Hlubi people

The Hlubi (or amaHlubi) are a South African ethnic group. For at least two centuries they have been a part of the Nguni, Mbo or Lala nation. They are found in the Republic of South Africa in the KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and North West provinces, with an original settlement on the Buffalo River.

Hlubi kings

Below is a traditional estimation of the Hlubi Kings that ruled from 1300 until now. Note that Hlubi history comes mainly from oral sources and the dates below should not be taken as historically accurate.

King	Reign
Chibi	1300–1325
Lubelo	1325–1350
Busobengwe (Bhungane I)	1350–1370
Fulathel’ilangjuhja	1370–1390
Bhele	1390–1410
Lufelelwenja	1410–1430
Sidwabasenkomo	1430–1450
Mhuhu	1450–1475
Mpembe	1475–1500
Mhlanga	1500–1525
Musi	1525–1550
Masoka	1550–1575
Ndlovu	1575–1600
Dlamini	1600–1625
Mthimkhulu I	1625–1650
Ncobo and later, Hadebe	1650–1675
Dlomo I	1675–1710
Mashiya	1710–1720
Ntsele	1735–1760
Bhungane II	1760–1800
Mthimkhulu II (Ngwadlazibomvu)	1800–1818
Dlomo II and later, Mthethwa (commonly known as Langalibalele I)	1839–1889
Siyephu (Mandiza)	1897–1910
Tatazela (Mthunzi)	1926–1956
Muziwenkosi (Langalibalelle ll)	1974 –

Language

Main article: Hlubi language

The amaHlubi speak a dialect of or closely related to Swazi, one of the Tekela languages in the Nguni branch of the Niger–Congo language family.

The Hlubi dialect is endangered, and most Hlubi speakers are elderly and illiterate. There are attempts by Hlubi intellectuals to revive the language and make it one of the eleven recognised languages in South Africa.