Dingiswayo of the Mthetwa.

(a) Describe the achievements of Dingiswayo for the Mthetwa people.

Dingiswayo, the Wanderer, was a son of Jobe chief of the Mthetwa.

He grew up at his father's palace as a Mthetwa.

He later planned to kill his father so as to gain early leadership of Mthetwa.

After the failure of the plot, he fled into the Hlubi where he spent much of his youthful life.

While in exile, he gained a lot of military experience from a European called Robert Cowen.

He was taught to use a gun and a horse.

Around 1797, he returned and deposed his brother Mawawe and declared himself the King of the       Mthetwa.

Mawewe fled but he was tricked to return and later put to death by Dingiswayo.

As King of the Mthetwa, he concentrated on protecting his people against Zwide of the Ndwandwe.

He did this through building a strong army divided into regiments called Ntanga.

Each regiment had its own different spears and shields provided by Dingiswayo.

Initially his army was made up of about 500 soldiers.

Initially the army was not permanent but could easily be mobilized for war.

Later however the army was made permanent.

He made alliances with the conquered tribes absorbing them into his army.

Defeated tribes paid tribute, but remained with their chiefs increasing their loyalty to him for example Senzangakona remained chief of the Zulu.

He even gave cattle and other forms of wealth to the conquered people again to increase their           loyalty.

He expanded the Mthetwa state with over 200 miles.

He created social unity by marrying from different clans.

He created friendly ties with the whites at the cape Delagoa.

He encouraged trade especially with the Europeans. He developed a skin and hides industry and wood curvers were trained to make European goods.

He promoted people on merit e.g. Shaka a Zulu became regimental commander.

He laid the foundation for the Zulu nation by preparing Shaka.

He mainly relied on the advice of both traditional leaders and the military Idunas.

He was killed in 1818 by Zwidde in an ambush.

(b) How did Shaka improve on such reforms?

 

SHAKA AND THE CREATION OF THE ZULU STATE

Shaka was a son of Senzangakona and Nandi of the Zulu tribe. He was born as a bastard around    1783.

He grew up among his maternal uncles because he was rejected by his father.

He had a very miserable childhood always under looked by all his peers.

He later grew up with a fierce determination, courage, intelligence together with a strong ambition.

Seriously he started his career as a courageous, intelligent soldier of Dingiswayo.

Later Dingiswayo promoted him as commander of a whole regiment.

When his father died, Shaka went and killed his brother Segujana and became chief of Zulu.

After the death of Dingiswayo, Shaka annexed the Mthetwa and became King of a new Zulu empire.

How did Shaka create and expand the Zulu Nation

He introduced the short stabbing spear (assegai).

Traditional leaders were abolished and military leaders appointed on merit instead.

Soldiers received constant highly disciplined training.

He created permanent regiments.

Soldiers were not to marry until the age of 40 years.

Conquered youths were absorbed into his army.

He introduced the idea of total war i.e. burning everything down that belonged to the enemy.

He gave his soldiers very big shields for protections.

Regiments were fed by him i.e. he gave them cows which were killed after this permission.

Conquered old people were all killed.

He introduced the bull's horn formation of attack.

He created women regiments to provide labour in the garden.

His female relatives were married by big officers to spy on them.

He controlled all economic activities in the state.

The King was the high priest.

He abolished useless ceremonies e.g. circumcision.

No Induna was to hold any meeting without his permission.

Boys had to carry shields and spears for the fighting men.

Retired soldiers formed a reserved army based at Dinkuza, Bulabwayo, Nabanda, Mbelembele, Isikebele (e.t.c.)

He befriended the British who supplied him with guns.

He emphasised surprise attacks.

He encouraged an expansionist policy e.g. defeated the Ngwane, Zwide and the Tolokwa.

The Zulu language was forced on all people in the Kingdom.

After the death of Dingiswayo Shaka annexed the Methetwa people into the Zulu.         

Later Shaka managed to attack and defeated the Ndwandwe under Zwide.                                                

He employed the earth Scotched policy and starved the Ndwandwe.

