19th century – 19th century
From southern Mozambique through Zimbabwe and the Zambezi corridor to the Fipa plateau
Zwangendaba’s Jere Nguni were a migrating Nguni polity that moved northward from southern Mozambique through Rozwi and Nsenga territories. Their campaigns destroyed the Changamire empire, defeated the Rozwi army, crossed the Zambezi near Zumbo on 20 November 1835, and continued through Chewa and Tumbuka regions toward Mapupo on the Fipa plateau. After Zwangendaba’s death around 1848, the group divided into several factions that continued military campaigns across a wide area.
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The Story
After the Ndwandwe defeat at Mhlatuze, Zwangendaba led his Jere Nguni followers toward southern Mozambique. They crossed the Limpopo into Rozwi country and fought many Shona states, destroying the Changamire empire in the process. Near present-day Bulawayo, at Thaba Zika Mambo, they defeated the Rozwi army and killed Chirisamhuru, identified as the last Mambo.
Zwangendaba then led the regiments across the Zambezi into Nsenga country. The crossing took place near Zumbo on 20 November 1835. Moving northward west of Lake Malawi, the Jere Nguni fought Chewa and Tumbuka communities, took captives, and periodically rested before continuing their march.
The migrants eventually reached Mapupo on the Fipa plateau, between the northern end of Lake Malawi and the southern end of Lake Tanganyika. Their numbers had grown substantially through recruitment from communities defeated along the route. After Zwangendaba’s death in about 1848, the Jere Nguni split into several factions whose campaigns extended as far north as the southern shores of Lake Victoria and as far east as the Indian Ocean.
19th century – 19th century
From southern Mozambique through Zimbabwe and the Zambezi corridor to the Fipa plateau
Zwangendaba’s Jere Nguni were a migrating Nguni polity that moved northward from southern Mozambique through Rozwi and Nsenga territories. Their campaigns destroyed the Changamire empire, defeated the Rozwi army, crossed the Zambezi near Zumbo on 20 November 1835, and continued through Chewa and Tumbuka regions toward Mapupo on the Fipa plateau. After Zwangendaba’s death around 1848, the group divided into several factions that continued military campaigns across a wide area.
Continue exploring
The Story
After the Ndwandwe defeat at Mhlatuze, Zwangendaba led his Jere Nguni followers toward southern Mozambique. They crossed the Limpopo into Rozwi country and fought many Shona states, destroying the Changamire empire in the process. Near present-day Bulawayo, at Thaba Zika Mambo, they defeated the Rozwi army and killed Chirisamhuru, identified as the last Mambo.
Zwangendaba then led the regiments across the Zambezi into Nsenga country. The crossing took place near Zumbo on 20 November 1835. Moving northward west of Lake Malawi, the Jere Nguni fought Chewa and Tumbuka communities, took captives, and periodically rested before continuing their march.
The migrants eventually reached Mapupo on the Fipa plateau, between the northern end of Lake Malawi and the southern end of Lake Tanganyika. Their numbers had grown substantially through recruitment from communities defeated along the route. After Zwangendaba’s death in about 1848, the Jere Nguni split into several factions whose campaigns extended as far north as the southern shores of Lake Victoria and as far east as the Indian Ocean.