Mfecane Aftermath: Reconstructive Debates in Southern African History

Mfecane Aftermath

Reconstructive Debates in Southern African History

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Edited by Carolyn Hamilton, University of Cape Town

Publisher:: Wits University Press
Online publication date:: May 2019
Print publication year:: 1995
Online ISBN:: 9781868146994

Subjects:: Area Studies, African Studies, History, African History

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The idea that the period of social turbulence in the nineteenth century was a consequence of the emergence of the powerful Zulu kingdom under Shaka has been written about extensively as a central episode of southern African history. Considerable dynamic debate has focused on the idea that this period - the ‘mfecane’ left much of the interior depopulated, thereby justifying white occupation. One view is that ‘the time of troubles’ owed more to the Delagoa Bay Slave trade and the demands of the labourhungry Cape colonists than to Shaka’s empire building. But is there sufficient evidence to support the argument?The Mfecane Aftermath investigates the very nature of historical debate and examines the uncertain foundations of much of the previous historiography.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vii
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Maps
pp vii-viii
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Preface
pp ix-x
- By Carolyn Hamilton, Senior lecturer in the Department of Anthropology, University of the Witwatersrand. Her research interests include the precolonial history of the KwaZulu- Natal region, and the production of the images that dominate that history.
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Acknowledgements
pp xi-xii
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Notes on Orthography and Names
pp xiii-xiv
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Contributors
pp xv-xvi
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Introduction
pp 1-10
- By Carolyn Hamilton, Senior lecturer in the Department of Anthropology, University of the Witwatersrand. Her research interests include the precolonial history of the KwaZulu- Natal region, and the production of the images that dominate that history.
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Part One - Historiography and Methodology
pp 11-12
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Putting the Mfecane Controversy into Historiographical Context
pp 13-20
- By Norman Etherington, Professor of History at the University of Western Australia and a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. His books include: Preachers, Peasants and Politics in Southeast Africa; Theories of Imperialism: War, Conquest and Capital; Rider Haggard; The Annotated She, and Peace, Politics and Violence in the New South Africa.
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1 - Pre-Cobbing Mfecane Historiography
pp 21-34
- By Christopher Saunders, Associate Professor in the History Department at the University of Cape Town. He is the author of The Making of the South African Past and other books.
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2 - Old Wine in New Bottles: The Persistence of Narrative Structures in the Historiography of the Mfecane and the Great Trek
pp 35-50
- By Norman Etherington, Professor of History at the University of Western Australia and a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. His books include: Preachers, Peasants and Politics in Southeast Africa; Theories of Imperialism: War, Conquest and Capital; Rider Haggard; The Annotated She, and Peace, Politics and Violence in the New South Africa.
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3 - Hunter-Gatherers, Traders and Slaves: The ‘Mfecane’ Impact on Bushmen, Their Ritual and Their Art
pp 51-70
- By Thomas A. Dowson, Formerly a Researcher in the Rock Art Research Unit, Department of Archaeology, University of the Witwatersrand. He is currently Rock Art Research Fellow in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Southampton.
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4 - Language and Assassination: Cultural Negations in White Writers' Portrayal of Shaka and the Zulu
pp 71-104
- By Dan Wylie, Teaches in the Academic Development Programme at Rhodes University, Grahamstown. His doctoral research examines the European literary mythologies of Shaka.
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Part Two - The South-Eastern Coastal Region
pp 105-106
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Beyond the Concept of the ‘Zulu Explosion’ Comments on the Current Debate
pp 107-122
- By John Wright, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. He is co-editor of The James Stuart Archive of Recorded Oral Evidence Relating to the History of the Zulu and Neighbouring Peoples (4 vols. Further volumes in preparation.)
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5 - Sources of Conflict in Southern Africa c. 1800-1830: The ‘Mfecane’ Reconsidered
pp 123-162
- By Elizabeth A. Eldredge, Associate Professor of History at Michigan State University. She has recently published A South African Kingdom: The Pursuit of Security in Nineteenth-* century Lesotho and Slavery in South Africa: Captive Labor on the Dutch Frontier (with Fred Morton).
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6 - Political Transformations in the Thukela-Mzimkhulu Region in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries
pp 163-182
- By John Wright, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. He is co-editor of The James Stuart Archive of Recorded Oral Evidence Relating to the History of the Zulu and Neighbouring Peoples (4 vols. Further volumes in preparation.)
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7 - The Character and Objects of Chaka’: A Reconsideration of the Making of Shaka as Mfecane Motor
pp 183-212
- By Carolyn Hamilton, Senior lecturer in the Department of Anthropology, University of the Witwatersrand. Her research interests include the precolonial history of the KwaZulu- Natal region, and the production of the images that dominate that history.
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8 - Matiwane's Road to Mbholompo: A Reprieve for the Mfecane?
pp 213-240
- By Jeff Peires, The author of two books on Xhosa history, The House ofPhalo and The Dead Will Arise. Formerly Professor of History at the University of Transkei, he is now an ANC Member of Parliament representing the Eastern Cape in the National Assembly.
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9 - Unmasking the Fingo: The War of 1835 Revisited
pp 241-276
- By Alan Webster, Teaches at Stirling High School in East London and at Rhodes University.
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10 - The Mfecane Survives its Critics
pp 277-298
- By John Omer-Cooper, Professor of History at the University of Otago and author of The Zulu Aftermath: A Nineteenth-century Revolution in Bantu Africa.
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Part Three - The Interior
pp 299-300
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‘The Time of Troubles’: Difaqane in the Interior
pp 301-306
- By Neil Parsons, A freelance writer. He has held research fellowships in Gaborone, London and Cape Town. His publications include general textbooks on southern Africa and articles on the history of Botswana, and he is a former co-editor of the Journal of Southern African Studies. His most recent book is Seretse Khama, 1921-80.
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11 - Archaeological Indicators for Stress in the Western: Transvaal Region between the Seventeenth and Nineteenth Centuries
pp 307-322
- By Simon Hall, Lectures in the Department of Archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand. His general research interests are the nature of interactions between farmers and hunter-gatherers, and the history of Sotho/Tswana speakers.
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12 - Prelude to Difaqane in the Interior of Southern Africa C.1600-C.1822
pp 323-350
- By Neil Parsons, A freelance writer. He has held research fellowships in Gaborone, London and Cape Town. His publications include general textbooks on southern Africa and articles on the history of Botswana, and he is a former co-editor of the Journal of Southern African Studies. His most recent book is Seretse Khama, 1921-80.
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13 - Conflict in the Western Highveld/Southern Kalahari c.1750-1820
pp 351-362
- By Andrew Manson, Associate Professor of History at the University of Bophuthatswana. He has published in the field of Zulu and Tswana history. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cape Town.
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14 - ‘Hungry Wolves’: The Impact of Violence on Rolong Life, 1823-1836
pp 363-394
- By Margaret Kinsman, An educationalist working in Cape Town. Her research interest is in the southern Tswana 1780-1880, with a particular focus on the social history of the period and the changing position of women.
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15 - The Battle of Dithakong and ‘Mfecane’ Theory
pp 395-416
- By Guy Hartley, A Ph.D. candidate in the Department of History at the University of Cape Town.
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16 - Untapped Sources: Slave Exports from Southern and Central Namibia up to c. 1850
pp 417-436
- By Jan-Bart Gewald, An historian who studied at Rhodes University. He is currently completing a Ph.D. at Leiden University in the Netherlands on the socio-economic history of the Herero between 1890 and 1920.
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Mfecane Aftermath

