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Additional Resource 77.1: Transformation in southern Africa after 1750

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Transformation in southern Africa after
OVERVIEW
1750

There were great changes in southern Africa between 1750 and 1850.

1 Changes:
1. British expansion of the Cape Colony.

2. Natal established as a British colony.

3. The establishment of the Boer Republics:

Ÿ South African Republic (ZAR)

Ÿ Orange Free State

4. The rise of the Independent African kingdoms.

5. The destruction of the smaller tribal entities.

2 3
Historic debate as to the reason for these Need to consider all the different peoples of It is
estab sometim
changes: li e
southern Africa and see how change in one society these sh the ex s difficult
act c
Before 1980: The accepted theory was that change was caused changes in another. Africa
chan
ges. ause to
n ki T o find s for all
caused by the aggressive expansion of Shaka's Zulu Changes affect Tswana Ndwandwe rely o ngdoms, out
kingdom. artefa n ora we h about
the Gaza, Swazi, consolidate into kingdom breaks cts l trad ave t
i o
This caused thousands of people to flee from their original Pedi kingdoms as chiefdoms. up as Zulu of the . Most wri tion and
Africa tten a
lands. This dispersal was known as difaqane (mfecane). well as the Become involved kingdom rises. wri n kin ccou
n
The difaqane 'emptied' portions of land into which the Mpondo. in trade. viewp tten from gdoms a ts
oint o the b re
f the ia
Europeans moved unchallenged. white sed
settle
Post 1980: Theory of difaqane was discredited as white The Mzilikazi The Zulu kingdom rs.
justification for colonial expansion into the interior. establishment of establishes the expands under
the Basotho Ndebele King Shaka.
Modern historians: Changes caused by growth of trade kingdom under Kingdom.
opportunities. Moshoeshoe.
Transformation in southern POLITICAL CHANGES IN THE INTERIOR AND THE EAST
Africa after 1750

The Southern Tswana in the interior The Ndwandwe Kingdom in the east
Ÿ Ancestors of modern Setswana people. Lived south of Delagoa Bay.
Ÿ Lived north-west of the Vaal River. Lived between Phongola and Black Umfolozi rivers where the land was fertile.
Ÿ Farmers of sorghum, millet and cattle (cattle were a symbol of 1750 - 1769: Large increase in population.
wealth). Main rivals were the Mthethwa, under the leadership of Dingiswayo.
Ÿ Skilled craftsmen who worked with iron, copper and tin. 1805: Zwide became King of the Ndwandwe. Built up the wealth and power of the
Ndwandwe by:
Ÿ Built stone-walled settlements.
Ÿ Supplying cattle to the British and American whalers at Delagoa Bay.
Ÿ Most powerful groups were the Rolong and the Thlapeng.
Ÿ Participating in the lucrative ivory trade at Delagoa Bay.
1700s: Rapid increase in population. This caused competition over
resources and put pressure on the environment. Ÿ Arranging the young men of the tribe into amabutho.
From the 1750s: There was an increase in conflict. Increase caused by: Ÿ Using the chest and horns battle formation.
Ÿ The making and breaking of alliances between Tswana chiefs. The Ndwandwe wanted cattle to trade for beads, cloth and brass items from Delagoa
Bay. They attacked surrounding tribes for cattle. These attacks led to chain reactions.
Ÿ Episodes of cattle raiding and fighting.
For example: The Ndwande attacked the Ngwana.
Ÿ Severe drought which lead to crop failure. The Ngwana were forced to flee to present day Swaziland.
Ÿ Competition for involvement in new trading opportunities. The Ngwana attacked and displaced the Hlubi from Swaziland.

Chiefs who seized the new trading opportunities and became wealthy Timeline of the rise and fall of the Ndwandwe kingdom:
were able to expand and consolidate their kingdoms. The larger the 1805: Zwide kaLanga became King.
kingdom became, the more trade the kingdom could control. 1815: Zwide defeated the Mthethwe and had Dingiswayo killed.
1820:
Goods from
West Africa Tswana Ÿ Zwide attacked the small, but growing, Zulus under Shaka.
Shaka led Zulus into hiding and remained undefeated.
Ÿ Ndwandwe drove away the small Khumalo chiefdom under Mzilikazi.
Kora/Griqua Portuguese trade
'middlemen' at Delagoa Bay Ÿ Shoshangane broke away from the Ndwandwe to establish his own kingdom at
From Delagoa Bay: glass, Gaza in modern day Mozambique.
guns, tobacco
Cape 1826: The Ndwandwe were defeated by the Zulus. The Ndwandwe broke up into
colony smaller groups and went to live among the Zulus, the Swazi or the Ndebele.
From Cape: European
goods, oxen and guns.
Transformation in southern THE ZULU KINGDOM DURING THE REIGNS OF SHAKA AND DINGANE
Africa after 1750

