Babanango
Babanango Show map of KwaZulu-Natal Babanango Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 28°22′S 31°05′E / 28.367°S 31.083°E / -28.367; 31.083
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Zululand
Municipality	Ulundi
Area [1]
• Total	1.41 km2 (0.54 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	1,886
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	98.8%
• Coloured	0.3%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	0.3%
• Other	0.3%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Zulu	96.9%
• English	1.2%
• Other	1.9%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
PO box	3850
Area code	035

Babanango is a small town located about 58 kilometers north-west of Melmoth^[2] in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Founded in 1904,^[2] the town is takes its name from the nearby stream and mountain.

Etymology

The exact origin of the name 'Babanango' is uncertain, and many possible origins have been proposed. The commonly accepted version comes from the Zulu words 'baba nango'. The popular story goes that many years ago a small Buthelezi child got lost on the slopes of the mist-shrouded hill and when an elder brother found him he shouted, "baba, nango", meaning "Father, there he is".

History

eMakhosini, located in the Mkhumbane Valley on the banks of a tributary of the White Umfolozi River near the town of Babanango, is the site of one of Zulu king King Dingane kaSenzangakhona's great royal kraals, UmGungundlovu, where Piet Retief and his Voortrekkers were massacred in 1838.^[3] The name "Mgungundlovu" is said to mean "the place of the elephant", and the name eMakhosini means "At the place of the chiefs". The settlement of Babanango was originally part of a land grant to European farmers in 1885 by King Dinizulu for their support after his father's death the year before.^[2]

Culture

The town's name is the title of the song "Baba Nango" on Juluka's sixth album Work For All.