Makana (prophet)
Encyclopedia
Makanda Nxele or Makana the prophet ( – 25 December 1819) was a Xhosa warrior and prophet who, during the Xhosa Wars
, led an attack against the British
garrison at Grahamstown
in 1819.
Makana was born near the coast in the Uitenhage
area of the Eastern Cape
. During his youth, he heard the gospel message preached by the first missionary in the area, Johannes van der Kemp
. Although probably part of the forced expulsion of 20,000 Xhosa from the area in 1812, Makana maintained a strong interest in Christianity
, combining it with elements of ancient Xhosa beliefs. His powerful oratory style attracted people in their thousands and earned him the status of chief and military adviser to Chief Ndlambe.
Makana led a combined force of the Xhosas against Chief Ngqika
, who was seen as selling out his people in return for personal gain as an ally of the British Empire. When the British seized 23,000 head of cattle from Ndlambe’s people in retaliation, Makana urged all the Xhosa to unite to try to drive the colonizers out once and for all. Makana advised Ndlambe that the gods would be on their side if they chose to strike back at the British at Grahamstown, and promised that the British "bullets would turn to water".
Ndlambe took Makana’s advice, and on 22 April 1819 Makana (with Ndlambe as his patron) attacked Grahamstown in broad daylight with a force of about 6,000 men (some sources say 10,000 men). They were accompanied by women and children, prepared to occupy the land which had formerly been theirs. The British garrison of approximately 350 troops was able to repulse the attack only after timely support was received from a Khoikhoi
group led by Jan Boesak.
Defeated by superior British fire power, Makana eventually surrendered himself in the interests of promoting peace. The British imprisoned him on Robben Island
, but treated him with great respect, giving him private accommodation, food and furniture. On 25 December 1819, Makana escaped along with 30 other prisoners, mostly Xhosa and Khoisan
rebels from the Eastern frontier districts. Although several survived, Makana drowned. 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.
Makana is credited with attempting to unite the Xhosas in their struggle against the British Empire. His dedication to this cause and the sacrifice of his own life in its pursuit have led 20th century prisoners on Robben island, including Nelson Mandela
, to call for renaming that island after Makana. The Makana Local Municipality
is named after him, and so was Makana F.A.
, a sporting body formed by political prisoners on Robben Island during the apartheid years.
Xhosa wars
The Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
, led an attack against the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
garrison at Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
in 1819.
Makana was born near the coast in the Uitenhage
Uitenhage
Uitenhage is a South African town with 275,185 inhabitants in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. The town's name is pronounced by English speakers and in Afrikaans...
area of the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
. During his youth, he heard the gospel message preached by the first missionary in the area, Johannes van der Kemp
Johannes van der Kemp
Dr Johannes Theodorus van der Kemp was a military officer, doctor and philosopher who became a missionary in South Africa.-Early life:...
. Although probably part of the forced expulsion of 20,000 Xhosa from the area in 1812, Makana maintained a strong interest in Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, combining it with elements of ancient Xhosa beliefs. His powerful oratory style attracted people in their thousands and earned him the status of chief and military adviser to Chief Ndlambe.
Makana led a combined force of the Xhosas against Chief Ngqika
Ngqika
The Ngqika are a tribe of the Rharhabe Xhosa whose homeland is in the former Ciskei area of the Eastern Cape.Their famous chief Sandile led most of the Rharhabe Xhosa in a series of the frontier wars with the Cape Colony....
, who was seen as selling out his people in return for personal gain as an ally of the British Empire. When the British seized 23,000 head of cattle from Ndlambe’s people in retaliation, Makana urged all the Xhosa to unite to try to drive the colonizers out once and for all. Makana advised Ndlambe that the gods would be on their side if they chose to strike back at the British at Grahamstown, and promised that the British "bullets would turn to water".
Ndlambe took Makana’s advice, and on 22 April 1819 Makana (with Ndlambe as his patron) attacked Grahamstown in broad daylight with a force of about 6,000 men (some sources say 10,000 men). They were accompanied by women and children, prepared to occupy the land which had formerly been theirs. The British garrison of approximately 350 troops was able to repulse the attack only after timely support was received from a Khoikhoi
Khoikhoi
The Khoikhoi or Khoi, in standardised Khoekhoe/Nama orthography spelled Khoekhoe, are a historical division of the Khoisan ethnic group, the native people of southwestern Africa, closely related to the Bushmen . They had lived in southern Africa since the 5th century AD...
group led by Jan Boesak.
Defeated by superior British fire power, Makana eventually surrendered himself in the interests of promoting peace. The British imprisoned him on Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
, but treated him with great respect, giving him private accommodation, food and furniture. On 25 December 1819, Makana escaped along with 30 other prisoners, mostly Xhosa and Khoisan
Khoisan
Khoisan is a unifying name for two ethnic groups of Southern Africa, who share physical and putative linguistic characteristics distinct from the Bantu majority of the region. Culturally, the Khoisan are divided into the foraging San and the pastoral Khoi...
rebels from the Eastern frontier districts. Although several survived, Makana drowned. 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.
Makana is credited with attempting to unite the Xhosas in their struggle against the British Empire. His dedication to this cause and the sacrifice of his own life in its pursuit have led 20th century prisoners on Robben island, including Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, to call for renaming that island after Makana. The Makana Local Municipality
Makana Local Municipality
Makana Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Cacadu District of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The municipality is named after a Xhosa prophet, Makana....
is named after him, and so was Makana F.A.
Makana F.A.
Makana Football Association was a sporting body formed by political prisoners on Robben Island, South Africa who organised football leagues for fellow inmates. Formed in 1966, the association ran a league until 1973, adhering strictly to the Laws of the Game, the FIFA rulebook being one of the few...
, a sporting body formed by political prisoners on Robben Island during the apartheid years.