Ngwana Maseko, founder of the Gomani

Mzala Tom

Ngwana Maseko is the founder of the Gomani Ngoni/ Nguni kingdom found in modern-day southern Malawi. He was of the Maseko clan of Swati origin.

Ngwana Maseko pioneered his kingdom following the break-up of Zwide’s Ndwandwe confederation around 1818. Ngwana Maseko left with his clan’s men and trekked to modern-day Transvaal where he joined the Nguni group under the leadership of Nqaba/Nxaba Msane/Msene.

After joining the Nguni of Nqaba they trekked to modern-day southern Mozambique where they joined the Gasa /Gaza kingdom which was led by Soshangane Nxumalo.

Around 1831 Ngwana and Nqaba attempted a coup against Soshangane. However, they failed to dislodge him from his throne thus forcing them to flee to the Rozvi/Lozwi kingdom.

There they found the kingdom having collapsed with Zwangendaba Jele and his niece Nyamazana Dlamini now controlling the area after the defeat of the last Rozvi/Lozwi king. These Nguni military groups had now earned the name “madzviti”/plunderers among the local people.

Among the Rozvi/Lozwi communities there emerged military groups known as the Dumbuseya. These masqueraded as the Nguni, acquired their military skills, dressed like them and went around raiding their own people. Some of the Dumbuseya later permanently joined the Nguni armies.

Ngwana and Nqaba clashed with Zwangendaba thus forcing him to leave his niece and flee further north where he later established his kingdom. Ngwana and Nqaba however, failed to dislodge Nyamazana from her control of the former Rozvi/Lozwi territory.

Sebetwane and his Makololo Sotho group who invaded Rozvi /Lozwi territory also failed to dislodge the Swati of Nyamazana. Sebetwane then trekked north and eventually settled in southern Zambia where he established his kingdom after defeating the Lozi people.

The Maseko Ngoni and Zwangendaba’s remnants from Tanzania known as the Gwangara Ngoni under Zulu Gama merged to become one and settled in Northern Malawi. However, the unity between the two groups did not last, as the Maseko Ngoni rebelled against the Gwangara Ngoni.

The Maseko Ngoni thus trekked down south of Malawi where they permanently settled around 1839 after defeating and assimilating the Chewa and other groups. After his death, Ngwana Maseko was succeeded by his brother Magadlela as regent until his heir, Mputha came of age.

Due to the assimilation of local tribes, the Maseko Ngonis are dominated by the Chewa language and customs. Therefore, not all Maseko Ngonis found in Malawi are of Swati descent. (source: @RealMzalaTom)