Ndebele

formerly Matabele

Bantu-speaking people who live primarily around the city of Bulawayo, Zimb., but also in Botswana. They originated early in the 19th century as an offshoot of the Nguni of Natal, moving first to Basutoland (now Lesotho) and ultimately to Matabeleland (Zimbabwe). Under Lobengula they grew in power but were defeated by the British in 1893. Today they are a farming and herding people numbering more than 1.5 million. They differ from the Ndebele of South Africa, whose women are known worldwide for their elaborate beadwork and the strong geometric designs they paint on the walls of their houses.

Find more information on Ndebele. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Ndebele.