John Mavuma Nembula left the Zululand for the United States to assist in the typesetting & publication of the Bible into Zulu in 1881. He decided to remain in the US. He did Pre-Med at the University of Michigan (1884-1885) and enrolled for 2nd year medicine in 1885 at the Chicago Medical College (predecessor of Feinberg School of Medicine). He earned his medical degree in 1887 becoming the 2nd Black South African to qualify as a medical doctor. He returned to South Africa in 1888 and although he faced challenges securing employment, he was appointed District Surgeon of Umsinga. In 1896 he was offered District Surgeon position in Mapumulo. He died the following year of tuberculosis at the age of 36.