In 1821 near R. Mhalatuzo, the Ndwandwe were defeated.

Zwide escaped with a few of his subjects but later died at R. Nkomati in 1825.

By the time of Shaka's death, the empire covered about 300,000 square miles.

In the North, it went as far as Mozambique, Durban in the South, Drankensberg in the West and to the India Ocean in the East.

Effects of Shaka's Wars To The Neighbours.

There was great loss of lives.

There was great depopulation in South Africa.

Destruction of property.

There was displacement of people e.g. the Ndwande and the Ngwane.

There was mass migration out of South Africa e.g Ngoni and the Ndebere.

States lost their independence e.g. the Mthetwa and Ndwandwe.

There was wide spread famine.

There was loss of land.

New fighting styles were spread to other areas.

Loss of cattle of the neighbours creating poverty.

There was wide spread suffering and misery.

Detribalisation of the conquered people through their absorption into Zulu culture.

There was death of neighbouring leaders who were killed by the Zulu e.g. Zwide.

There was creation of new and stronger states e.g. the Basuto and Swazi states.

There was increased militarism in the region i.e. he worsened the Mfecane.

There was creation of dangerous bandits e.g. the Fingo and Matantees.

There was creation of insecurity e.g. the Mfecane in the region.

Describe the way of life of the Zulu before I860?

1.     The Nation was a military one headed by a despotic King.

2.     The army was the source of power and Indunas very powerful people.

3.     The old traditional councils of chiefs were replaced by the militant Indunas.

4.     The King was always helped by a chief Induna who was the second most feared man in the land.

5.     The king was absolutely feared and respected.

6.     The King was not to be questioned nor looked in the eye.

7.     The indunas were not to hold meetings without the King's permission.

8.     The King was the chief priest and the chief judge.

9.     Conquered people were incorporated or absorbed into the Zulu culture.

10.  Conquered Kings remained rulers of their people as long as they pleased Shaka.

11.  Conquered leaders had Shaka's representatives to spy and check them.

12.  Indunas were appointed and dismissed by the King.

13.  ' Indunas were always appointed from among the commoners but on merit.

14.  The King controlled the whole economy and fed all the soldiers.

15.  The kingdom had a standing army headed by the King.

16.  The society was organised in age regiment, which were confined to military camps for 40 years.

17.  Succession to the throne was hereditary, socially, the King was the highest social figure and presided over all traditional ceremonies, e.g. the first fruit ceremony.

18.  Age regiments formed the basis of socialization.

19.  Initiation ceremonies marked entry into age regiments though Shaka abolished circumcision.,

20.  Marriage was after 40 years and female groups dissolved were free to marry freed warriors.

21.  The old and the disabled were always put to death.

22.  Plunder and looting were the basis of Zulu economic life.

23.  The King was the owner of all wealth in the land.

24.  Each regiment had its own cattle for feeding its members.

25.  Looted wealth was shared among the regiments but ivory went to the Kins.

26.  The Zulu took part in trade especially/with Natal to get guns,

27.  They exchanged ivory, hides and skins for European goods e.i glass, mirror, clothes etc.

28.  Retired soldiers formed a reserve force which also provided food to active warriors.

29.  The Zulu also carried out iron works and made spears and other utensils.

30.  The arrival of the whites distorted the political, social and economic structure of the Zulu.

 

 The Period Of Mfecane Among The Nguni

Mfecane was a word which meant period of trouble.

It was a period of crisis among the Southern Bantu. It began between 1810 and went beyond            1830.

The key tribes included the Zulu, Mthetwa, Ndwande, Ndebele etc.

The key players were:- Dingiswayo, Zwide and especially Shaka.

It was a period when new empires e.g. the Zulu empire were created.

It was a period in which new powerful men came up.

It was started by the big three chiefs i.e. Zwide, Dingiswayo and Sobhuza.

The sotho called it defecane.

It reached its worst during the time of Shaka,

Ref. Qns

(a) What was the Mfecane?

