Mlawu ka Rarabe was a son of Rarabe ka Phalo, the founder of the Rarabe sub-group of the Xhosa nation.
Mlawu his known to have had three sons of which the oldest Ngqika ka Rarabe disposed of his uncle Ndlambe ka Rarabe as paramount chief of the Rarabe. The other two sons where Ntimbo ka Rarabe and Hobe ka Rarabe.
Mlawu died in 1782