THE MFECANE
By Sai!
INTRODUCTION
Mfecane refers to a period of disruption and population migration in South
Africa during the1820s and the 1830s. In Zulu, this word means "crushing.”
NB: In this case, we are dealing with a traditional tribe that never kept written records, so all things listed
(especially the oldest) are taken from oral tradition, or best guesses by archaeologists.
POINTS TO COVER
• The rise and fall of the Zulu Empire
• Mass Killings(Genocide)
• Tyrannical regime
• Causes
• Consequences/Effects
THE ZULU EMPIRE:
• Around the same time Napoleon
conquered much of Europe, there was a
fierce South African tribe.
• King Shaka (1787-1828)(1816-1828) was a
brilliant military leader.
• He came to rule the Zulu’s after the kings
death.
• Conquered many kingdoms and
established his reign.
• By the mid-1820s, Shaka ruled a kingdom
of more than 100,000 people with an army
of 40,000 men.
• Formed alliances with Tsongas.
DOWNFALL
• 1827: Shaka loses his mother. His mental health was disrupted.
• He orders for execution of any pregnant woman with her husband, killed all
calves so they know the pain, and no milk was not allowed to be collected
from some farmers. No harvest!
• 1828: He dies! Dingane comes to rule. Strikes deals with Dutch and English
settlers.
• Dingane tries to kill the Dutch, betraying them. However he failed.
• More colonizers come into play, and wanted more facilities. (Diamonds)
• By 1879, the locals were dependent on colonizers, and Zulu’s were no more
a strong kingdom.
US AND THEM:
• All the fighting took place between the tribes of South Africa.
• The only difference to cause conflict were the tribes.
• Shaka started by raiding very inferior tribes for resources and labour.
OBEY ORDERS
• Shaka strengthened his control using different tactics.
• He confiscated all the beneficial resources.
• Apart from the influential people in the raided tribes, the rest of the
population were forced to work.
• As the King mistreated everyone, the others felt it was fine to do so.
• All warriors were told not to be merciful.
DO ‘THEM’ HARM
• The military group were forced to behead their enemies.
• He killed every influential person in the tribes he conquered.
• Everyone who was used for labour were often mistreated.
• Children were no exception.
• Usually the women were raped, which even led to suicide.
STAND UP OR STAND BY
• Anyone who opposed Shaka was treated just as equally as their targets.
• Those who supported him could often own land or were given some of the
resourced they raided.
• Supporters increased. Army increased.
This aggression triggered the genocide.
EXTERMINATE
• THE MFECANE: War and chaos among the indigenous and ethnic groups of
South Africa.(1815-1840) In Zulu, this means ‘the crushing.’
• At first thought, this looks more like a massacre than a synchronized genocide.
• A lot of people were in constant movement.
• Death toll~ 1 million to 4 million
• Drought and famine
• Competition and aggression for food
Anglo-Zulu Tensions: Problems between
Europeans and Zulus:
• Islandlwana attacks.
• Exploitation of resources.
• Trade and crops.
Migration of the “Fengu.”
CAUSES:
• Drought, resulting into almost
a decade of famine.
• Warfare.
• Lots of ivory smuggling;
Elephants were stolen and
killed.
• Boer raids.
• Napoleon conquering
Europe.
• Diamonds!
• Aggression and better
weapons.
Ivory in South Africa
CAUSES:
Diamonds: This
invited many
Europeans to
settle, and
during the
drought, it just
meant chaos.
Cattle Raiding:
Europeans traded
cattle with crops like
maize or corn, or even
weapons. This led to
an increase of
stealing cattle.
Advanced fighting
techniques: Over
time, Shaka and
the other kings
found better
tactics and
weapons.
CONSEQUENCES
Although the Mfecane did have positive effects, we shall go
through the negative ones first:
• Economy and property was destroyed.
• Population distribution was not equal.
• Refugees and labour problems.
• Livestock problems.
• Isolated areas.
• Foreign aid.
• Ignition of Apartheid.
HOTSPOTS & LANDMARKS
POST-GENOCIDAL BENEFITS
• More ’peace-loving’
leaders.
• Multi-tribal kingdoms were
also established
• Weaker political units
were transformed into
better ones.
• Better military tactics and
weapons.
• Unity and Better
understanding.
Nelson Mandela, (from the
Xhosa tribe) and the First
President after Apartheid.
SUMMARY
• King Shaka took the reigns of the Zulu kingdom in 1816.
• He then conquered many kingdoms, killing many.
• Others learn from this, form solid defence systems.
• Shaka is killed in 1827.(Dingane)
• Increased competition for resources causing the chaotic Mfecane.
• Millions killed, and after a lot of damage the fighting stops.
• Multi-tribal kingdoms with capable leaders created, and consequently the
Colonizers found a way into South Africa (Boers), and kept hold of their
throne until the late 20th Century. They exploited the South Africans.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• Thank you Miss Merali and Mr.Manda for your valuable assistance!
• www.jstor.org
• www.encyclopedia.com
• www.newworldencyclopedia.org
• www.globalsecurity.org
• quizlet.com
• www.researchgate.net