(b) What were its impact on the people of South Africa?

Situation before The Mfecane

The Bantu in Natal were organised on clan basis and many clans existed.

The highest political unit was the chiefdom which was headed by a tribal chief.

By 1760, there were over two hundred chiefdoms.

By the 19th century, 3 chiefdoms remained e.g. The Ngwane under Sobhuza. the Ndwandwe under Zwide and the Mthetwa under Dingiswayo.

 

Causes Of The Mfecane

The population growth and animal increase in Northern Zulu land caused tension.

In the 19^th Century, there was acute led land shortage.

The need for new fertile areas with heavy rainfall.  

The subsequent civil and social conflicts as tribes and clans competed for land.

The rise of ambitious leaders e.g. Shaka, Zwide, Dingiswayo.

Desire to create large political units. 

Desire to control the trade that passed through the Delagoa Bay.

Pressure from expanding Boers who blocked the natural line of Nguni expansion.

The meeting between Dingiswayo and the Robert Ccwern who exposed Dingiswayo to the use of the gun.

The rise of an ambitious man known as Shaka and his military reforms e.g. the introduction of the short stabbing spears e.t.c.

The attacks on neighbors by Shaka e.g. on Dingiswayo and Zwide.

The attacks on the Tlokwa and Ngeto. . , .

The attacked people ran away and caused problems wherever they passed.

The rise of Shaka and his military reforms.

Give the reforms of Shaka.

Effects of the Mfecane,

There was loss of lives.

There was depopulation.

3.             There was displacement of people.

4.             There was destruction of property.

5.             There was misery, suffering and anarchy.

6.             Trade and agriculture were disrupted.        

7.             Famine came up and people resorted to cannibalism.    

8.             There was rise of powerful rulers e.g. Moshesh, Shaka e.t.c.

9.             Powerful states were created e.g.  the  Swazi and Basuto nations.

10.         There was creation of refugees and wanderers e.g. the Fingos i        and Hlubi.

11.         There was collapse of weaker states e.g. the Ndwandwe.

12.         Detribalisation as the powerful tribes assimilated the weaker ones.

13.         New leadership emerged which depended on military might.

14.         Increase in insecurity and conflicts splitting the tribes further.

15.         Slave raiding increased and many Africans were sold into slavery.

16.         People were forced to live in special areas e.g. mountain tops for survival.

17.         Zulu tactics spread and were copied by others to defend themselves.

18.         African societies e.g. the Xhosa and Zulu were prepared to resist future European rule.                                   

19.         Family life was broken up.

20.         Mass migrations occurred e.g. the Ngoni under Zwangendaba and Ndebele under Mzilikazi left South Africa,

21.         There was loss of land.       

 

 

THE ANGLO- ZULU WARS OF 1879.

The wars took place between the Zulu and the British. The Zulu were led by Cetewayo and the British by Sir Bartle Frere. The first one was the battle of Isandlwana followed by one at Ulundi.

 

Causes of the Wars.

1.     Cetewayo's determination to revive the Zulu's military culture annoyed the British into war.

2.     Cetewayo, reformed the age regiments and increased Zulu nationalism.

3.     By 1877, the Zulu had 30,000 armed men and well disciplined hence alarming the British.

4.     The increased drills and anti - European war songs by the Zulu worried the British.

 

Causes Of The Mfecane

1.       The population growth and animal increase in Northern Zulu land caused tension.

2.       In the 19th Century, there was acute led land shortage.

3.       The need for new fertile areas with heavy rainfall.

4.       The subsequent civil and social conflicts as tribes and clans competed for land.

5.       The rise of ambitious leaders e.g. Shaka, Zwide, Dingiswayo.

6.       Desire to create large political units.

7.       Desire to control the trade that passed through the Delagoa Bay.

8.       Pressure from expanding Boers who blocked the natural line of Nguni expansion.

9.       The meeting between Dingiswayo and the Robert Cc-wern who exposed Dingiswayo to the use of    the gun.

10.     The rise of an ambitious man known as Shaka and his military reforms e.g. the introduction of the    short stabbing spears e.t.c.

