The Ndebele Tribe

Ndebele, also called Transvaal Ndebele, any of several Bantu-speaking African peoples who live primarily in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa. The Ndebele are ancient offshoots of the main Nguni-speaking peoples and began migrations to the Transvaal region in the 17th century.
The main group of Transvaal Ndebele traces its ancestry to Musi, or Msi, who, with his followers, diverged from a small group of Nguni people migrating down the southeastern coast of Africa and eventually settled in the Transvaal at the site of modern Pretoria. The descendants of Musi’s people were joined in the 18th and 19th centuries by Nguni people fleeing from the wars of Dingiswayo and Shaka in Natal. The Transvaal Ndebele survived the Zulu raids by hiding in the bush. As a result, however, they were geographically divided into separate groups.

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
They are from the second largest andsecond most populous continent seven point sixteen trillion
dollars in measurable wealth, one billionpeople, over three thousand tribes, fifty
four sovereign states, one people.This is dear story. These are the

(00:32):
tribes of Africa. The Indabili tribeIndibili, also called Transval Indibili any of

(01:19):
the several Banters speaking African peoples wholive primarily in the Nimpopo and Umpomalanga provinces
in South Africa. The Indibili ancientoffshoots of the main Inngourani speaking peoples and
began migrations to the Transval region inthe seventeenth century. The main group of
Transval Indibili traces its ancestry to MuseumImsi, who with his followers diverged from

(01:42):
a small group of Anguni people migratingdown the southeastern coast of Africa and eventually
settled on Transval the site of MudernPretoria. The descendants of Musi's people were
joined in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuriesBenguni people fleeing from the walls of Dinghi,
Swire and Shaka in Natal the Transvaaland the Baileys avow the Zulu raids

(02:05):
by hiding in the bush. Asa result, however, they were geographically
divided into separate groups like Most andGuney peoples. All the Transvaal Indibilly groups
resided in hamlets are relied in animalhusbandry and the cultivation of khan millet,
beans, sweet potatoes and various othercrops. Polygenia was permitted and distant succession

(02:27):
and inheritance for the male line.The Indibilly women continued the tradition of creating
elaborate badwork of all salt and ofpainting. The walls of their homes,
both interior and exterior, were strong, brightly colored geometric designs. Although the
modern Indibelly have retained many of theunique customs, abanization has affected their traditional
culture patterns. Many in the bellymen are now employed in towns of minds,

(02:53):
and many others are forced to leaveyour families for extended periods in search
of work. In nineteen seventy nine, many of the Plans, while in
the Belt were settled in quite Debiliin Pantustan Homeland, which became part of
Eastern transfal now on Puma Langa Province. In nineteen ninety four. Other transfal
in the belt were included in theBantustan of Liboa now in Lipopo Province.