AmaMpondomise
The Mpondomise people, also called Ama-Mpondomise, are a Xhosa-speaking people. Their traditional homeland has been in the contemporary era Eastern Cape province of South Africa, during apartheid they were located both in the Ciskei and Transkei region. Like other separate Xhosa-speaking kingdoms such as Aba-Thembu and Ama-Mpondo, they speak Xhosa and are at times considered as part of the Xhosa people. The Ama-Mpondomise form part of the Abase-Mbo Nguni ethnic groups of South Africa. The formal establishment of the ethnic groups as a separate nation from the other local Bantu peoples or their Nguni cousins is estimated around 13th century. The Mpondomise encountered colonists migrating further inland and eastwards from the Cape of Good Hope. As a result of colonial conquest, a majority of ama-Mpondomise speak Xhosa, with a minority who are bilingual speaking Mpondomise as their home language and Xhosa as a second language. Some people view Mpondomise as a dialect of Xhosa. However, the language is dying out. History Origins The name Mpondomise, which means "to hold your horns upright", is a descriptor for the mountainous lands that the ethnic group occupied. It is also to signify the fighting strength of the nation. The Mpondomise originate in traditional Southern Nguni and Mbo lands in south-east Africa and the northern parts of the Western Cape. They presently reside in KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. They are part of the Nguni people, being part of the greatest subdivision of the Ngunis i.e. the Aba-Mbo people. Aba-Mbo people include some Zulus (Mkhize, Mavovo, Majola etc.), some Tswanas (Bapo), Swatis (particularly Dlaminis from which the monarch of Eswatini comes), Mpondos, Ama-Xesibe and Ama-Bomvu and Ama-Bomvana descendants of Nomafu. Ama-Mpondomise did not migrate to Southern Africa because the region forms parts of their land. The Lebombo born that is estimated to be about 35 000 years the oldest mathematical tool in the world, which is similar to the Ishango bone found in the Lebombo border serves as proof that Nguni and Ama-Mbo are indigenous to Southern Africa. In abaMbo history and tradition, Mpondomise are seen as wise since the name metaphorically means to be dual in nature or to raise your horn: in other words, to be diplomatic but also be ready to attack (with the literal meaning being "hold your horns upright"). Mpondomise people are the descendants of King Mpondomise, the grandson of King Sibiside who was the leader of the once-powerful Embo nation (Aba-Mbo or Ma-Mbo). It is through king King Sibiside's son Prince Njanya (the father of Prince Mpondomise) that the Mpondomise nation emerged together with other Nguni nations or ethnic groups as a force to be reckoned with. It is also through King Sibiside (the king of the aba-Mbo and grandfather of Mpondomise) that Mpondomise people are cousins to other aba-Mbo people such as Ama-Mpondo (who was Mpondomise's the twin), Ama-Xesibe (born after the twins), ooMkhize and ooDlamini (regardless of Nguni affiliation, including those who are so-called "Mfengu"). Since Mpondomise and Mpondo were twins, there