ABSTRACT
The Rhodesian Ndebele speak an Nguni language and are found in the western parts of Southern Rhodesia. While it is undeniable that the Ndebele existed and still exist, that they once formed a powerful state, the raiding parties of which were for over fifty years a constant source of terror to their neighbours, and that a province of Southern Rhodesia was named after them, they are in many ways a most elusive entity. The reason for this is partly linguistic, because in their own language the word ‘ 'Ndebele'' can mean different things; it can refer to groups of different orders of extension, according to the context. It is also partly due to the fact that the original nucleus consisted of a conquering people which continually absorbed alien elements. The memory of former tribal allegiances constantly confuses the issue when we try to decide what are the exact limits of the group that we can properly term Ndebele.
