Inkosi, otherwise appearing as Nkosi, is the
Zulu and
Xhosa for
chieftain in
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...
. Inkosikazi is the equivalent term for a chieftess.
An inkosi that has authority over several subordinate inkosis is traditionally referred to as an Inkosi Enkhulu (lit. "Great Chieftain"). This version of the title is typically translated as
king
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
in English.
People who bear or once bore the title
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Albert Lutuli
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Mandla Mandela
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George Matanzima
Chief George Mzimvubu Mathanzima (26 December 1918 in Qamata – 10 November 2000) was a leader of the Transkei bantustan in South Africa, a young brother of Kaiser Matanzima and a nephew of Nelson Mandela. He and his brother, Kaiser co-founded ...
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Kaiser Matanzima
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Qaqambile Matanzima
Qaqambile Matanzima (15 December 1949 – 5 August 2013) was a South Africa politician and tribal leader. Matanzima had served as a colonel in the former Transkei Defence Force (TDF), the military force the Republic of Transkei, a de facto indepe ...
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Falo Mgudlwa
Chief Falo kaMgudlwa (Falo son-of-Mgudlwa) was a Chief of AmaJumba Clan, of the amaThembu people near Qhumanco, Ngcobo. His household was based at Lucwecwe.
Family
The Mgudlwa line was established by Falo's father, the Chief Mgudlwa kaJumba ( ...
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Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi (born 27 August 1928) is a South African politician and Zulu traditional leader who is currently a Member of Parliament and the traditional prime minister to the Zulu royal family. He was Chief Minister of the ...
See also
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Induna
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inkosi
Zulu words and phrases
African noble titles