Makhanda | |
|---|---|
 Image of Chief Makhanda. Date of photo: May 16, 2016. Content provider: Thembani Onceya. | |
| Born | ~1780 Uitenhage, Xhosa Kingdom |
| Died | (1820-12-25)25 December 1820 |
| Occupation | War-doctor Prophet |
Makhanda, also spelledMakana and also known asNxele ("the left-handed"), (c. 1780 – 25 December 1820[1][failed verification][a]) was a Xhosa indigenous doctor. He served as a top advisor to Chief Ndlambe. During theXhosa Wars, on 22 April 1819, he initiated an abortiveassault on the town previously known asGrahamstown, in what was then theCape Colony.
He was imprisoned onRobben Island. On 25 December 1820, Makhanda attempted to escape with thirty other prisoners, but drowned. Only four of the escapees survived the crossing.
Makhanda was born near the coast around 1780 in theUitenhage area. His father was aXhosa namedGwala of the Cwerhaclan and his mother was aKhoikhoi of theGqunukhwebe clan. After Makhanda's father died when he was a young boy, he was brought up by his mother strongly influenced by her village's Khoi traditions. His mother was a spiritual diviner and medicine woman. Makhanda was later recognised as an ‘'inyanga,'’ which seemed rooted in the early guidance of his mother and her traditions. TheXhosa also particularly held theKhoikhoi andSan spiritual guides in high esteem. His mother took him and his siblings to theGreat Fish River Valley, where they lived with his foster father Balala.
It is unclear when Makhanda encounteredChristianity.Missionary Dr James van der Kemp had established a mission station inBethelsdorp in 1799, and Makhanda may have met him. Makhanda advocated peace and denounced the use of magic after converting toChristianity.[3]
During his days as an itinerant preacher, he was attacked by a gang of detractors. He was rescued by Qalanga, a councillor of Chief Ndlambe.[3] Qalanga introduced Makhanda to the royal chief of theRharhabe. Around 1812 Chief Ndlambe appointed Makhanda as an advisor and military doctor. As a royal appointee, Makhanda had discussions with the Rev. Vanderlingen, the chaplain at Grahamstown, and with missionary John Read, about theology and cosmology. During this period, Makhanda slowly increased his following and influence among the Xhosa. Up to 1816, he viewed missionaries as coworkers in the same cause. Missionary Read described Makhanda as “a stout and handsome man, who commands respect.”[3]
In 1816, Makhanda's attitude towards missionaries changed. Having grown up in areas withAfrikaner farmers, he had firsthand knowledge of their mistreatment of khoikhoi people. To Makhanda,Christianity representedEuropean culture. Makhanda and all of the amaXhosa were opposed to the encroachment of European settlers in the region, which had begun whenAfrikanertrekboers from theCape Colony started migrating into their lands, and culminated in the expulsion of 20,000 Xhosa from the Zuurveld in 1812.[3] Makhanda viewed the emerging conflict between European and African world views as a contest betweenThixo, the god of the whites, and Mdalidiphu (creator of the deep), the god of the Xhosas. He began to preach a fusion of these religions to reconcile them, leaning toward Xhosa beliefs.[4]
In 1818 at theBattle of Amalinde, Makhanda fought alongside a combined force of the Xhosa against ChiefNgqika, who was considered to be selling out his people in return for personal gain as an ally of the BritishCape Colony.[citation needed]
When aBritish-led force commanded byColonel Thomas Brereton seized 23,000 head of stolen cattle from Ndlambe’s people, Makhanda urged all theXhosa to unite to try to drive British forces out of the land once and for all. Makhanda advised Ndlambe that the gods would be on their side if they chose to attack the British garrison in the settlement of Grahamstown, and promised that the British "bullets would turn to water".[5]
Ndlambe took Makana’s advice, and on 22 April 1819 Makana led a raid onGrahamstown in broad daylight with a force of about 6,000 men (some sources say 10,000 men), all under the overall command of Ndlambe's sonMdushane. They were accompanied by women and children, prepared to occupy Grahamstown after the battle. The British garrison of approximately 350 troops, along with aKhoikhoi group led byJan Boesak[5] was able to repulse the attack.
Defeated by superior British firepower and poor tactics[citation needed] by the amaNdlambe leadership, Makhanda surrendered. The British colonial government imprisoned him onRobben Island, but treated him with great respect, giving him private accommodation, food and furniture.
On 25 December 1820, Makhanda attempted to escape with thirty other prisoners, but drowned. Only four of the escapees survived the crossing.[1] Since he had promised his people he would never abandon them, they continued to hope for his return for another 50 years before funeral rites were observed.[citation needed]
Makhanda is regarded as one of the first Africans to attempt a cultural synthesis of African and European beliefs.[3]Dawn, the monthly journal of theuMkhonto we Sizwe, credited his actions with having inspired themulticulturalism of theAfrican National Congress (ANC) upon its founding.[1]Anti-apartheid political prisoners imprisoned on Robben Island, includingRobert Mangaliso Sobukwe, later petitioned for the renaming of the island after Makana.
Irwin Pat Year (2019) The Battle of Graham's Town, 22 April 1819 [SA] Military History Journal 18(3)112-117 December SA ISSN 0026-4016