Queen a pillar of the royal house
‘Dike was the pride of the nation’
Born: March 29 1945 Died: May 15
Funeral: Feni Great Place in Centane, Sunday
Xhosa royal houses are mourning the passing of senior member, Queen Mother Nobekile Dike.
She’ll be buried on Sunday at Feni Grea t Place in Centane, Eastern Cape.
Dike, 73, succumbed to womb cancer on May 15 at her Centane home after a short illness. She was the mother of Chief Tshitshilakhe Jongisizwe Dikethe, the head of the Tyali Traditional Council and Imingcangathelo nation.
She was the wife of the late Chief Qalindawo Dalibhunga Dike, the grandson of Chief Feni and a descendant of legendary Chief Tyali of the seedbearer house of King Ngqika of the Rharhabe kingdom.
The queen’s death left both the senior houses of Phalo – Gcaleka and Rharhabe – devastated.
Two royal spokesmen, Chief Xhanti Sigcawu, on behalf of Xhosa King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu of the Gcaleka, and Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, on behalf of the Rharhabe, expressed their sorrow at her death.
“We are saddened by the untimely demise and passing of the mother of the nation of Imingcangathelo. We all feel very sad. She was the embodiment of the kind of servant leadership which is the pride of the nation,” said Burns-Ncamashe.
“We hope that God will show us the light so that her legendary footprint can be emulated by the current and future generations.”
Sigcawu said: “Nkosikazi Dike was the contact point for young royal wives who wanted to know how to act according to royal protocol and custom. We have lost one of the pillars of the royal house. She was a humble, down-to-earth person.”
Imingcangathelo royal family chairman Prince Bulelani Tyali and spokesman Prince Daluxolo Dike described her death as “a big blow to the family”.
Despite her limited level of formal education, Dike played an important role in promoting education, agriculture and cultural practices in Centane. She encouraged many young traditional leaders and youth to equip themselves with education and till the land to fight poverty and unemployment, and to develop the communities.
Dike is is survived by four children – Tshitshilakhe, Nolokoza, Trayishile and Mthinteli.
‘ ‘ She was a humble, down-to-earth person