29/01/2022
The Van’wanati Maluleke book chronicles the Maluleke dynasty from king Malenga who is the ancestor of all Maluleke people. The book gives an in-depth and well researched evidence of how the Malulekes conquered Vanyayi and other groups to expand their kingdom along the riverbanks.
The book is rich with the stories of conquests and of ancient traditions. Their most notably victory was the war tey waged against the Voortrekker under their leader Hans Van Rensberg in July 1836. Van Rensberg and his entire group were all massacred by Maluleke warriors under the able leadership of the powerful Hosi Nkuri wa Dlhamani. The Maluleke dynasty was dealt a great blow by a series of colonial projects. The scramble of Africa saw their land divided into three parts; the first part of their land would be in wat is now South Africa, the second part would be in Mozambique and the third part would be in wat is now known as Zimbabwe. Some of the other events which contributed in dissolving their polity was the establishment of the Zoutpansberg district in the former Transvaal, the establishment of the Kruger National Park, the Land Act of 1913 and many other events. The story is told in an African language and thus celebrate the resilience of the Vatsonga culture after many years of oppression and suppression.
