DINGISWAYO

died 1817 chieftain, from 1807, of the Mtetwa clan of the North (Natal) Nguni division of the Bantu people. Dingiswayo became the paramount chief of about 30 peoples in Zululand (now northeastern Natal province, Republic of South Africa). His policy of conquering nearby Nguni peoples and absorbing them into a rudimentary centralized state was carried on by Shaka, the Zulu whom he chose as his successor. Dingiswayo initiated trade with the Portuguese in Mozambique. He was assassinated by Zwide, chief of the Ndwandwe clan, who rebelled against Dingiswayo's rule in Zululand.