Nongoma, is surrounded by the Ngome Forest in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated 300km north of Durban and 56km from Ulundi. It is a busy market town today, serving a large surrounding area.
Khethomthandayo Royal Palace (One of his wives lives here)
Kwakhangelamankengane Royal Palace
Linduzulu Royal Palace (his wife, Queen MaNdlovu lives here)
Enyokeni Royal Palace Queen MaMchiza lives here, and it is the Kings only 'traditional' palace. In early september it is the site of the Umhlanga (Reed Dance) - a ceremony borrowed from Swaziland and adopted by the present King.
History
This area was once the home of King Zwide, a late 18th century Ndwandwemonarch who was eventually defeated by Shaka, at the beginning of the Mfecane wars. On 30 March 1883, a Zulu clan, the Mandlakazi under Zibhebhu, defeated the uSuthu (another Zulu clan which where pro King Cetshwayo kaMpande) in the Msebe Valley close by to Nongoma.
The town itself was only established in 1887 with the building of Fort Ivuna by the British as a buffer zone between the Zulu warring factions. It was originaly called Ndwandwe but was later replaced by an earier name given by the local tribesmen to the sacred area where the town stands, KwaNongoma(place of the diviner or mother of songs). In June 1888 Nongoma was destroyed by the uSuthu but later rebuilt. The fort was used during the Bambatha Rebellion of 1906.
Two zulu monarchs are laid to rest in the Nongoma area:
Nongoma [from Ngome ('the mother of songs')] was established in 1888 on the boundary between two warringZulu factions - the uSuthu and Mandlakazi - in the hope that it would engender peace in the area.
Nongoma is renowned for it's surrounding Royal Palaces, filled with history and culture, they have become a major tourist attraction in South Africa.
Nongoma forest (click here for more), one can visit King Cetshwayo's Ngenesheni Hideout while enjoying the natural beauty of the plant and bird life in the forest.
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