NGUNI – EUROPEAN CONTACT


The Nguni stretch in a broad swarth from Swaziland to the northen part of Cape Province. They are cattle herdsmen. The initial contact between the european migration from the south and the Xhosa migration from the north was through trade. At least Hermanus Kraal on the Great Fish River was a point where european traders and Xhosa caravans regularly interacted. Quite early on the Mfengu tribe [formed from refugees from the Zulu Wars of Shaka] became workers at the european settlements that had established themselves in the northern Cape. By 1820 missionaries had actually moved into Xhosa country and established Mission Stations. At the Mission Stations the Bantu were de-tribalized and semi-westernized, workers, farmers and artisans. The advancement of european settlement into Xhosa country is well documented: Kei River [1847], Mbashe [1858], Mthatha [1878], and then Mzimkhulu [1894]. There were disastrous conflicts with the British but, in general, much of the penetration was peaceful. Noel Mostert documents the epic of South Africa’s creation and the tradegy of the Xhosa people, in his book Frontiers. This book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the history of South Africa.