11.     The attacks on neighbors by Shaka e.g. on Dingiswayo and Zwide.

12.     The attacks on the Tlokwa and Ngeto.

13.     The attacked people ran away and caused problems wherever they passed.

14.     The rise of Shaka and his military reforms.

15.     Give the reforms of Shaka.

 

Effects Of The Mfecane.

There was looS of lives.

There was depopulation.

There was displacement of people.

There was destruction of property.

There was misery, suffering and anarchy.

Trade and agriculture were disrupted.

Famine came up and people resorted to cannibalism.

There was rise of powerful rulers e.g. Moshesh, Shaka e.t.c.

Powerful states were created e.g. the Swazi and Basuto nations.

There was creation of refugees and wanderers e.g. the Fingos and Hlubi.

There was collapse of weaker states e.g. the Ndwandw^.

Detribalisation as the powerful tribes assimilated the weaker ones.

New leadership emerged which depended on military might.

Increase in insecurity and conflicts splitting the tribes further.

Slave raiding increased and many Africans were sold into slavery,

People were to live in special areas e.g. mountain tops for survival.                                        

Zulu tactics spread and were copied by others to defend themselves.

 

THE ZULU AFTER SHAKA

Dingane

Dingane was son of Senzangakona and his brother was Shaka.

He collaborated with his brother Mhalangane together with Shaka*s chief Induna, Mbahopa to kill Shaka.

Dingane temporarily shared power with Mhalangane after Shaka's murder. Dingane later killed his       brother and assumed full power of the kingship.

When the Zulu army returned from the Gaza raids tired and weak, he bribed them by promising          peace. Dingane managed to prevent a palace coup by keeping the soldiers at least happy.

Dingane was later to suspend all military expeditions making the army very idle. He also abolished the regular military training. He disbanded the regiments and allowed them to marry before 40 years.

He created lack of adventure and the regiments soon started escaping to Natal to work on the white farms.

Dingane was later forced to remilitarize Zulu land because he feared to be over thrown.

He ordered new raids against the Ndebele, Pondo, Ngwane and the Swazi.      

He also allowed the regiment to amass cattle and other forms of wealth.

He also tried to acquire firearms from the whites based at Natal.

However, Dingane had friendly but unhappy friendship with the whites.

The whites at Natal refused to repatriate the Zulu regiments creating fear on Dingane's part.

He later signed an agreement with Captain Alien Gardiner.

Later the British returned the Zulu regiments after getting part of Natal from Dingane.

After 1835, Dingane encountered the Boer Trekkers.

After letting Retief return his cows from the Tlokwa, Dingane killed him and his party on a Beer          party.

Dingane later faced Pretorious and got defeated at the battle of Blood River.

Dingane was later to abdicate and was replaced by his brother Mpande.

He fled into Swaziland where he was killed for his earlier crimes on the Swazi.

He failed to unite his people into purposeful militarism.

 

Ref. Qns

1.   What were the achievements of Dingane for the Zulu people?

2.   What were the achievements of Dingiswayo for the Mthetwa people?

 

Why Dingane Was Defeated By His Brother Mpande

1.   He failed to maintain tribal unity in the Kingdom.

2.   Local rules began inciting the soldiers who defected to Mpande's side.

3.   His hatred for war was unpopular among the war like soldiers.

4.   His relaxation of military discipline and disbanding some of the regiments.

5.   His failure to defeat the Boer invasion.

6.   His failure to convince Gardiner to return all the Zulu refugees.

7.   His preference for feasting, dancing and the women made him unpopular.

8.   His brutal rule made him another Shaka.

9.   The royal family stopped supporting him in 1840.

10. The increasing scarcity of land as he gave away more land to the whites led to dissertations.

11. Mpande's collaboration with the Boers.

 

CETEWAYO (1840-84)

Qn: Describe the achievements of Cetewayo for the Zulu people.

