y e a r l y r e g i s t e r BIOGRAPHY NABOTSIBENI (NDHLOVUKAZI), LATE QUEEN REGENT OF SWAZILAND. Nabotsibeni, a princess of the Mdhluli section o f the Swazi Nation, was the wife of Ngwenyama Mbandeni, King of Swaziland, and mother of Bhunu, Heli Mahlikhlo Ngwane III., and grandmother of the present Ngwenyama of Swaziland, Sobuza II. She was pro­ claimed Ndlilovukazi after the death of her husband, Mbandeni, in 1889. She ruled for 36 years, first as Queen Mother and then as Queen Regent during the minority of the Ngwenyama Sobuza. Her son, Ngwane III. reigned only' for a short time and died, leaving as heir the present ruler for whom the Ndhlovukazi acted. She was a wonderful woman; a good, wise and tactful ruler, and acknowledged by all the representatives of the British Throne as one of the cleverest rulers in Africa. She was a skilled diplomat and cleverly avoided many difficult and dangerous issues which cer­ tainly would have been very disastrous for Swaziland. She had great faith in the late Queen Victoria and the British Government. Though uneducated, she wras highly respected by all the High Commissioners and other British representatives for her wisdom and ability to handle with courage and tact a difficult national question. She W'as. not a Christian herself, but always welcomed all missionaries wrho visited her country; She did much for education in Swaziland, and actually sent her grandson, the present ruler, and other young members of the Royal Family to Lovedale, the South African .Native College and other educational institutions for higher education. She w~as the founder of the Abantu-Batho, an English-Bantu weekly newspaper printed and published in Johan­ nesburg. Since her death some trouble arose between the Europeans and the Swazi Nation wrhich necessitated the sending of a deputation to His Majesty the King of England. The deputation was headed by the Ngwenyama Sobuza himself. There followed a case before the Privy Council which the Swazies lost. Nabotsibeni was never known to don European clothes, although she had many presents of fine clothing sent to her from the good Queen of England. In order to regain tost rights over certain tracts of land in possession of European settlers she raised £+0,000 with the object of redeeming the land, but failed to establish her <daim. She died in Swaziland at the age of 80 years. 77 BIOGRAPHY THE AFRICAN Rev. HENRY REED NGCAYIYA. Born in 1860 in the district of Fort Beaufort, Cape Province. Educated at Healdtown Institution where he passed the Teachers’ Examination. Became schoolmaster, but after some years he resigned and became interpreter in the Aliwal North Magistrate’s Office. About this time Rev. Nehemiah Tile, head of the Tembu Church, and Rev. Mangena M. Mokone, founder of the Ethiopian Church, were busy in the Cape Province uniting the two churches. *A call was made for young men to join the ministry of the United Church, Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya being among the first to answer the call. After some time he was ordained by Bishop Turner who came from America to complete the union between the United Churches and the A.M.E. Church. This union, however, soon broke into three sections, the main body remaining with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. One section followed Rev. Dwane and became the Ethiopian Order under the Church of England. Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya and his followers re-established the discarded Ethiopian Church, under the presidency of Rev. Sishuba, who carried on for some years. After his death he was succeeded as president by the Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya. This position he held for more than 16 years, during which time he did splendid work. Those purely African Churches were much suspected by the Europeans, who, together with the Governments of the day, lent them little encouragement. Rev. Ngcayiya suffered both in Natal and Rhodesia. The Church moved on until at last it became recognised by the Governments throughout South Africa. Many churches have since been built especially in the principal towns of the Union of South Africa. They even acquired a printing plant, and published a church magazine. Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya took great interest in the progress of his people. He was Chaplain and member of the Executive Committee of the African National Congress since 1912. Was a member of the 1919 deputation of the African National Congress to '•he British Government in England. Gave evidence before a Sel'-ct Committee of the Union of South Africa Parliament. Was a good preacher, energetic, and very shrewd in his judgment; the soul of generosity, and made many sacrifices; a very cheerful dis­ position. In Conference, whenever a deadlock threatened, he was the one to find a way out. Was loved by all his colleagues. His eldest son is a schoolmaster in the United States o f America. Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya died at his home in 1928. 78 YEARLY REGISTER BIOGRAPHY Mr. NELANI JORDAN NOBADULA, born in 1844, at Tand- jesberg, Graaff Reinet. His father was a servant to a Dutch farmer. Nelani attended a country school where he was taught to read and write. Later he went to East London and was employed by a carpenter. Also attended night-school. When he left East Londoni he had reached Standard III. besides being a good carpenter. In 1876 he went to St. Mark’s Institution for further education. The Xosa War broke out during 18 77 and he was obliged to leave school. After peace was declared he was appointed teacher and catechist of the Anglican Church to which he had become attached. In 188 2 he was sent to St. John’s College to study theology. During school hours he was at school, and in the afternoons and evenings he attended the T heological Classes. O rdained in 1887 as priest and appointed to Mount Frere where he worked all his life. Died in 1920. Established the Hebehebe, Unyika, Gqogqora, Sikobeni, Nqadu, Xabane and Tower Unyika Anglican Stations in the Umtata and St. Cuthbert’s Dioceses. He did much missionary work among the Bacas and the Pondos at Mount Frere. His six sons and three daughters are well educated. He had much influence over chiefs and heathen people. Mr. JOHN NOGAGA, who was born in the Cape Province, Went to the Transvaal a number of years ago. He became employed by the Crown Mines, Ltd., as clerk, afterwards becoming chief clerk. He was a prominent figure on the Witwatersrand, and took a keen interest in sports, and has donated several cups for competition in cricket. Mr. Nogaga, whose father was very wealthy, left all his property to his eldest son, but Mr. Nogaga worked his way until he, too, became well-to-do. He died in 1930 in Johannesburg. Mr. SIMON MAJAKATHETA PHAMOTSE was born in Basutoland and educated at Morija and Lovedale. Became post­ master at Mahaleshoek. After the Anglo-Boer War he came to the I ransvaal with Sir G o d fre y Lagden and join ed the N ative Affairs department, Pietersburg, under Mr. C. A. Wheelwright. After resigning his position, he was instrumental in establishing the first African newspaper in the Transvaal known as T h e N a tiv e Eye. A fte r some years Mr. Phamotse returned to Basutoland and became secre­ tary to the late Chief Johnathan whose daughter he afterwards married. Mr. Phamotse was a very progressive man, and did much for Basutoland. The Basutos acknowledged him as being their fore­ most leader. He was respected by both black and white. Hating ■ujustice and tyranny he did not hesitate to condemn chiefs wha dealt arbitrarily with their subjects. Was a lover of African liberty throughout the country, especially in Basutoland. 79 D BIOGRAPHY THE AFRICAN 80 YEARLY REGISTER BIOGRAPHY Rev. ARTHUR G. NYOVANE. Rev. Arthur G. Nyovane was educated at St. John’s College and went to St. Columbus as a Catechist. Worked at St. Columbus and Capetown until his ordination as a deacon. Went to Kimberley and worked for a number of years at the Holy Cross and St. Paul’s Missions. As a student of Divinity he was versed in Greek, Latin and Hebrew. Translated some books and took a keen interest in politics and history. A hard worker and an honest and straight­ forward man, and was also a very good speaker. Mr. Nyovane was very prominent among his people, who respected him very much. He took a keen interest in the education of the young people. H e was a good speaker and was often invited to speak at public meetings Fond of sport and was a fine tennis player, and president of the Duke of W'ellington Cricket Club at Kimberley. Was also a very fine musician. He died in the Diocese of George where he worked among the natives. 81 D-II BIOGRAPHY THE AFRICAN CHIEF KGORI KGAM ANYANE PILANE, son of the Bakgatla Chief, Kgamanyane, son of Pilane, after whom the Pilansberg, in Rustenburg District, was called, was. the younger brother of the late Paramount Chief Lenchue Pilane of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela section whose capital is Mochudi in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, where they settled in 1870, leaving about half the tribe at Pilans- Berg in the Transvaal. Chief K. K. Pilane was, for many years, treasurer of the Transvaal African Congress, and later Treasurer- Ceneral of the African National Congress. He played a ■very important part in the affairs of the Africans, Chief Pilane was also a dealer in hides and skins and soft goods in the Rusten- Jburg District.