Nongqawuse

More than a hundred years ago a Xhosa girl called Nongqawuse's was born near the Gxarha River. She was an orphan, brought up by her uncle Mhlakaza. Nongqawuse's people had many problems. They waged wars with the British government in the Cape Colony, who wanted to rule over the Xhosa and their land. The wars killed many of the Xhosa and their cattle. Then, to make things worse, their cattle became sick. They caught a lung disease from a herd of cattle that White settlers brought from Europe. Their grain was also infected with a disease that killed the maize before it was ripe. The Xhosa believed that these diseases were ubuthi, or evil, caused by witchcraft. They also blamed the White settlers for their problems, because they took their land and tried to destroy their traditions and beliefs.

Then Nongqawuse had a vision. One day she went to a river pool and spirits appeared to her. Some people say that there were two spirits, Sifuba-Sibunza, the Broad-chested One, and Napakade, the Eternal One, but most people agree that there were three spirits. Nongqawuse told her people that the spirits had told her a new day would come for the Xhosa. Their ancestors would rise from the dead and they would bring new cattle with them. The ubuthi would stop, and the land would be full of new grain. The sun would set in the East and a whirlwind would come and blow all the Whites into the sea. But the Xhosa had to do something very important first.

They had to kill all their cattle and destroy all their grain.

Nongqawuse's message spread through the Xhosa nation. Other young girls said that they had received the same message as she did. Even the King believed he had received this vision. Not all of the Xhosa believed Nongqawuse. They were against the idea of destroying the only food they had left. The people who did believe were afraid that if everybody did not kill their cattle, the prophecy would not come true.

One day in February almost all of the Xhosa people destroyed their animals and used all their grain to make beer, which they drank. But the promises of the spirits did not come true. Instead, thousands of people died because they had no food. The nation was weak, and the British government in the Cape found it easy to take more of their land.

Today, the place where Nongqawuse said she had seen the spirits is called Intlambo-ka-Nongqawuse, the Valley of Nongqawuse. Many people go to see the pool, but the Xhosa do not wish to remember the girl who, they believe, killed their nation with her false vision. Some even say that she did not really live there, but that she lived in Cape Town or Umtata. There are also those who believe that she did not see real ghosts, but that it was the British governor who disguised himself. The poverty in the area is still blamed on Nongqawuse and the big cattle killing. They sing songs about the orphan prophetess, “Ooh, Nongqawuse, the daughter of Mhlakaza . . . She killed our nation . . ."

Source:

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/2000/05/14/lifestyle/travel/travel03.htm.