Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa
Encyclopedia
Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa (circa 1880-1928) was a member of the Thembu
tribe of South Africa
, and the chief of Mvezo
, a tiny village on the banks of the Mbashe River, known today as the Bashee River. He was the father of anti-apartheid activist and South African president Nelson Mandela
. His father, named Mandela, was the son of Thembu King Ngubengcuka
As chief, Mphakanyiswa presided in an official capacity at marriages, funerals, and initiations. Though he had no formal education and could not read or write, he was described by Mandela as having a keen sense and appreciation for history. He had an argument with the British magistrate and lost his position as a chief and his family had to move to other towns with Nelson his mothers and his three sisters moved to Qunu.
He had four wives and thirteen children: four sons and nine daughters. He died of tuberculosis
when his son Nelson was only nine years old.
Thembu
The Thimbu are one of the handful of nations and population groups which speak Xhosa in South Africa. In Xhosa the name is abaThembu, aba- being a common prefix for peoples....
tribe of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and the chief of Mvezo
Mvezo
Mvezo is a small village on the banks of the Mbashe river in the District of Umtata, the capital of the Transkei, an area in the South Eastern area of South Africa. The village is mainly known as being the birthplace of former South African president Nelson Mandela, whose family serves as its...
, a tiny village on the banks of the Mbashe River, known today as the Bashee River. He was the father of anti-apartheid activist and South African president Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
. His father, named Mandela, was the son of Thembu King Ngubengcuka
Ngubengcuka
Ngubengcuka was the king of the Thembu people, in the southern part of the Transkei region of South Africa. Known as Inkosi Enkhulu , Ngubengcuka united the Thembu nation before it was subjected to British colonial rule...
As chief, Mphakanyiswa presided in an official capacity at marriages, funerals, and initiations. Though he had no formal education and could not read or write, he was described by Mandela as having a keen sense and appreciation for history. He had an argument with the British magistrate and lost his position as a chief and his family had to move to other towns with Nelson his mothers and his three sisters moved to Qunu.
He had four wives and thirteen children: four sons and nine daughters. He died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
when his son Nelson was only nine years old.