Usibepu
|
|
Usibepu (Zibhebhu) kaMaphitha (1841 - 1904) was a Zulu chief 1883-1884; son of Cetshwayo.
He was one of the 13 'kinglets' allocated land in the aftermath of the Anglo-Zulu War, and vied for the royal succession with another of Cetshwayo's sons, Dinizulu. The British, seeing the futility of the division of Zululand, determined to restore Cetshwayo as the ultimate chief. However, they left Usibepu alone and his lands intact.
Both Usibepu and Dinizulu befriended Boer mercenaries to help them in their claims. On the 22nd July 1883, led by a troop of mounted white mercenaries, Usibepu made a sudden descent upon Cetshwayo's kraal at Ulundi, which he destroyed. All Usibepu's men wore a piece of tiger skin round their heads as a distinguishing mark. Cetshwayo escaped, though wounded, into Nkandla forest. After repeated pleas from the Resident Commissioner, Sir Melmoth Osborn, the king moved to Eshowe, where he died a few months later, possibly by poisoning.
Dinizulu was left to fight for the succession, and with the help of General Louis Botha and Dinizulu's Volunteers defeated and killed Usibepu and his army to the last man at the Battle of Ghost Mountain (also known as the Battle of Tshaneni).
Skulls were so numerous at the site of the battle that they were used as road edge markers years later.