Online Reporter
The royal salute Bayethe ! is associated with King Dingiswayo (born Godongwana) of the Mthethwa kingdom.
His political career marked a watershed in the history of Southern Africa , in the early 19th century.
He created a massive confederation of kingdoms in the area in present KwaZulu -Natal, using a highly sophisticated political system characterised by a disciplined military with techniques of drills and formation movements under a chain of command.
This model was to be later adopted by his mentee, King Shaka, in building the Zulu empire. At this point, the Zulu were part of the Mthethwa confederation.
At the peak of his rule, King Dingiswayo became like a very big tree, which provided shade for clans under his confederacy, to rest under his protection.
The royal salute, Bayethe, (“bring them”) is conceived to have originated in these circumstances. It comes from Mabayethe”(“Let them bring”) or “let them pay tribute,” or even “let them bring clans” in the “Yeyeza” or “Thefuya” Nguni dialect as used by the Mthethwa people in those days. The concept became entrenched as Mabayethe.
This royal salute was often shortened by King Dingiswayo’s inyosi/imbongi/ as Bayethe until it became the standard word used by the people. In our present day isiZulu or isiNdebele dialects, the royal salute would strictly be Mabalethe and Balethe, in short.
However, to date, the original Yeyeza or Thefuya pronounciation has been preserved by all Nguni speakers in its original form as : Bayethe!!!!!!!
Afterthought: Bayede or Bayethe ? Language evolves with time. Bayethe is the more accurate and common spelling. Bayede is sometimes used, potentially as a simplified or slightly informal variant.
