Brain Nkuna |
Hi there, I am Tsonga but my problem is, I want to know about this surname of Khoza, because there are Zulus and Tsongas... please help me.
Posted by: maria |
I am a 23 year Tsonga girl from Pretoria and oh am I'm proud to be part of the Tsonga culture cause my people are truly humbled.
Posted by: deluka mashaba |
Ndzi tinyungubyisa i ku ndzi mchangana.
Posted by: sello david kubayi |
Vankuna milo lahleka hikweni naa.
Swa saseka ku vona matsonga machangani mahlangana ma burisana hi ndhavuko na ntumbuluko wa hina.
Akuri mlambya ku nyela. wo nyela endleleni a tshemba nkanu. puu choyoyo. xa mina i ribye.
Posted by: soza heaven ngoveni |
I would love more info as my original surname is Tembe. Im born and bread in Durban but home is in Mbazwana northern KZN boardering Mozambique.
Posted by: mthabisi mthembu |
| I am 100% Shangani born, bread and buttered in Gauteng. My father i waka Ubisi (Rikhotso) my mom i waka Nkuna. My mother is from a royal family in Mozambique ka Shokwe, she is a daughter of the late popular chief Ximhungu. Since my grand dad died my uncle is now the chief, he is chief Mzondi Nkuna. In 2009 I went to Mozambique to explore my mom's background, what I've leant is that my grand dad was having 8 wives and more than 80 children and many of them nobody knows their whereabouts. I'm very concern about this issue as my dream is to unite them all and finally crown the real Nkuna chief as I'm not 100% sure that my uncle is the one who has to inherent that chieftaincy. Please help. Guys lets start a Nkuna website; maybe we are related.
Posted by: Yvonne Ubisi Ntukulu wa ka Nkuna |
True Rhulani, the other fact about Ba Nkuna is that when Soshangane took over as the ruler, the Nkuna clan left the tribe and went to settle in the Transvaal in the Leydenburg mountains.
Posted by: kenny Nkuna |
I am Tsonga and I want to know where my surname come from (Maluleke).
Posted by: PHIKELA MALULEKE |
| Soshangani a ri Mungoni hayi Zulu, u tumbuluke ka Ndwandwe, anga zanga na siku narin'we a tirhise Xizulu kambe u tirhise Xingoni tani hileswi a ri Mungoni Loko shaka a hlule Ndwandwe, u vonakale a khonzisa vangoni a ringeta kuva hanyisa hi ndlela ya Xizulu, kambe swi tsandza, hilaha hi kumaka, Mzilikazi, Soshangani, Son'andava navan'wana va yindlu ya ka Ndwandwe vanga pfumeleki mfumo wa Shaka, hikokwalaho Loko Shaka a rhumela tinhenha takwe ta nyimpi kuya hlasela Soshangani, a vawu vonanga ntlangu, vadyiwe xiqivo kuvuya vangari vangani, se va hemba vaku va hete himavabyi, kasi ava chava ku' Shaka u ta va hetisa, phela unge endli vuxaka na munhu loyi a nga dlaya vakokwa wa wena, hikokwalaho Mzilikazi anga thya ndawu yakwe leswaku hile Kwabulawayo eka loyi anga ta n'wi landzelela. Ndwandwe(mgoni) na kokwa wa shaka (diniZulu).
Posted by: Mfaduku |
I'm Hloniphani Hobyani from Soweto and I just want to find the full history of my family and our origins.
Posted by: Hloniphani surprise Hobyani |
I am a Tsonga born and bred in Pretoria, I am currently searching for my roots. The history and family tree of the Nkuna's. It's good to have such websites or discussions where one can get a clear picture of where the Nkuna's originated from. It's heart breaking whenever older people ask where I come from knowing my surname and when I tell that I was born in Pretoria, some are angry saying no Nkuna is from Gauteng. I am happy to know a bit of my history. Nakhens
Posted by: Khensani Nkuna |
Where ever we come from ha ti nyungubyisa hi ndhavuko wa hina,hiri hi nge wu cukumeti.
Posted by: mabasa tsundzu |
I'm proud to be called Shangani. Where ever I go people use to criticize Tsongas by saying what ever they want, but at the end I was the one who won the battle just because of my pride. What I'm trying to emphasize is let's all be proud of our Tsonga culture never mind what people are saying and I will end up by saying that us Vatsonga machangani magaza hina vatukulu va gombe na dzavani hina swihluke swa nghunghunyani hi vo chava ku tsongola swa vanhu hi na vutlharhi byo hlamarisa swinene Magaza hi nga ti chavi hikuva na hina hi vinyi va misava.
Posted by: shimmy nkuna |
Love Shangaans & love being Shangaan.
Posted by: portia nkuna |
| I differ with the sentiment that Soshangane was sent by Shaka to conquer the Tsonga tribe in Mozambique. Infact what happened is,in 1819, Zwide declared war againts the Zulus, but he was defeated when his troops were crossing the river Mhlatuze in early 1820. This led to the disintegration of the Ndwandwe nation as Zwide's generals and sons led sections of the Ndwandwe northwards. One such group, under Soshangane, who fled to present-day central Mozambique while another, under Zwangendaba, established rule as the waNgoni in present day Malawi. Others established themselves as chiefs in Swaziland.
Posted by: David Makondo |
This is really fascinating! It would be nice to learn more about where we come from and how all these tribes came to be, instead of continuously chastising people for not being Shangaan enough! I've never really cared much about being Shangaan, I hardly speak the language so it is hard to identify myself in that manner. Such facts make me more curious about my people's history! I pray your Village prosper!
Posted by: Mahlatse Nkuna |
I want to know more about Shangaan tradition of the men.
Posted by: gus |
| Many sources says that Shaka Zulu sent Soshangane to conquer the Tsonga, but one source that make sense is 'Tsonga History Discourse' that says that Soshangane was actually defeated by Shaka and then fled with his followers to Mpumalanga and then Mozambique, where he founded Tsonga people - not Shangaane people inhabiting that area of Maputo. Its been said that Soshangane was not the first Nguni to live amongst the Tsonga, there were the Nkuna and others who belonged to the Ngome clan in Kwazulu Northern Natal and they spoke Mbayi dialect. Nkunas left Ngome clan probably during the rule of Dingiswayo to settle with the rikhotso in Mozambique. By that time SoShangane invades certain part of Mozambique the Nkuna others had already stayed there for a long time to allow their Nguni dialect to be swollen by the TsongA dialect. Peace, each one teach one, lets spread the true knowledge. I would like to thank the brothers who did the research for 'Tsonga History Discourse' for illuminating us with true Tsonga history than the one which says Tsonga people are Shangane people founded by soShangane whom was sent by Shaka Zulu as his general.
Posted by: Rhulani Nkuna |
Actually Soshangane was not sent by King Shaka, you should remember that Soshangane belonged to the Ndwandwe tribe led by Zwide kaLanga. When King Shaka attacked Ndwandwe, Soshangane escaped to the North...He then started the Shangaan tribe we find today.
Posted by: Lungani |
I visited the Shangaan village in Mpumalanga and I was spoiled to death by mother nature. It is the best cultural site I've been to ever. Thanks again, I'll be back with family and cousins next year.
Posted by: Nkuna brain |
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