The Imidushane are therefore a subgroup within the Xhosa nation and can be found in the Eastern Cape, South Africa where they have three Traditional Councils in Tamarha near King William's Town, Ncerha near East London and Centane in the Mnquma Local Municipality.
Although sometimes referred to by the misnomer "Imidushane kaNdlambe"; the Imidushane are in fact a distinct tribe separate from the amaNdlambe, i.e. the tribe of Prince Ndlambe; having been established after Mdushane succeeded his uncle Prince Cebo who had died without male successors, as the heir to the Right Hand House of King Rharhabe.
[2] According to Xhosa tradition, King Phalo had intended to marry two royal brides from two different kingdoms for whom he had paid lobola.
However, one day he was caught by surprised when both bridal parties arrived simultaneously at his great place to begin the wedding festivities.
Rharhabe was much loved by his father and grew up to become a very successful and skilled hunter, whilst also a renowned warrior who was fearless in battle.
In order to keep the peace, Rharhabe with the blessing of his father, moved away from the great place and was provided with his own retinue and followers to create his own kingdom.
It is said that chief Mdandala had delivered as lobola less than 200 head of cattle to his father Rharhabe; which number was inadequate and viewed as an insult for a daughter of a king.
After Rharhabe death, Ngqika was chosen as the heir to the throne while Ntimbo became the great son of the Right Hand House of Mlawu, with Ndlambe their guardian.
When Cebo died without male heirs, and as his daughters were according to Xhosa Salic law excluded from succeeding him; the councillors of that house requested Ndlambe as the Rharhabe regent to supply them with a representative of their deceased prince from among his sons.
Mdushane would eventually leave Burnshill and join his father's faction and thus bring with him such a large following and military strength it would enhance the position of the amaNdlambe amongst other royal houses of the frontier.
The sheer brutality shown to the enemy meant that a great number of deaths as never seen before occurred, where some families lost their entire male kin.
In December 1818, Ngqika received the aid he so long wished for in the form of Colonel Brereton, who with his troops attacked the amaNdlambe and would seize 23,000 head of cattle.
This caused great resentment amongst the Xhosa, that in April 1819, the amaNdlambe forces marched in broad daylight into the Cape Colony and descended on Grahamstown in all-out war.
Makhanda (Nxele), who was a son of a commoner, had by this time through sheer force of personally risen to become supreme wardoctor of the amaNdlambe, and managed to convince Ndlambe that with his mystical powers they would defeat the British and expel them from the Cape Colony.
Makhanda and his troops managed to breach the British defences and reached the army barracks where they looted weapons and supplies.
The British with a garrison of about 300 men managed with their firepower to overcome the assault and the Xhosa retreated back over the Fish River.
It was customary among the Xhosa that when someone of importance became ill or some misfortune befell them, that a witchdoctor would be called upon to identify the reason for the person's malady.
Nonibe was to be saved from certain death by her step son Siyolo, who had recently emerged from the Xhosa custom of ulwaluko; he defied his father's orders and pleaded that she be met with no harm.
In May 1829, this colossal of a man in the prime of his years died at his great place near the Dube stream, a tributary of the Keiskamma River.
Samuel Young would later write that he was present at both the funerals of Ndlambe and Mdushane where he performed the prayer at both burials and that to his knowledge, these were the first instances where members of the Xhosa Royal Family were buried in accordance with Christian rites.
Siwani who was Mdushane's erstwhile great son and heir, was under the guardianship of his mother Princess Nonibe, who was assisted by Siyolo in her regency.
However, when the Sixth Frontier War of 1834 broke out, a now grown Qasana defied his uncle who supported peace with the Cape Colony and decided to fight against them.
[11] Like many other prominent actors in the cattle killing, which the colonial government believed to be a desperate ploy by the Xhosa as a pretext to another war; princes such as Maqoma, Siyolo, Phato, Mhala and Xhoxho, were arrested and sent to Robben Island.
[12] Qasana and his sons Jongilanga and Mqanqeni were never to be caught, for they deserted their ancestral home and would for many years remain in hiding among the Gcaleka in Centane.
Tola and his sons were not so lucky; after a year on the run their hiding place was betrayed to Magistrate Colley in Dutywa, where they were cornered and in the ensuing battle, fought to the bitter end.
As it was a condition of his release from Robben Island that he should not seek his followers or return to his land, Mhala was once again a target for rearrest by the colonial government, however he would die in battle in the last Cape Frontier War in 1875.
The Imidushane of Qasana, being the Right Hand House of Mdushane are under the leadership of Nkosi Zwelidumile Lwanda Jongilanga in Ncera, East London.