[Source - Nessa Leibhammer for FHYA, 2016, using materials from Ruth Gordon and John Wright: These figures were possibly made by the carver Mhlophekazi. Originally from Swaziland, Mhlophekazi worked as a head attendant for Theophilus Shepstone from 1859. At the time of his death in 1897 at the age of 80, he was still in the family’s employ. The author Rider Haggard must have met him in 1870 at the same time that he met Shepstone. He became the inspiration for the fictional character Umslopogaas in Haggard’s books about the adventures of Alan Quartermain.]
