Mkabayi kaJama : the influence behind their reign

My grandmother always made it a point to remind me of the power and influence i have and would always use Princess Mkabayi kaJama as reference to the type of influence a woman has. Princess Mkabayi was a twin and it was believed that "amaphahla" bring misfortune in the kingdom and therefore should be killed. Well that was the belief until King Jama was supposed to act on it . He decided to spare his little daughter's life . Mkabayi's life wasn't as glamorous as you'd expect a royal princess to be, her mother's death didn't make things easier as the talks of her existence being the reason behind her death started circulating. The princess was believed to have a sharp tongue and headstrong. It is after the death of her mother and her father King Jama not having an heir that made her take a decision to secretly journey to finding her father a wife ( a bit bizarre i know) , one that was going to be loved by the whole kingdom. True to her decision she found her father a wife and they soon had a wife , that painted her in her different light within the kingdom but not enough to totally brush off the gossip and hearsay within the kingdom. The heir to King Jama's throne was named uSenzangakhona , named after the strong-willed Princess. The king died shortly after Senzangakhona's birth and the kingdom was left without a leader.It is believed that one of Jama's illegitimate children wanted to take over the throne but Mkabayi sent out an army to get rid of him, to her this was necessary. I believe this is where her strong will and heard-strong character came out to play because she led the kingdom right until Senzangakhona came to prime, handed over the throne to him without any trouble. Mkabayi was behind most of the decisions made in the kingdom during King Senzangakhona's reign.She was easily the power behind his reign.

Senzangakhona was said to be a charming and irresistible man , it was no surprise when he got Nandi kaBhebhe of the Langeni chiefdom pregnant. One would think of this as a disgrace but not Mkabayi , she saw this as the possible heir to Senzangakhona's throne so she urged her flee and raise him away from the kingdom, the son was named Shaka. One could easily say that Princess Mkabayi was the rise and fall of the Great Zulu King . 20 years after they fled Senzangakhona died , Mkabayi worked hard to ensure tat Shaka became king. Even denying his brother's illegitimate son . Shaka then led a troop which was going to fight against his brother's, he won and took the throne . Mkabayi wasn't as involved in Shaka's reign as he often didn't take no one's advice, she focussed more on her millitary troops. Which is also a bit bizarre as she was supposed to have been married at this age.Shaka's reign was a success story and the Zulu kingdom grew to it's peak.It was through Queen Nandi's death where everything fell down like a ton of bricks...well for the people atleast. Shaka's murder was of no surprise as his half brother and attent killed him but the woman behind this plan was what left me a bit shocked...Mkabayi was behind his fall.She then went on to kill everyone who was involved in his murder except for the one who was going to succedd Shaka.The stories around Princess Mkabayi kaJama change from time to time but never the narrative of this woman being resillient and influencial in the Zulu empire.