The Kingdom under Shaka: The Kingdom under Dingane:

The Zulus were originally a small chiefdom which lived within the Built Royal residence at Mgungundlovu,
Mthethwa confederacy. ('Place of the Great Elephant')
Won the loyalty of the Zulu people by:
Ÿ Shaka was the illegitimate son of the
Zulu chief, Senzangakhona. Shaka Ÿ Not punishing any defeated regiments.
was disowned by his father.
Ÿ Allowing the amabutho to marry.
Ÿ He fled to the Mthethwa under
Ÿ Giving gifts of cattle to Shaka's indunas.
Dingiswayo.
Dingane sent out attacking parties against the Bhaca, the Ndebele and the Swazi. However,
Ÿ Became part of Mthethwa army –
under the control of Dingane, the Zulu army was less disciplined than it had been under
recognised for his bravery and
Shaka.
leadership abilities.
Dingane had to cope with the arrival of the Europeans:
Ÿ Dingiswayo instated Shaka as King of Dingane was warned that
the Zulus at the death of Ÿ English traders had settled in Port Natal (Durban). the white men could
Senzangakhona. Ÿ The Voortrekkers had crossed the Drakensberg not be trusted
Shaka built the Zulu chiefdom into a powerful kingdom. into present day KwaZulu-Natal.
Ÿ He introduced the short, stabbing spear (iklwa) and body
length shield. 1835 Dingane sent Zulu regiments to Port Natal to destroy the property of the English,
but was persuaded into signing a treaty with Captain Allen Gardiner.
Ÿ His army was well-trained and well-disciplined.
Ÿ Army training was harsh to ensure toughness.
The Zulu King would respect the lives and property of the British.
Ÿ Shaka incorporated all defeated tribes into Zulu kingdom.
The British would send back any deserters from the Zulu army.
Ÿ Increased kingdom through marriage alliances. The British settlers would remain south of the Thukela River.
Ÿ Introduced a sense of nationhood. 1838: February. Dingane's men murdered the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, at
Mgungundlovu.
But Shaka gained a reputation for being autocratic and cruel.
1838: 16 December, 1838: Battle of Blood River. The Voortrekkers defeated the Zulu army
He became increasingly unreasonable after the death of his
and destroyed Dingane's power base.
mother.
Shaka was assassinated on 22 Sept, 1828, by his half- Civil war erupted among the Zulus: Dingane vs Mpande
brothers, Dingane and Mahlangane. The Voortrekkers assisted Mpande.
Power passed into the hands of Dingane. 1840: Mpande became King.
 Transformation in southern OTHER STATES AND AREAS OF CONTROL BETWEEN 1820 AND 1835
Africa after 1750

? Annex: Take over a piece of land and add it to

your own territory.
Helpful mnemonic:
News Bulletin: Do good kind things. Give some
people money (Ndebele, Basotho, Dutch, Griqua,
1 Kora, Thlapeng, Gaza, Swazi, Pedi, Mpondo)
The Ndebele under Mzilikazi
1823: Crossed over Drakensberg Mountains.
Moved onto Highveld and attacked many 7 Gaza KIngdom under Soshangane
Tswana tribes. Broken away from Ndwandwe.
Initial kingdom established around present day Developed largest African state of this time period
Rustenberg. in southern and central Mozambique.
1837: Defeated by Voortrekkers and moved Overthrown by Portuguese in 1897.
North – eventually settled in modern day
Zimbabwe. The Swazi under Sobhuza
8
Sobhuza known as 'lion'.
2 The Basotho under Moshoeshoe Saved Swazi from conquest by Ndwandwe and
The Sotho people had always been settled in Zulu.
the Caledon Valley. By 1820 had established kingdom in present day
Moved to Thaba Bosiu, a natural stronghold Swaziland.
to protect themselves against the Zulus. Swaziland has remained a strong unified
Built up the kingdom by accepting refugees. kingdom ruled by an autocratic monarch.
Moshoeshoe used diplomacy to prevent
attacks from the Zulu and Ndebele. By mid 9 The Pedi under Sekwati
1830s, the Basotho had become a powerful Re-established kingdom after being defeated
kingdom. by Ndwandwe. Established mountain-based
4 5 6 The Griqua, the Kora and the Thlaping stronghold at Phiring.
Griqua and Kora had been middlemen in the Pedi travelled long distances to work on white
3 trade between Cape and Twsana. farms. Used their wages to buy guns.
Dutch settlers moving north and north-east from the Griqua (Dutch/Khoikhoi descendants), Kora These guns made it possible for the Pedi to
Cape Colony (Khoikhoi descendants). fight off attacks from the Zulu and Boers.
3.1: The Trekboers. Moved into Caledon Valley in search of When the Thlaping were attacked by the
grazing. For a while lived peacefully alongside the Basotho. Ndebele, trade was disrupted. The Griqua
3.2: Mass migration of Dutch farmers (The Great Trek) therefore helped Thlaping. A combined force 10
The Mpondo led by Chief Faku
from regions of Eastern Cape. Led by Piet Retief. Farmers of Thlaping, Griqua and the Voortrekkers,
Accepted Xhosa refugees fleeing from conflict
known as Voortrekkers. Went northwards into the interior eventually drove Mzilikazi and the Ndebele out
with Dutch. Defeated Zulus in 1824 and 1828
and north-east into present day, KwaZulu-Natal. of the area.
Land annexed by Britain in 1895.
 Transformation in southern
Africa after 1750 THE LEGACY OF SHAKA ZULU

? Legacy: The way in which someone is remembered by future generations.

