Jama kaNdaba

Jama kaNdaba (c. 1727–1781), the son of Ndaba kaMageba, was a High Chief of the Zulu clan from 1763 to 1781. His grandfather was Chief Mageba kaGumede.

Jama
Born1727
Died
1781
Spouse(s)Mthaniya Sibiya
ChildrenSenzangakhona kaJama
Mkabayi kaJama
Parent(s)Ndaba kaMageba
RelativesMageba (grandfather)
Shaka (grandson)

Biography

Marriage

He married, amongst others, Mthaniya Sibiya, who bore him Senzangakhona, who succeeded him.[1] Senzangakhona was the father of the three Zulu kings, including the greatest, Shaka. He also had a sister named Mkabayi kaJama.[2]

His daughter Mkabayi

Mkabayi singlehandedly courted Mthaniya for her father Jama who was aging without having a successor. She did this without her father’s knowledge and when he found out he said: "Nenzengakhona", which means "you have done accordingly." Mthaniya’s first son was named Senzangakhona – "we have done accordingly", after his sister’s efforts to find her father a successor. Mkabayi was a twin and Zulu custom dictated that one of the twins be sacrificed to evade bad luck that would result in the death of one of the parents.[3]

Jama refused to kill one of his girls and broke a known tradition. Consequently his wife died without bearing him a successor. Mkabayi devoted her whole life in looking after the Zulu Kingdom due to the sacrifice her parents made for her to live.

Etymology

His name is derived from the Zulu word meaning "he of the stern countenance".

Sources

  1. Salmonson, Jessica Amanda.(1991) The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. Page 192. ISBN 1-55778-420-5
  2. Omer-Cooper, J. D. (1965) "The Zulu Aftermath," London: Longman
  3. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History, Volume 1 by Bonnie G. Smith
Preceded by
Ndaba kaMageba
Zulu King
1763–1781
Succeeded by
Senzangakhona kaJama
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