Similarities and differences between the Zulu and Ndebele kingdoms

Similarities and differences between the Zulu and Ndebele kingdoms


Similarities
Both societies were centralized with an absolute figure head who was the King.
In both societies, the Kings were assisted by appointees.
They were all military states where the army played a key role in the political organization. Both had a standing army (ies) where the age regiments were important.
To allow formal efficiency, the Kingdoms were divided into viable administration units.
The throne was patrilineally inherited through a system of primogeniture (that is where the first son inherits his father), but later on 'merit '.
They both had a centralized economy where the king played a key role.
Predominantly pastoral and were dependant on raiding their neighbors for cattle and other treasures.
Both societies carried out some internal and external trade with the local people, neighbors, and the Portuguese and Dutch merchants.
Cultivation of crops in which the regiments were important was done.
Tributes were obtained from vassal states, for example the Tsonga, Shona, Basuto, Tlokwa, Swazi, Sotho, and Lozi. Their regiments (army) were very important basic social units.
They all believed in African traditional religion and their divinities.
They both had important cultural ceremonies, for example the ceremony of the first harvest, circumcision.
They were socially stratified into castes, for example for the Ndebele they had the Zansi, Enhla and the Holi castes and for the Zulu superior chiefs and the commoners.
They survived on militarism and raiding neighbours.
Differences
Religion in the Zulu land state was state controlled and the King was the chief priest, while among the Ndebele state it was the Shona priests and not the state that controlled religion.
The Ndebele were more militaristic because they were 'occupier' state unlike the Zulu. For the Ndebele everybody belonged to a regiment for life.
The Ndebele were more socially stratified in the Zansi, Enhla and the Holi castes while the Zulu castes were not as district as the Ndebcle system.