Mpezeni (also spelt Mpeseni) was born in 1830 was warrior-king.
He was warrior-king of one of the largest Ngoni groups of central Africa.
Mpezeni was based in what is now the Chipata District of Zambia, at a time when the British South Africa Company (BSAC) of Cecil Rhodes was trying to take possession of the territory for the British Empire.
Mpezeni was courted by the Portuguese and the BSAC sent agents to obtain a treaty — Alfred Sharpe in 1889.
In 1897 with over 4000 warriors Mpezeni rose up against the British who were taking control of Nyasaland.
He also rose against the British over North-Eastern Rhodesia, and was defeated.
Mpezeni had many wives and more children.
He signed the treaty which allowed him to rule as Paramount Chief of the Ngoni in Zambia’s Eastern Province and Malawi’s Mchinji district.
Mpezeni passed away in 1900.
His successors as chief take the title Paramount Chief Mpezeni to this day.