InDuna
Encyclopedia
InDuna is a Zulu title meaning advisor, great leader, ambassador, headman, or commander of group of warriors. It can also mean spokesperson or mediator as the izinDuna often acted as a bridge between the people and the king. The title was reserved for senior officials appointed by the king or chief, and was awarded to individuals held in high esteem for their qualities of leadership, bravery or service to the community. The izinDuna would regularly gather for an indaba
to discuss important issues.
Amongst the Ndebele
the term was also used to collectively refer to a group of elite soldiers operating under a specific inDuna.
The term has found widespread use in South African English
and Afrikaans
, and it is a common reference to boss or lead person. In modern times the terms Chairperson and inDuna are sometimes used interchangeably.
Indaba
An indaba is an important conference held by the izinDuna of the Zulu and Xhosa peoples of South Africa. These indabas may include only the izinDuna of a particular community or may be held with representatives of other communities.The term comes from a Zulu...
to discuss important issues.
Amongst the Ndebele
Ndebele people (Zimbabwe)
The Ndebele are a branch of the Zulus who split from King Shaka in the early 1820s under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general in Shaka's army....
the term was also used to collectively refer to a group of elite soldiers operating under a specific inDuna.
The term has found widespread use in South African English
South African English
The term South African English is applied to the first-language dialects of English spoken by South Africans, with the L1 English variety spoken by Zimbabweans, Zambians and Namibians, being recognised as offshoots.There is some social and regional variation within South African English...
and Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
, and it is a common reference to boss or lead person. In modern times the terms Chairperson and inDuna are sometimes used interchangeably.
Notable izinDuna in history
- Leander Starr JamesonLeander Starr JamesonSir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, , also known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", was a British colonial statesman who was best known for his involvement in the Jameson Raid....
, a British physician, was awarded the title of inDuna by the Matabele chief LobengulaLobengulaLobengula Khumalo was the second and last king of the Ndebele people, usually pronounced Matabele in English. Both names, in the Sindebele language, mean "The men of the long shields", a reference to the Matabele warriors' use of the Zulu shield and spear.- Background :The Matabele were related to...
after he had successfully treated the chief’s goutGoutGout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
. - Mbopa was an inDuna serving under ShakaShakaShaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
. He was one of the main conspirators in Shaka’s assassination by his half-brothers DinganeDinganeDingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu —commonly referred to as Dingane or Dingaan—was a Zulu chief who became king of the Zulu Kingdom in 1828...
and Umhlangana. - Ndlela kaSompisiNdlela kaSompisiNdlela kaSompisi was a key general to Zulu Kings Shaka and Dingane.-Upbringing:Ndlela grew up in the Zulu household where his father Sompisi ka Gugqa was an influential advisor to King Senzangakona. His sister Bibi was one of Senzangakona's wives...
was a key general to Zulu Kings Shaka and DinganeDinganeDingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu —commonly referred to as Dingane or Dingaan—was a Zulu chief who became king of the Zulu Kingdom in 1828...
, and also served as Dingane's inDuna - his chief advisor. Ndlela' repeatedly defied Dingane's request that he assassinate MpandeMpandeMpande , uMsimude owavela ngesiluba phakathi kwamaNgisi namaQadasi, as he was praised, was king of the Zulu nation from 1840 to 1872, making him the longest reigning Zulu king. He was a half-brother of Shaka and Dingane, who both preceded him as kings of the Zulu...
, half-brother of Shaka and Dingane. By this refusal he preserved the blood line of the Zulu monarchy, as all subsequent Zulu kings were from Mpande’s blood line. He was strangled to death for his insubordination. - Ntshingwayo kaMaholeNtshingwayo KhozaNtshingwayo kaMahole was the second in command of King Cetshwayo's Army.He was the commanding general who led the Zulus against the Centre Column of the first British invasion of Zululand in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. He outmanoeuvred Lt. Gen...
was the second in commandSecond in CommandSecond in Command is a 2006 action film directed by Simon Fellows, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. It was released direct-to-video in the United States, Belgium, and Germany on May 2, 2006. It has been rated R by the MPAA for violence and some language. The film was made in Bucharest, Romania.-Plot...
(inDuna) of King Cetshwayo's Army. He was the commanding general who defeated the encamped British Army at the Battle of IsandlwanaBattle of IsandlwanaThe Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom...
. - Nathaniel IsaacsNathaniel IsaacsNathaniel Isaacs was an English adventurer who played a part in the history of Natal, South Africa. He wrote a book spread over two volumes called "Travels and Adventures in Eastern Africa"...
, a British adventurer, was awarded the title inDuna Incoola (Principal Chief of Natal) by Shaka and was granted large tracts of land. - Tinos RusereTinos RusereTinos Rusere was a Zimbabwean miner and trade union activist. During the Second Chimurenga he recruited members of ZANLA and he was later elected as a Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front member to the Parliament of Zimbabwe...
, nicknamed the "Rhodesian Induna", was an elected trade union representative of the Rhodesian miners in South Africa. In 1977 he became the trade union inDuna for all Southern African countries. - Joseph Leabua Jonathan worked as a mine inDuna (foreman) at Brakpan and eventually became the first Prime MinisterPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of LesothoLesothoLesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
. - The Sudwala CavesSudwala CavesThe Sudwala Caves in Mpumalanga, South Africa, are set in Precambrian dolomite rock, which was first laid down about 3800 million years ago, when Africa was still part of Gondwanaland...
were named after the Swazi inDuna Sudwala.
Induna used as name
The word Induna is regularly used as a name to indicate something large (the big one) or important:- Ntabazinduna (Mountain of the Chiefs) is the name of a hill north of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The name stems from the practice of throwing izinDuna who ran afoul of the king down it.
- Induna was the name of a racehorse that won the 1930 South Australian DerbySouth Australian DerbyThe South Australian Derby is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds, at set weights, held at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide.It is run each year in April. Before 2006 it was held in May...
. - Canada's largest crocodile (14 feet long, weighing more than 1000 pounds) is called Induna. It resides at the Reptilia (zoo)Reptilia (zoo)Reptilia is Canada's largest reptile zoo, with of indoor exhibits.Reptilia is the home of Canada's largest crocodile, Induna, who is long, and weighs over . The zoo also contains pythons. -Educational curriculum:...
in Vaughan, Ontario.
- In 1899 Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
(a young war correspondent at the time) escaped from a prison in PretoriaPretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
and rode the Induna (a weekly steamerSteamboatA steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, built in 1891 at AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, UK) from Delagoa Bay to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. - The SS Induna was the name of a British merchantMerchantA merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
steamboat (5086BRT) that was sunk during WW2. It was built in 1925 by A. Stephen & Sons Ltd. of GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and torpedoed by the German U-BoatU-boatU-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
Friedrich-Karl Marks (U-376) en route from ReykjavíkReykjavíkReykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
to MurmanskMurmanskMurmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
. Of the 66 people on board, 28 survived and were picked up by a Soviet minesweeperMinesweeper (ship)A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
. - The MV Induna Star was an 81-ton Australian steel ketchKetchA ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: a main mast, and a shorter mizzen mast abaft of the main mast, but forward of the rudder post. Both masts are rigged mainly fore-and-aft. From one to three jibs may be carried forward of the main mast when going to windward...
. It was captured by the Japanese during WW2 and the men aboard were incarcerated. Some of those men would later die in the infamous sinking of the prison ship, the Montevideo MaruMontevideo MaruThe Montevideo Maru was a Japanese auxiliary ship that was sunk in World War II, resulting in the drowning of a large number of Australian prisoners of war and civilians being transported from Rabaul...
by a US submarine.