Colonial spellings of our surnames — Who is “Muchanga” in Xitsonga?

The history of how our ancestors were documented in colonial records.



Who does “Muchanga” refer to?

In Xitsonga, Muchanga is Muhlanga. 🦌

Why is “Muchanga” written in a foreign format?

Long ago, the surname Muhlanga was changed to Muchanga by the Portuguese. Why? Because their language doesn’t have the “HL” sound found in Xitsonga! So, they replaced it with “CH” — and that’s how Muhlanga became Muchanga in official documents. 🦌

Keep exploring, keep learning, and let the language guide you.

Losani. 🦌