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N the aftermath of the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War, the then British commander in Natal, Garnet Wolseley, assisted by Theophilus Shepstone, secretary of native affairs, carved up the Zulu Kingdom into 13 territories. One of these fiefdoms was ruled by Zibhebhu kaMaphitha. His grandfather was Sojiyisa, stepson to King Shaka’s grandfather, Jama.

The loose translation of Sojiyisa’s name is “He who was diluted”. This is because when his mother, Nongati, who was a Thonga slave, married Jama, she was already pregnant. When this was pointed out to Jama he shrugged: “I know that she is pregnant but I will dilute the unborn one’s genetics with my royal seed.”

In jest or not, this is a typical outlook for the delusional wannabe infallible commonly known as the human male.

An uncle of mine who was a court interpreter for 40 years recently enthralled me with a story