She persuaded her father, the Zulu King Jama kaNdaba, to remarry, and acted as a regent during the reign of her half-brother, Senzangakhona.
For this reason, and being of stronger character than her sister, Mkabayi grew up being resented by the Zulu people and was blamed for much of the chiefdom's misfortune.
[4][3] In 1762, recognising that her father the chief was growing old and still without a son, Mkabayi went about courting Jama a wife who would have a child, his heir, without his knowledge.
In recognition of Mkabayi's effort to ensure the continuation of the Zulu line and monarch, the child was named Senzangakhona, meaning "we have done accordingly."
In 1781, upon the passing of Jama and recognising that Senzangakhona was too young to ascend the chiefdom, Mkabayi appointed herself regent; something that was unheard of at the time.