1.     Cetewayo was the son of Mpande and a nephew to Shaka.

2.     He was intelligent and ambitious like his uncle Shaka.

3.     He started gaining fame and importance in 1856 after defeating his brother Mbulazi at the battle of Magongo.

4.     He began being active politically from 1856 until his fathers death in 1872.

5.     The British officer Theophilus Shepstone officially crowned him in 1872.

6.     His first i:riority was to re-militarize Zulu land.

7.     He concentrated on reforming the age regiments and increasing the spirit of nationalism.

8.     He made diplomatic contacts with the Portuguese acquiring the arms from them.

9.     In the first years, he avoided wars with the Boers and the British

10.  He also created peace within Zulu land by being a fair ruler.

11.  Later, he started encouraging raids against the neighbours to activate the Zulu warriors.

12.  He also encouraged trade with the Portuguese in Mozambique.

13.  Cetewayo managed to keep the independence of Zulu between 1872 - 1879.

14.  In 1879 Cetewayo defeated the British at Isandlwana.

15.  The British later in July in 1879 defeated Cetewayo at the battle of Ulundi.

16.  He was exiled to London in 1882.

17.  Later, the British were forced to bring him back as a ruler but he was unhappy with the limited            powers that he was given.

18.  Cetewayo later sought refuge in a reserve where he died in 1884.

19.  He was succeeded by his son Dimzulu.

 

(a) Why did the Zulu state decline in the 19th century?

As states and empires rise and then fall, time came and the once magnificent and strong state of the Zulu declined and finally collapsed. This was in 1879 following the battle of Isandhlwana with the British. The collapse of the Zulu kingdom was a gradual process and it started in the 1820 during the time of Shaka the King of the Zulu.  He introduced a very dictatorial system which led to very many wars.  This is what was referred to as Mfecane and it led to the migration of many people from Zulu land.  The most important factors which led to the collapse of the kingdom include the following;

After Shaka's death conquered states started demanding for their independence and became rebellious.

The state arose through conquest therefore it was a loose organisation that survived on Shaka's tyranny.

The Zulu lacked cultural unity and they were only forced to pretend that they were united by Shaka.

The conquered people hated the Zulu for having killed and dehumanized their ancestors.

Shaka's death was a shock to many Zulu since there was no able successor.

Shaka's tyranny forced many able commanders e.g. Zwangendaba, Muzilikazi to flee away.

Leaders who assumed power after Shaka, e.g. Dingane Mpande were military weaklings.

The civil wars after Shaka weakened the state further.

The alliances between the Zulu leader and the Boers brought in foreigners into Zulu politics.

The expansion of the Boers into Zulu land with strong weapons created more panic.

The Boers defeated the Zulu at Blood River and Dingane surrendered NataTand 7000 heads of cattle.

The influence of missionary activities which worsened the divisions in Zulu land only made matters worse.

The coming of the British during the scramble and partition was the final blow.

The British were determined to destroy the Zulu so as to achieved their imperial objectives.

Zulu neighbours had copied Shaka's tactics and used them against the Zulu.

The discovery of minerals led to mass migrations of the youth away from the Zulu homeland.

Shaka's political immaturity of forcing the Kingdom to mourn for his mother's death for a year annoyed many.

Shaka denied people sex, milk and happiness for a year and killed 7000 people as part of the mourning.

Dingane's failure to acquire guns from the Boer Trekkers weakened the state further.

Poor relationship of the Zulu with the neighbouring people forced the Swazi to ally with the British in 1879.

By 1879, The army was exhausted and tired.

The Mfecane created depopulation inviting Boers into such empty lands.

The 1879 success over the British at the Isandhlwana battle encouraged the British to destroy the Zulu at Ulund1.

 

In conclusion therefore, it must be emphasised however that the reasons for the disintegration and eventual collapse of the Zulu state were both external and internal. It should however be noted that in as much as the empire had developed cracks of disintegration, it would have continued for at least longer if it was not for the British imperialism; which provided a coup de grace to her independence.