Reconstructive Debates in Southern African History

Book description

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vii

Maps
pp vii-viii

Preface
pp ix-x

Acknowledgements
pp xi-xii

Notes on Orthography and Names
pp xiii-xiv

Contributors
pp xv-xvi

Introduction
pp 1-10

Part One - Historiography and Methodology
pp 11-12

Putting the Mfecane Controversy into Historiographical Context
pp 13-20

1 - Pre-Cobbing Mfecane Historiography
pp 21-34

2 - Old Wine in New Bottles: The Persistence of Narrative Structures in the Historiography of the Mfecane and the Great Trek
pp 35-50

3 - Hunter-Gatherers, Traders and Slaves: The ‘Mfecane’ Impact on Bushmen, Their Ritual and Their Art
pp 51-70

4 - Language and Assassination: Cultural Negations in White Writers' Portrayal of Shaka and the Zulu
pp 71-104

Part Two - The South-Eastern Coastal Region
pp 105-106

Beyond the Concept of the ‘Zulu Explosion’ Comments on the Current Debate
pp 107-122

5 - Sources of Conflict in Southern Africa c. 1800-1830: The ‘Mfecane’ Reconsidered
pp 123-162

6 - Political Transformations in the Thukela-Mzimkhulu Region in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries
pp 163-182

7 - The Character and Objects of Chaka’: A Reconsideration of the Making of Shaka as Mfecane Motor
pp 183-212

8 - Matiwane's Road to Mbholompo: A Reprieve for the Mfecane?
pp 213-240

9 - Unmasking the Fingo: The War of 1835 Revisited
pp 241-276

10 - The Mfecane Survives its Critics
pp 277-298

Part Three - The Interior
pp 299-300

‘The Time of Troubles’: Difaqane in the Interior
pp 301-306

11 - Archaeological Indicators for Stress in the Western: Transvaal Region between the Seventeenth and Nineteenth Centuries
pp 307-322

12 - Prelude to Difaqane in the Interior of Southern Africa C.1600-C.1822
pp 323-350

13 - Conflict in the Western Highveld/Southern Kalahari c.1750-1820
pp 351-362

14 - ‘Hungry Wolves’: The Impact of Violence on Rolong Life, 1823-1836
pp 363-394

15 - The Battle of Dithakong and ‘Mfecane’ Theory
pp 395-416

16 - Untapped Sources: Slave Exports from Southern and Central Namibia up to c. 1850
pp 417-436

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Mfecane Aftermath

Reconstructive Debates in Southern African History

Book description

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