Sigananda kaZokufa

According to oral history, Sigananda's grandfather was chief Mvakela, who married a sister of Nandi, King Shaka's mother, and that his father was Inkosi Zokufa.

[2] Perhaps the most venerable member of the old Zulu order, Sigananda kaZokufa's life and career spanned the reigns of Shaka (1816–1828), Dingane (1828–1840), Mpande (1840–1872) and Cetshwayo (1872–1884).

This massacre and its aftermath had a profound effect on early South African race relations as it led to the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838 when Dingane was overthrown by the Voortrekkers.

Although it had always been assumed Cetshwayo was the rightful heir, Mpande had apparently grown wary of his elder son's ambitions and had encouraged his favourite, Mbuyazi, to stake a claim.

However, on Cetshwayo's ascension to the throne in 1872, he remembered Sigananda's loyalty and recalled him back to Zululand, where he was installed as chief of the amaChube people.

[5] The old man remained as feisty as ever, though, and in 1906 became embroiled in the Battle of Mome Gorge, after allying himself with the young firebrand Bambatha kaMancinza of the Zondi clan.