BIOGRAPHY THE AFRICAN · 2015. 2. 9. · BIOGRAPHY THE AFRICAN Rev. S. J. MABOTE, a Msutu by birth, was one of the first presiding elders of the A.M.E. Church. Was a very influential

B I O G R A P H Y T H E A F R I C A N

PRINCE M A L U N C A K A M B A N D E N I.

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Y E A R L Y R E G I S T E R B I O G R A P H Y

P R I N C E M A L U N G A K A M B A N D E N I.

P rin ce M a lu n g a K.a IVTbandcni was born in the \ear 1 8 / 9 in Sw aziland . H e " was a broth er o f the N g w cn y a m a B hu nu o f Sw aziland . In 1 8 9 9 the N g w cn y a m a d ie d , the Q u een M o th e r , N abotsiben i, was p roc la im ed the In d h om k a z i (Q u e e n R e g e n t ) w ith her son, P r in ce IVIalunga K.a M b a n d e r i , as. her c h ie f ad\ iser, Sobuza II. b e in g still a m in o r . In 1 9 0 6 P rin ce M a lu n g a K a M b a n d e n i led a deputation to E n g la n d , paid hom age to K in g E d w a rd V I I . and later laid b e fo r e the C o lon ia l O ffice the gr ievan ce o f the Sw azi T r ib e . T h e grievance in c lu d ed a com p la in t in c o n n e c t io n w ith L o r d M i l n e r ’ s A n n e x a t io n o f a port ion o f Sw aziland t o the U n io n o f South A fr ic a , w ith ou t first consulting the Swazies. T h e Swazies h e ld that the annexation was a d irect vio lation o l the 188 1 and 1 8 8 4 treaties. T h e British G o v e r n m e n t , a lte r hearing the Sw azi case, declared the annexation null and v o id . P rin ce M a lu n g a was w'ell edu cated and e n jo y e d the con fid e n ce o l the w h o le Swazi T r i b e . T h e ed u ca tion o f the b o y h e ir Sobuza II . was entrusted to h im . N o t h in g cou ld be d on e by the Q u e e n R e g e n t and the Swazies w ith ou t first seeking his advice . H e was \ er\ pop u lar w ith the E u ropea n inhabitants o f Sw aziland . I rince M a lu n g a was a fine specim en o f a m an , standing about six feet six inches, and his tall b o d v , broad shoulders, and other physical d ev e lo p m e n t , pleasant face and penetrating b row n eyes m ade h im a very conspicuous in d iv idua l in d eed . H e d ie d in January, 1 9 1 5 .


R ev . S. J. M A B O T E , a M su tu by birth, was on e o f the first presid ing elders o f the A . M .E . C h u rch . W as a very influential m an and a g o o d preacher. V ery progressive and hard w ork in g , and h igh ly respected by all m embers o f the C h u rch . M r . M a b ote has been a de le gate to the A .M .E . G eneral C o n fe r e n c e in A m erica m ore than on ce . H is death was a great b low to the C h u rch .

R ev . T . M A G A Y A , B .A ., B .D . , was born in the Cape P rov in ce , -and d ied at Evaton , Transvaal, a fter a very brilliant career as p r in c ipal o f W i lb e r fo r c e Institution, and pastor o f the A .M .E . C h u rch . As a y ou n g man he le f t South A fr ica and w en t to A m erica fo r h igher ■education. A fte r some tim e he graduated at the W ilb e r fo r c e L m - versity and took the B .A . degree , and later the B .D . degree . A f t e r ord in a tion he was licensed as a m inister and returned to South A fr ica and co m m e n ce d his duties at W i lb e r fo r c e Institution. H is task o f b u ild in g a training institution was not an easy one, as the W ilb e r fo r c e Institution was under the A.M .E*. C h u rch , a ch u rch

o w n e d and contro lled bv A fr ica n s and A m erican N egros , and suffered the same disadvantages and disabilities as other schools o f its sort. T h e late R ev . M agaya was an excellent teacher, a great orator and fine musician. In him the A .M .E . C h u rch and A fr ica lost a w orth y son.

P A R A M O U N T C H I E F Z W E L I B A N Z I M A K A U L A , o f the Baca T r ib e , was born in 1 8 4 4 . H is father was killed in 1 8 4 5 . H is m oth er, N o n ik o , acted as regent until he came o f age in 1 8 6 5 . B e fo r e his fa th e r ’ s death the W esleyan M eth od is t missionaries o p e n e d schools and churches. C h i e f Makaula attended school at the age o f 18, but on account o f the constant warfare he was ob lig ed to leave in ord er to devote m ore attention to the affairs o f the Baca. In 1 8 7 6 he sought British protection .

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y e a r l y r e g i s t e r B I O G R A P H Y

M rs. R A C H E L M A L F .L E , w h o d ied at the age o f 112 years, was a daughter o f C h ie f M a leb og o , whose country is 70 niiles north o f Pietersburg. She was taken a slave du ring a war betw een her people and the D u tch . D u rin g the first ''isit o f the Prince o f W ales this old lady was anxious to con vey personally her thanks to H is Royal H ighness, fo r his great-grandm other. Q u een Victoria , had set her free fro m slavery. She was a Christian and a m em b er o f the H utch R e fo r m e d C h u rch . D ie d at lJotch efstroom , Transvaal, on the 26th O ctober, 193 0.

