Usibebu, a chief of the royal house

Subject: Usibebu, a chief of the royal house Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:52 pm

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"Usibebu, a chief of the royal house but a strong opponent of the old king, and part was constituted a Reserve under British protection, being intended to be a dwelling-place for those chiefs and their followers who might not be content to submit to Cetewayo's authority. Cetewayo himself paid a visit to England before returning to Zululand, and in
January, 1883, was formally reinstated at Ulundi. For a year only his life lasted, and a troubled year it was. He wished to exercise and extend his authority as in the days
when his word was law to a large and disciplined army. Hostilities broke out between his party and Usibebu's clan, with the result that the king was driven to take refuge in the Reserve, and on the advance of a small British force surrendered at Eshowe. At Eshowe he died in February, 1884."

Subject: Usibebu Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:14 am

I didnt realise Cetswayo surrendered to a British force at Eshowe ? . Not sure why he would need to ! scratch

Not much info on Usibebu , considering he was in command from memory on at least one occasion during the battles of the war .
The captions are certainly very short on information Suspect

cheers 90th.

Posts : 706 Join date : 2012-05-05

Is that not a MH Rifle he's holding.

HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1880s → 1889 → July 1889 → 19 July 1889 → Commons Sitting → QUESTIONS.
USIBEBU.

HC Deb 19 July 1889 vol 338 cc851-2 851
MR. BAUMANN (Camberwell, Peckham) I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies by what law or statute the Governor of Natal is empowered to refer the case of Usibebu, which had been dismissed by the Resident Magistrate after an investigation extending over several weeks, to the Resident Commissioner for further consideration, and in the meantime to detain an acquitted man in captivity?

BARON H. DE WORMS The Secretary of State is not aware that Usibebu has been acquitted, or even tried, although he has learnt informally that the Resident Magistrate, before whom preliminary proceedings took place on a charge of being accessory to murder, dismissed that particular charge. It will be for the Zululand Government to consider whether any further proceedings should be taken, and the Secretary of State is 852 not aware of any special law applicable to the matter, other than the "Laws and Regulations for the Government of Zululand," published in C. 5331. It is understood that Usibebu remains at Eshowe, and it would be contrary to native law for him to return to his location without permission from the Resident Commissioner, but the Secretary of State is not aware that he is detained in custody."

Posts : 420 Join date : 2011-05-14

90th,

Try looking him up under the modern rendition of his name Zibhebhu kaMaphitha. He was in command of the Zulu scouts at Isandlwana, where he was wounded. He was a senior commander in the uDloko regiment. Also present at Khambula and Buller's reece before Ulundi.

Fought against the Zulu Royal House in the Civil War of 1883-4.

Ray63,

It is indeed a Martini-Henry.

'Jimu

Subject: Re: Usibebu, a chief of the royal house Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:13 pm

Thanks Jim.

Zibhebhu kaMaphitha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Zibhebhu after the battle of oNdini, July 1884

"Zibhebhu after the battle of oNdini, July 1884
Zibhebhu kaMaphitha (1841–1904) (also called UZibhebhu or Usibepu) was a Zulu chief 1883-1884; rival of Cetshwayo.

Zibhebhu was a son of Maphita, son of Sojiyisa. He was one of the 13 'kinglets' allocated land in the aftermath of the Anglo-Zulu War, and vied for the royal succession with another of Cetshwayo's sons, Dinuzulu. The British, seeing the futility of the division of Zululand, determined to restore Cetshwayo as the ultimate chief. However, they left Usibepu alone and his lands intact.

Both Zibhebhu and Dinuzulu befriended Boer mercenaries to help them in their claims. On the 22 July 1883, led by a troop of mounted white mercenaries, Zibhebhu made a sudden descent upon Cetshwayo's kraal at Ulundi, which he destroyed. All Zibhebhu's men wore a piece of leopard skin round their heads as a distinguishing mark. Cetshwayo escaped, though wounded, into Nkandla forest. After repeated pleas from the Resident Commissioner, Sir Melmoth Osborn, the king moved to Eshowe, where he died a few months later, possibly by poisoning.

Dinuzulu was left to fight for the succession, and with the help of General Louis Botha and Dinuzulu's Volunteers defeated Zibhebhu and his army at the Battle of Ghost Mountain (also known as the Battle of Tshaneni).

Skulls were so numerous at the site of the battle that they were used as road edge markers years later.

Zibhebhu and Eckersley, a white trader, escaped by climbing the Lubombo mountain. In September 1884 Zibhebhu guided the remnant of the Mandlakazi, about 6,000 people, into the Reserve; an area set aside for Zulu not loyal to the Zulu royal house"

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 61 Location : UK

Interesting topic. Is his grave visable at Eshowe?

Subject: Usibebu , a chief of the royal house Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:52 am

Hi John
As I said in a previous post there isnt much info in the initial post by Littlehand actually regarding Usibebu , seems or as I read it ,
it's about Ceteswayo more than Usibebu !!
Thanks Kwajimu much appreciated . I have access to the books today , so I dont have to rely on the memory ! Salute

Cheers 90th. Salute

Subject: Re: Usibebu, a chief of the royal house Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:00 am

We have two paralel topics about the same man. Littlehands topic on 'ITSHANA' deals with the same man and battle.

Cheers

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