The Rharhabe are a Xhosa sub-group found on the Ciskei section of the Eastern Cape. Their counterparts are the AmaGcaleka which are found on the Transkei section of the Eastern Cape.
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The Xhosa royal blood line stretches from Xhosa, whose successor was Tshiwo, the father of Phalo. Phalo had two sons, Rharhabe, the eldest but from his right hand house and Gcaleka, the first born from Phalo's first (royal) house. Rharhabe was born around 1702. He displayed signs of wisdom from a very young age. As the two brothers, Gcaleka and Rharhabe, grew up, argument began ensuing about who should be the rightful air to the kingship as Gcaleka tried to usurp the throne. To avoid confrontation, Rharhabe and a group of his followers left Phalo's Great Place and crossed the Kei River and thus the Xhosa monarchy was, and still is, divided into the AmaGcaleka and the AmaRharhabe. On arrival at the Ciskei, Rharhabe negotiated with Queen Hoho, queen of the Hottentots and the land between the Keiskamma and Buffalo Rivers was sold to Rharhabe. The Amathole Forests and Hoho hills between Middle Drift and King William's Town were also given to Rharhabe.
Rarabe is known to have had at least two wives. He had 9 sons from his first wife (Mlawu ka Rarabe, Jalousa ka Rarabe, Siko ka Rarabe, Sigcawu ka Rarabe, Cebo ka Rarabe, Hlahla ka Rarabe, Nzwane ka Rarabe, Mnyaluza ka Rarabe and Ntsusa ka Rarabe) and from his second wife, Nojoli kaNdungwana of Thembu, he had two sons (Ndlambe ka Rarabe and Nukwa ka Rarabe).
Rarabe died near present day Dohne in the Eastern Cape Province.
The Rharhabe are currently under the leadership of King Maxhob'ayakhawuleza Sandile Aah! Zanesizwe and currently have 40 other chiefs serving under them with a jurisdiction stretching out to Peddie, Whittlesea and the Greater Fish River areas, including Alice.
List of Xhosa Chiefs AmaJobe Chiefdom Nkosi Zanemali Bani Peddie South Coast (42)Rharhabe Kingdom
Rharhabe Kingdom [1]