Rharhabe
Encyclopedia
The Rharhabe are a Xhosa sub-group found on the Ciskei
section of the Eastern Cape
. Their counterparts are the AmaGcaleka which are found on the Transkei
section of the Eastern Cape
.
. Phalo had two sons, Rharhabe, the eldest but from his right hand house and Gcaleka
, the first born from Phalo
's first (royal) house.
Rharhabe was born around 1702. He displayed signs of wisdom from a very young age. As the two brothers, Gcaleka and Rharhabe, grew up, argument began ensuing about who should be the rightful air to the kingship as Gcaleka
tried to usurp the throne. To avoid confrontation, Rharhabe and a group of his followers left Phalo's Great Place and crossed the Kei River and thus the Xhosa monarchy was, and still is, divided into the AmaGcaleka and the AmaRharhabe.
On arrival at the Ciskei, Rharhabe negotiated with Queen Hoho, queen of the Hottentots and the land between the Keiskamma and Buffalo Rivers was sold to Rharhabe. The Amathole Forests
and Hoho hills between Middle Drift and King William's Town were also given to Rharhabe.
Rarabe is known to have had at least two wives. He had 9 sons from his first wife (Mlawu ka Rarabe, Jalousa ka Rarabe, Siko ka Rarabe, Sigcawu ka Rarabe, Cebo ka Rarabe, Hlahla ka Rarabe, Nzwane ka Rarabe, Mnyaluza ka Rarabe and Ntsusa ka Rarabe) and from his second wife, Nojoli kaNdungwana of Thembu, he had two sons (Ndlambe ka Rarabe and Nukwa ka Rarabe).
Rarabe died near present day Dohne
in the Eastern Cape Province.
AmaJobe Chiefdom
Nkosi Zanemali Bani
Peddie South Coast (42)Rharhabe Kingdom
Ciskei
Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It covered an area of 2,970 square miles , almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province, and possessed a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean....
section of the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
. Their counterparts are the AmaGcaleka which are found on the Transkei
Transkei
The Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
section of the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
.
History of the Rharhabe
The Xhosa royal blood line stretches from Xhosa, whose successor was Tshiwo, the father of PhaloPhalo ka Tshiwo
Phalo ka Tshiwo was a paramount chief of the Xhosa nation from 1736 until his death in 1775.Phalo was the second son of Tshiwo but his older brother Gwali was from a junior wife and Phalo was in line for the throne. Tshiwo died the same year of Phalo's birth so his uncle Mdange took over the reins...
. Phalo had two sons, Rharhabe, the eldest but from his right hand house and Gcaleka
Gcaleka ka Phalo
Gcaleka ka Phalo was the founder of the Gcaleka people, a sub-group of the Xhosa nation.Gcaleka was the third son of Phalo ka Tshiwo and had 3 known sons, Khawuta ka Gcaleka , Velelo ka Gcaleka and Nqoko ka Gcaleka...
, the first born from Phalo
Phalo ka Tshiwo
Phalo ka Tshiwo was a paramount chief of the Xhosa nation from 1736 until his death in 1775.Phalo was the second son of Tshiwo but his older brother Gwali was from a junior wife and Phalo was in line for the throne. Tshiwo died the same year of Phalo's birth so his uncle Mdange took over the reins...
's first (royal) house.
Rharhabe was born around 1702. He displayed signs of wisdom from a very young age. As the two brothers, Gcaleka and Rharhabe, grew up, argument began ensuing about who should be the rightful air to the kingship as Gcaleka
Gcaleka ka Phalo
Gcaleka ka Phalo was the founder of the Gcaleka people, a sub-group of the Xhosa nation.Gcaleka was the third son of Phalo ka Tshiwo and had 3 known sons, Khawuta ka Gcaleka , Velelo ka Gcaleka and Nqoko ka Gcaleka...
tried to usurp the throne. To avoid confrontation, Rharhabe and a group of his followers left Phalo's Great Place and crossed the Kei River and thus the Xhosa monarchy was, and still is, divided into the AmaGcaleka and the AmaRharhabe.
On arrival at the Ciskei, Rharhabe negotiated with Queen Hoho, queen of the Hottentots and the land between the Keiskamma and Buffalo Rivers was sold to Rharhabe. The Amathole Forests
Amatola Mountains
Amatola, Amatole or Amathole are a range of densely forested mountains, situated in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The word Amatole means "calves", and Amatole District Municipality, which lies to the south, is named after these mountains.-Natural history:Part the 'Amatola and...
and Hoho hills between Middle Drift and King William's Town were also given to Rharhabe.
Rarabe is known to have had at least two wives. He had 9 sons from his first wife (Mlawu ka Rarabe, Jalousa ka Rarabe, Siko ka Rarabe, Sigcawu ka Rarabe, Cebo ka Rarabe, Hlahla ka Rarabe, Nzwane ka Rarabe, Mnyaluza ka Rarabe and Ntsusa ka Rarabe) and from his second wife, Nojoli kaNdungwana of Thembu, he had two sons (Ndlambe ka Rarabe and Nukwa ka Rarabe).
Rarabe died near present day Dohne
Döhne
Döhne is a South African agricultural research station 6 kilometers north of Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape. It is noted for having developed the Döhne Merino from Peppin Merino ewes and German mutton merino sires in 1939. The program bred for high fertility, rapid lamb growth and fine wool...
in the Eastern Cape Province.
The Rharhabe today
The Rharhabe are currently under the leadership of King Maxhob'ayakhawuleza Sandile Aah! Zanesizwe and currently have 40 other chiefs serving under them with a jurisdiction stretching out to Peddie, Whittlesea and the Greater Fish River areas, including Alice.See also
List of Xhosa ChiefsAmaJobe Chiefdom
Nkosi Zanemali Bani
Peddie South Coast (42)Rharhabe Kingdom