Iconic: A representation of a person emphasising their special or heroic status.
Autocratic ruler: A ruler or king who has total power.
Tyrant: A cruel and oppressive ruler.

How has Shaka been remembered?

Which interpretation is correct? Are there any visual representations of
Ÿ An iconic hero. Shaka?
Why are there such different
Ÿ A symbol of African pride and achievement. interpretations? There are drawings, paintings and statues of
Shaka. However, none of these are 100%
Ÿ A great leader and military strategist.
accurate since there are no eye-witness
Ÿ A brutal and autocratic ruler. Our knowledge of Shaka has come from drawings or clear records of what Shaka
two different sources. looked like.
Ÿ A bloodthirsty tyrant.
One statue was removed from King Shaka London statue
of Shaka Zulu
airport as people complained this portrayed
Shaka as a herd boy rather than as a King.

1 Oral tradition 2
Early written accounts
Ÿ Information handed down by oral tradition is subjective
and exaggerated. Ÿ The first written accounts describing Shaka Zulu were
written by the British who had no understanding of Zulu
Ÿ Each 'storyteller' adds his/her own interpretation of culture or tradition.
A film, a
events. TV serie
Ÿ These account were unreliable for a number of reasons: even a s and
musical
Ÿ All oral tradition tends to be dramatic in nature. been m have
ade abo
¡ They were based on unreliable oral accounts. of Shak ut the life
a. All of
Ÿ Zulu Praise songs portray Shaka as a great, powerful contain th
¡ They were written as fictionalised stories about inaccura ese
leader who showed exceptional skills as a military their pu cies as
strategist. Shaka. The authors of these stories needed to put in entertain rpose is to
exciting descriptions of bloodthirsty exploits. as much
Ÿ Oral accounts which originated from Shaka's enemies or to inform as it is
.
conquests, speak of Shaka's extreme cruelty and ¡ They were written in order to justify the British
ruthlessness. determination to destroy the Zulu.
Transformation in southern
Africa after 1750 TERMINOLOGY

Amabutho: A regiment of young men. Each Induna: Men in charge, people with authority.
amabutho would have its own name and
Legacy: The way in which a person is remembered.
insignia.
Migration: The movement of large numbers of people from one place to
‘Chest and horns battle formation': Also
another.
known as 'Bull and horns'. A form of attack
where the first attack is done by a central Mgungundlovu: (Also spelt 'uMgungugndlovu' and in older books,
column. Then, once the enemy is distracted 'Gungundlovu'): Royal residence built by Dingane. Place where Piet Retief and
by fighting the first attack, two more attacks his men were killed.
are launched, one from each side. The enemy
is quickly surrounded and defeated. Mosheshoe: Leader of the Basotho people. His name was allegedly changed
from Lepoqo after a successful raid in which he had sheared the beards of his
Chief: The hereditary ruler of an African state. victims – the word 'Moshoeshoe' represented the sound of the shearing.
Chiefdom: An area ruled by a chief in which the people have a common Mzilikazi: Leader of the Ndebele. The Ndebele eventually settled in the area
language and culture. The people in a chiefdom share a sense of kinship. around modern day Bulawayo in Zimbabwe.
Confederacy: A grouping together of different smaller states or regions. Refugee: A person who has been forced to leave his own territory. War gives
rise to a lot of refugees.
Difaqane: Sometimes written as 'mfecane'. A period of major political and
social upheavals. The period was characterised by many wars and migrations. Shaka: Leader of the Zulu people. The name Shaka supposedly is linked to
This occurred in Africa during the second half of the 1700s. Shaka's illigetimacy. His mother's clan refused to believe that she was
pregnant and claimed that her swollen stomach was a result of an intestinal
Dingane: King of the Zulus after the death of Shaka. Dingane was the half-
infection caused by the iShaka beetle.
brother of Shaka and had assisted in his assassination.
Transformation: A period of great change.
Dingiswayo: Leader of the Mthethwe. Took Shaka into his army.
Trekboers: Dutch pastoralists who moved around with their herds.
Diplomacy: The art of dealing with people in a sensitive and tactful way.
Zwide: Leader of the Ndwandwe people.
Iconic: a representation of a person emphasising their special or heroic status.