What is the Mfecane, and how is it relevant to contemporary South African society?
“How relevant is the study of the Mfecane to South African History and our contemporary (present) society?”
What are the different theories on the Mfecane and how have these changed over time. (See your textbook references and the Jeff Guy lectures) You can also look at Giliomee and Mbenga pages 124-127 and 139 particularly (a copy is available in the classroom – BUT I WILL HAVE PHOTOCOPIES MADE IF YOU REQUEST THEM).
Look at some of the older interpretations of the Mfecane – and compare these with more recent interpretations. Shaka is a very central figure in Zulu history.
Shaka made a popular “comeback” in South Africa during the 1980s with an SABC-TV series Shaka Zulu. View extracts of this series, and decide how best it would be placed in the different theories of the Mfecane, explaining why.
Between 1994 and 2013, Shaka has made a significant comeback into popular history and is viewed as a central icon of Zulu nationalism. How is this – both Shaka and Zulu nationalism, manifested (demonstrated/obviously shown) in South Africa today, in terms of popular culture and politics.
Is there a future for Zulu nationalism in a South Africa today?
The Mfecane loosely means ‘the crushing’, and is also known as Difaqane, or Lifaqane. The term ‘Mfecane’ was first coined by E. A. Walker (1928: 210), which largely refers to the conflicts between South African tribes in the centre and eastern regions of Africa in the early 1800s, which fought each other in search of food and land. However, there are many distinct theories about Mfecane, and numerous historians present their own opinions.
Originally it was widely believed that Shaka Zulu, and the growth and expansion of the Zulu tribe under his command, was the primary cause of Mfecane. However, there have been increasing numbers of theories that suggested what else might have contributed towards the Mfecane. Although it is impossible to conclusively prove the causes of Mfecane, some theories
What are the different theories on the Mfecane and how have these changed over time. (See your textbook references and the Jeff Guy lectures) You can also look at Giliomee and Mbenga pages 124-127 and 139 particularly (a copy is available in the classroom – BUT I WILL HAVE PHOTOCOPIES MADE IF YOU REQUEST THEM).
Look at some of the older interpretations of the Mfecane – and compare these with more recent interpretations. Shaka is a very central figure in Zulu history.
Shaka made a popular “comeback” in South Africa during the 1980s with an SABC-TV series Shaka Zulu. View extracts of this series, and decide how best it would be placed in the different theories of the Mfecane, explaining why.
Between 1994 and 2013, Shaka has made a significant comeback into popular history and is viewed as a central icon of Zulu nationalism. How is this – both Shaka and Zulu nationalism, manifested (demonstrated/obviously shown) in South Africa today, in terms of popular culture and politics.
Is there a future for Zulu nationalism in a South Africa today?
The Mfecane loosely means ‘the crushing’, and is also known as Difaqane, or Lifaqane. The term ‘Mfecane’ was first coined by E. A. Walker (1928: 210), which largely refers to the conflicts between South African tribes in the centre and eastern regions of Africa in the early 1800s, which fought each other in search of food and land. However, there are many distinct theories about Mfecane, and numerous historians present their own opinions.
Originally it was widely believed that Shaka Zulu, and the growth and expansion of the Zulu tribe under his command, was the primary cause of Mfecane. However, there have been increasing numbers of theories that suggested what else might have contributed towards the Mfecane. Although it is impossible to conclusively prove the causes of Mfecane, some theories
References: Gumede, William. (2012) Zuma and Zulu Nationalism. Available from: http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85841 [Accessed 1 - 4 August 2013] HS-102 Readings Mashele, Prince. (2012) Is Jacob Zuma a Zulu Nationalist? Available from: http://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/is-jacob-zuma-a-zulu-nationalist-1.1315459#.Uf5SQJI3D1U [Accessed 4 August] Oliburt SABC. (1986) SABC Drama International Sales: Shaka Zulu. Available from: http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/intsales/pages/dramadetail?id=c1c65100495298a59130dbab4e2f7a91&page_from=drama [Accessed 1 August 2013] Wright, John Walker, Eric A. (1928) History of South Africa (First Edition). London: Longman.