The
Northern Ndebele people () are a
Bantu nation and ethnic group in
Southern Africa, who share a common Ndebele culture and
Ndebele language. Their history began when a
Zulu chiefdom split from
King Shaka in the early 19th century under the leadership of
Mzilikazi, a former chief in his kingdom and ally. Under his command the disgruntled Zulus went on to conquer and rule the chiefdoms of the
Southern Ndebele. This was where the name and identity of the eventual kingdom was adopted.