ABSTRACT
Contemporary with Ndungunya and Sobhuza I were Dingiswayo, chief of the Mtsetfwa, Zidze of the Nwandwe, and, later, Shaka of the Zulu. A dispute with Zidze over garden land forced Sobhuza I and his people to leave Eshiselweni. They moved northward, through the healthy western highlands, avoiding the fever-stricken lowlands, and came to central Swaziland, near the present site of Bremersdorp, which has remained the main area of subsequent royal villages. Already living in the country they encountered AbeSuthu (i.e. clans of Sotho origin), and, in the south, a few Nguni. All accepted Dlamini rule: some came humbly bearing tribute, others fought and were defeated, some were allowed to continue their lives undisturbed and developed into powerful units related to a recognised clan head accepted by the Dlamini o v e r l o r d . (4) Prior inhabitants were labelled Emakhandzambili (those found ahead) and include Gama, Magagule, Maseko, Mnisi, Bembe, Mncina, Gwebu and N g o m a n e . ( 5 ) From this second time-element the Dlamini obtained new and powerful medicines for rain, war, and agriculture; other foods, words, and customs were introduced, and Sotho tribal names were changed to the typical clan names of the Nguni.
