She was the eldest of five children of John Colenso, the first Bishop of Natal, and continued his work, interceding on behalf of the Zulu people before the British Government.

She was the eldest of the five children of Sarah Frances (born Bunyon) and John Colenso, who would become the first bishop of Natal.

[4] As a child in Natal, she was nicknamed Udhlwedhlwe, which translates to Walking Stick, signifying her role as support and guide to her father.

[5] Colenso fought against the attitudes of those, such as Sir Theophilus Shepstone, whose policy it was to undermine the Zulu royal family, granting minor chiefs their own chiefdoms, and to foster intertribal strife.

[8] She convinced Sir Marshal Clarke, Resident Commissioner in Zululand from 1893 to 1897, of her point of view and he in turn persuaded London that Dinuzulu be permitted to return from exile in St Helena and be given the position of induna and confidant of the Government.

[8] After the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, Louis Botha's Government released Dinuzulu, at least in part as a result of Colenso's intermediation.