ABOUT US
Celebrating Ndebele heritage across the UK and beyond.
iSintu saMahlabezulu exists to preserve and celebrate aMahlabezulu culture, strengthen community connections, and promote cultural heritage, diversity, and social inclusion across the United Kingdom.
Founded in 2024, iSintu saMahlabezulu is a non-political, cultural, and philanthropic charity organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage, values, and traditions of the aMahlabezulu people of Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, across the UK and beyond.
Our aMahlabezulu identity is rooted in shared language, customs, and heritage, bringing together people from Matabeleland. Through this shared foundation, we foster connection, belonging, and cultural pride within our communities residing in the United Kingdom.We represent the aMahlabezulu community and are committed to connecting and celebrating our people through language, music, dance, storytelling, and community gatherings. Our mission is to safeguard our rich cultural traditions while inspiring present and future generations to take pride in their identity.Established by members of the aMahlabezulu within the Matabele diaspora, iSintu saMahlabezulu provides a platform for intergenerational connection, cultural education, and community engagement. Through events, outreach, and shared learning, we strengthen identity, belonging, and unity.
We believe that culture is identity — a living heritage that must be celebrated, protected, and passed on to future generations.
OUR ACTIVITIES
Annual Cultural Event
An annual celebration showcasing aMahlabezulu heritage through traditional songs, dances, storytelling, myths, legends, food, and dress, while also exploring contemporary expressions of Ndebele culture in the UK.
Community Engagement
We organise smaller events throughout the year, including cultural discussions, educational talks, and community forums, and respond to matters affecting the aMahlabezulu community — guided by our management committee.
Social Support
We serve as a social support organisation for our members, fostering unity, wellbeing, and a strong sense of belonging within the aMahlabezulu community.
LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY
IsiNdebele is the primary language of iSintu saMahlabezulu and sits at the heart of our work. We recognise language as a barometer of identity — defining who we are, where we come from, and how we connect to our heritage.IsiNdebele, a Bantu language spoken mainly in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, is a vital link to our cultural identity, historical roots, and shared values.For all cultural activities and events, isiNdebele is used as the primary language, while English serves as a secondary language for official communication and for engaging those who may not speak or fully understand isiNdebele.As an inclusive organisation, we welcome all who wish to learn, engage, and celebrate with us — both within Zimbabwe and across the diaspora. We encourage members and supporters of iSintu saMahlabezulu to promote isiNdebele across all platforms, ensuring its continued relevance and growth.For this platform, both isiNdebele and English are embraced, reflecting our unity in diversity.
THE DIASPORA: A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY
At iSintu saMahlabezulu, we recognise the Ndebele diaspora as a vibrant and essential part of our global community. Living across the UK and beyond, our people carry with them the spirit, values, and traditions of Matabeleland.
The diaspora plays a unique role in preserving culture, strengthening identity, and building bridges between generations and nations. Through cultural events, education, and community connections, we celebrate the diaspora as custodians of heritage — ensuring our traditions remain alive, relevant, and shared with the world.
Our Story
Our Story – Siyaziqhenya
iSintu saMahlabezulu was founded to preserve, celebrate, and pass on African indigenous knowledge, cultural values, and ancestral heritage to future generations.
Rooted in the wisdom of our ancestors, iSintu represents a way of life grounded in respect, identity, and collective responsibility. Living in the UK and beyond, we recognised a growing need for a trusted cultural platform that reconnects people of Matabeleland and Midlands heritage with their roots, while nurturing unity, belonging, and pride within our communities.
Through cultural education, intergenerational gatherings, and immersive heritage experiences, iSintu saMahlabezulu brings together elders, adults, and young people. This ensures that our traditions, languages, and histories are not lost, but actively preserved and carried forward with dignity and pride.
Our journey is guided by strong values, transparent governance, and accountable leadership. Working in partnership with communities and organisations, we empower people through heritage, strengthen cultural identity, and contribute to community wellbeing.
Our Values & Cultural Foundations
Our Culture — Siyaziqhenya
We, the aMahlabezulu, proudly honour our heritage.
Our culture is our treasure, carried across generations.
Rooted in enduring values, customs, and beliefs, it shapes who we are.Through storytelling, poetry, song, and dance, our history lives on.These traditions teach respect, unity, and a deep sense of belonging.At the heart of our culture is Ubuntu — umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.
We value respect, compassion, and working together as one.
Preserving culture means living it, teaching it, and celebrating it daily.
We protect our language, customs, and shared values.
Our culture. Our pride. Siyaziqhenya.
Our Identity
Our aMahlabezulu identity is rooted in shared language, customs, and heritage of people from Matabeleland and the Midlands, bringing connection, belonging, and pride to our communities living in the UK
Our Pride
Celebrating aMahlabezulu traditions, language, and resilience across generations and communities.
iSintu saMahlabezulu is a non-political, community-led voluntary and cultural organisation committed to preserving, celebrating, and sharing AmaNdebele heritage among Mahlabezulu communities in the UK and beyond.
Cultural Preservation:
We safeguard and promote the traditions, language, rituals, customs, and ancestral heritage of the Mahlabezulu people, ensuring that our cultural identity is protected and passed on to future generations.
Heritage Education & Cultural Learning
We provide heritage education that teaches Mahlabezulu history, values, and cultural practices to our members, youth, and the wider public through workshops, storytelling, and cultural activities.
Unity and Solidarity
We foster unity, mutual respect, and collaboration among Mahlabezulu families and communities, strengthening social bonds and collective responsibility.
Community Empowerment:
To support social, educational, and economic development initiatives within our communities.
Community Representation & Advocacy
We represent the Mahlabezulu community and advocate for its interests at local, national, and international levels, giving our people a united and respected voice.