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LOBENGULA

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(c. 1833–94), last king of the Ndebele (or Matabele), in what is now Zimbabwe. His father, Mzilikazi (c. 1790–1868), had led the Ndebele to the area in the 1840s in flight from the expanding Zulu (see MFECANE). After Mzilikazi died, however, Lobengula fought a 2-year civil war to succeed as ruler (1870). Faced with growing white encroachment in the 1880s, Lobengula granted (1888) exclusive mineral rights in his lands to the British colonialist Cecil Rhodes. Ensuing white influx and activities far exceeded any Ndebele concessions, but Lobengula, trying to avert a war he knew would be disastrous to his people, was forced to acquiesce to massive white settlement. Rising passions on both sides nevertheless led to an armed confrontation in 1893, and the Ndebele were routed. Lobengula died while fleeing the white onslaught northward.

An article from Funk & Wagnalls® New Encyclopedia. © 2006 World Almanac Education Group. A WRC Media Company. All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by written agreement, uses of the work inconsistent with U.S. and applicable foreign copyright and related laws are prohibited.

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LOBENGULA

LOBENGULA. (c. 1833–94), last king of the Ndebele (or Matabele), in what is now Zimbabwe. After Mzilikazi died, however, Lobengula fought a 2-year civil war to succeed as ruler (1870). Faced with growing white encroachment in the 1880s, Lobengula . . .

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