 

THE BAMBATHA REBELLION - 1906

Causes:

1.      In 1906, the Zulu in the reserve of Zondi under Bambatha rose against the British.

2.      Bambatha had at first been dismissed as a chief for failure of paying taxes.

3.      In 1906, he re-appeared and caused anxiety among the Zulu.

4.      The rebellion occurred during the reign of Dinizulu.

5.      The Zulu were angry about Cetewayo's exile and the division of their kingdom into thirteen units.

6.      The long held suspicions and mistrust between the whites and the Zulu.

7.      They wanted to regain their independence.

8.      The Zulu were not happy with the tax of one pound per head.

9.      Disrespect of the African leaders by the British e.g. the wide spread killing of the Zulu ring leaders against taxation.

10.    The rise of British imperialism and their desire to annex the whole of South Africa to the cape.

11.    The Zulu were landless and were living in infertile and harsh reserves e.g. Zondi.

12.    They opposed the increment in land rents and the turning of the Zulu into tenants in their mother land.

13.    The British attitude towards Dingizulu i.e turning him into a head man annoyed the Zulu.

14.    In 1897, Britain allowed Natal to administer Zulu land which the Zulu detested.

15.    Forced labour i.e. Africans mainly in towns provided cheap labour to the whites.

16.    The Brutal methods of collecting taxes encouraged rebellion.

17.    The British once in Zulu land carried out brutal policies i.e. after the 1905 rebellion against taxes,  the government responded rUthly.

18.    Descending of troops into Zulu land, land grabbing and cattle grabbing made the Zulu more angry.

19.    The rise of African nationalism with the spirit of rebellion led by the Ethiopian church.

20.    The racial discrimination practiced by the British i.e. treating the Zulu like second rate people.

21.    The first success of Bambatha created hope for victory.

22.    The wide spread famine created a need for war in order to loot food from the British.

23.    The Zulu were also inspired by the success over the British at Isandlwana.

24.    The outbreak of diseases e.g rinder pest and killing of infected animals made the Zulu believe that the British had brought the disease.

25.    The Zulu also opposed the deculturalization from the British missionaries.

26.    The Anglo Boer wars where the British were defeated made the Zulu believe that the British were tired of fighting.

 

       The Results of the Rebellion

1.     There was loss of life.

2.     There was depopulation.

3.     There was destruction of property leading to poverty.

4.     Out break of epidemics e.g. famine.

5.     The Africans were defeated.

6.     Africans lost their independence.

7.     Racial discrimination against Africans increased.

8.     Africans lost more land and were pushed into reserves.

9.     The British administration worsened i.e. they became more strict over the political freedoms of the Zulu.

10.  Bambatha was killed.

11.  Dinizulu and other political leaders were arrested because they were suspected of having supported the rebellion.

12.  The Zulu nation was ruthlessly and systematically subjugated.

13.  Traditional leaders lost authority.

14.  Africans lost trust in traditional beliefs and many became Christians.

15.  There was decline in agriculture and trade.

16.  The British however changed some methods of their administration.

17.  The 1908 bill allowed Africans into the legislature.

18.  Gave rise and growth of African nationalism i.e. paved the way for the formation of A.N.C. (African National Congress).

19.  Africans lost cattle.

 

Why The Rebellion Was Not Success.

1.     Africans were not very much united e.g only the Zulu of Zondi fought.                                

2.     The Africans used poor tactics of fighting.

3.     The Africans had inferior outdated weapons.

4.     Africans had poor leadership i.e Bambatha wasn't a professional soldier.

5.     Africans' economy could not sustain the war.

6.     Fellow Africans failed to join them to fight against the whites.

7.     Natural calamities e.g. drought and disease only weakened the Africans further.

8.     Africans never planned the rebellion well enough.

9.     The whites were determined to colonise the Africans at any cost.

10.  Use of traditional beliefs among the-Africans.

11.  Many youths had fled into the mines hence the rebellion was dominated by old people.

12.  Dinizulu's refusal to join the rebellion.