Rarabe

The Rharhabe (Xhosa pronunciation: [xaxaːɓe]) are a Xhosa sub-group found in the former Ciskei section of the Eastern Cape. Their counterparts are the Gcaleka which are found in the former Transkei section of the Eastern Cape. The major and most well-known component of the Rharhabe are the Ngqika ("Gaika") tribe.

The Xhosa royal blood line stretches from King Xhosa, who fathered Malangana, who fathered Nkosiyamntu, who fathered Tshawe, who fathered Ngcwangu, who fathered Sikhomo, who fathered Togu, who fathered Ngconde, who fathered Tshiwo, who fathered Phalo.

The reason the Xhosa nation is divided stretches to the time King Phalo had both of his intended wives arriving on the same day for their wedding, as he had already paid lobola, for one from the Mpondo royal family and one from the Thembu royal family. Since in the Xhosa nation the first wife, as was declared on her arrival, was the one whose sons would be heirs to the throne. This situation caused a great dilemma and a great out cry - some called this the ancenstors' punishment- because a first wife could not be declared. As the two young princesses were of equal status, by choosing one as the Great Wife, King Phalo stood to offend the father of the other. This dilemma was solved by an old wise man called Majeke, who said: "What is greater than the head of the king, and what is stronger than his right hand? Let the one be the head wife and the other the wife of the right hand".

So a secondary yet autonomous house was then created, being the Right Hand House. The Mpondo princess was chosen as his Great Wife and the Thembu princess as his Right Hand Wife. So there was a Right Hand House and the Great House.

Phalo had two sons, Rharhabe, the eldest son born from his Right Hand House and Gcaleka, born from the Great House.

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