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Tshatshu Clan — History & Meaning
Xhosa clan · isiXhosa
History & origin
The name Tshatshu occurs in two distinct, separately documented chiefly lineages of the Eastern Cape, both of which should be noted to avoid conflation. (1) Among the amaXhosa, the amaNtinde chiefdom traces its line from Ntinde kaTogu (a non-heir son of King Togu, brother of Ngconde) down through Ngethani, Bange and Cika to a chief named Tshatshu, whose sons were Soka (d. 1833) and the well-documented Dyani (Jan) Tshatshu (c. 1791-1868). The amaNtinde were located in the Ciskei east of the Fish River and were of substantially Khoi-incorporated composition. (2) Among the abaThembu, the amaTshatshu take their name from the chief Mvangxeni, whose honorific was 'Tshatsh'olithafa'; this line descends from the Thembu king Dlomo through Mawuse, Tukwa and Xhoba, who trekked east and settled on the eastern bank of the Tsomo River. Prominent amaThembu Tshatshu chiefs include Bawana, Maphasa (d. 1852 at Imvani) and Gungubele, all involved in the frontier wars; the chieftainship was restored to Sobantu in 1981. At its height amaTshatshu territory in western Thembuland included the areas of Whittlesea, Cathcart and Komani (Queenstown).
Notable figures & facts
Dyani (Jan) Tshatshu (c. 1791-1868), amaNtinde chief, London Missionary Society convert and interpreter who testified before the British House of Commons Select Committee on Aborigines in the 1830s. Among the abaThembu amaTshatshu: chiefs Bawana, Maphasa (d. 1852) and Gungubele, leaders during the frontier wars.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Ntinde, Togu, Dlomo, Bawana, Maphasa, Gungubele.
We publish the full iziduko (clan praises) only once we can verify them against documented tradition — for this clan they are still being confirmed. If you can share an authoritative version, corrections are warmly welcomed.