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This book is an account of the history of the abaThembu, from the reign of uKumkani Nxeko in c.1650 to the death of uKumkani Dalindyebo in 1920. The importance of this cut-off date lies in the fact that uKumkani Dalindyebo's reign was characterised by relative stability compared to those of his predecessors. His prestige, however, was demeaned by the Department of Native Affairs' Secretary whose instruction was that uKumkani Dalindyebo should not be addressed as a 'paramount chief' as that title applied exclusively to the government, thereby strengthening the government's position and elevating it to be above customary law.

AbaThembuland was - and still is - central to the history of the former Transkei region and South Africa. Not only does it form part of the former Transkei region, but it also constitutes South Africa, and so divisions, conflicts, developments and/or underdevelopments in abaThembuland inevitably affected not only the former Transkei region but also the greater part of South Africa in no small measure. Thus, the history of abaThembuland and the divisions thereof overlap with the history of the former Transkei region and South Africa.