LOBENGULA'S QUEEN

Evening Star, Issue 22448, 19 September 1936, Page 27

LOBENGULA'S QUEEN

Wizened, bent, and poorly clad, but not without traces of Royal dignity, an. ex-Queen has been listening to a native missionary conference at Bulawayo, in Southern Rhodesia. Her name is Macebose, once one of the superior wives, or queens, of Lohengula, last King of the Matabele. Her father was Gungunyana, a Zulu chief, who, like Mziligazi—“ Pathway of Blood ” —father of Lobengula, fled from Natal during the reign of the dreaded Zulu King Tsbaka, often referred to as the Black Napoleon. A little over 40 years ago the slightest whim of Queen Macebose was Jaw to whole regiments of plumed warriors. To-day, with a middle-aged daughter, she lives on a small pension granted by tho Rhodesian Government. Behind her faded, but imperious, old eyes and deeply furrowed face are memories that would make a score of books.

It was to Queen Alacebose’s father, Gungunyana, that Dr Jameson made his famous journey in 1891 through forests and swamps to secure a concession over GazaJand to obtain a seaboard for what is now Southern Rhodesia. Dr Jim obtained the concession, and permanently undermined his health in so doing; but the Imperial Government turned it down, and to-day Rhodesia remains an inland State, while the Portuguese rule over Gazaland.

The days of native wars, raids for women and cattle, tho ritual execution of wizards, and the barbaric splendour of the last great Bantu warriorking died with Maeoboso’s husband. To-day her chief interest is the spread of Christianity amongst the black races who were mice the subjects of Lobengu.'a—the TernMc in War.