Dingiswayo (1770?-1817), paramount chief of the Mthethwa confederation, one of four Nguni confederations that dominated the northeastern region of present-day South Africa before the rise of the Zulu empire.
Dingiswayo’s father, Jobe, was chief of the Mthethwa, a small Nguni group, and a confederation of other groups.
Dingiswayo aimed to control the growing trade in ivory, beads, and brass between the northern Nguni area and the Portuguese port at Delagoa Bay.
Dingiswayo's regiments were each distinguished by a name and by the colour of the shields carried by the men, and his warriors wore very imposing wardress.
In 1816, Dingiswayo lent Shaka a regiment and with this support, Shaka was able to overcome Sigujana and kill him, and the Zulu recognized Dingiswayo's appointment of Shaka as their chief.
Another view was that Shaka deliberately betrayed Dingiswayo as Shaka was anxious to rid himself of his overlord; another made out that Shaka had not been given time to complete his arrangements for joining the precipitate expedition and missed the battle altogether.
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