C h i e f N . C . M H A L L A , a c h ie f o f the Xosa tribe, was born in the Cape I ro- v ince. U n like the m ajor ity o f ch ie fs o f his age, he was educated and had pro gressive ideas. f f e was respected by all w h o knew h im , and took keen interest in the education o f his people . H e was one o f the fou nders and directors o f the Izzve, a w eekly newspaper printed and published in F.ast L on d on .

M r . R . R . M A N T S A Y I was born and educated in the C ape P rov ince . H e became a very im portant m an and a leader o f his people , taking great interest ln their progress. H e was one o f the founders, and directors o f the Iz.zve, an A fr ica n -E n g lish w eekly newspaper printed and published in Fast L o n d o n , Cape P rovince.

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CH IE F M A M O G A L E .

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V Z A R L Y R E G I S T E R B I O G R A P H Y

C H I E F M A M O G A L E .

C h i e f M am oga le was the head o f the Bakwena T r ib e w h ich broke away fr o m the Barolong m any years ago, T h e tribe settled in the District o f Rustcnburg, Transvaal. C h ie i M am ogale was a great fr ie n d o f President Kruger. H is was one o f the hrst places wrhere the Lutheran M ission op en ed a mission station. T h e c h ie f was a Christian. H is tw in sons, Joh n O t to and A bram , w ere both educated at the Lovedale T ra in in g Institution, Cape Province. O n the death o f the old c h ie f Joh n O tto M am ogale becam e c h ie f at Bethanv, R ustcnburg District, and Abram became c h ie f o f the section o f the tribe w h ich is l iv in g at H e b ro n in the Pretoria d istr ic t . Since the tim e o f C h ie f M am ogale the Bakwenas have advanced in education. C h ie f M am ogale is 'said to havebeen a good ruler, a kind-hearted old gentlem an w h o had the ir\t«~'«sts o f his people at heart, and had many i riends am ong the Europeans.

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Mr. ALFRED M A N G E N A .


M r . A L F R E D M A N G E N A

M r . A l f r e d M an gen a was born at Estcourt, Natal, about 1879 . F ie m anaged to acquire a little education, and thereafter took private studies at C apetow n. H e went to England and after matriculating

lie studied L aw at L in co ln ’ s Inn and was called to the Bar in 1909 . In 1910 he returned to his hom e and was the first A fr ica n Barrister- a t-L aw in South A fr ica . A fte r some difficulty he succeeded in b ecom in g a solicitor o f the Supreme C ourt o f South A fr ica , and •opened an office at Pretoria w ith a branch office in Johannesburg. C o m m e n ce d to practice and became very successful. T h e r e w ere Courts where natives could not gain admission except as prisoners or witnesses. A ll this M r . M angena fou gh t . M r . M an gen a becam e very popular w ith the A fr icans throughout South A fr ica and received invitations fr o m ch ie fs all over South A frica . H e was a fearless man, .and his l i f e was in danger m ore than once because o f his success in cases w here he d e fe n d e d natives against Europeans. In 1911 M r . P. Ka. I. Seme, B .A ., arrived fro m E urope, being the second A fr ica n

lawyer. T o g e th e r they set about d e fe n d in g their people in the L aw Courts. In 1 9 12 M r . M angena was appointed Senior Treasurer o f the A fr ica n National Congress. In the same year he published at Pretoria the first issue o f the A dvocate, a Bantu-English weekly. O w in g to some difficulties this newspaper ceased to exist the fo l lo w in g year. In 1916 M r . M an gen a married Nurse A . Y . N cobela , o f Natal. In th-e same year he w ent into partnership w ith M r . P. Ka I. Seme, th e firm bein g know n as M angena & Seme, Solicitors, etc. H e d ied .at his hom e in Umtata, Cape Province, in 19 24 .

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B I O G R A P H Y T H E A F R I C A K

M A N K l ’ L U M A N E K A S O M A P U N G A .

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M A N K U L U M A N E K A S O M A P U N G A .

M ankulum ane, son o f Somapunga N d w a n d w a N xu m a lo , was a descendant o f the K in g Z w id e , w h o fou gh t and was de fea ted by Tshaka, and m igrated to the Portuguese East T e rr ito ry and there established his k ingdom . M ankulum ane’ s father did not fo l lo w his lord to the Portuguese T err ito ry but pre ferred to remain in Z u lu - land . T h e r e M ankulum ane was born and brought up. As a boy he was very bright and showed signs o f leadership. As he grew to m anhood he became m ore ?.nd m ore influential. H e becam e a warrior and then a councillor at the Royal Kraal, and du ring the reign o f K in g C etyw avo o f Zu lu land , he becam e Prim e M inister . T h i s office he held du ring the reign o f D in izu lu and also that o f the present Zu lu Ruler, Solom on Kn D in izu lu ,

M ankulum ane, w h o had 30 wives, e n jo y e d the con fidence o f all the Zulus, and was looked upon by all Z u lu ch ie fs as a father. H e was a wise o ld man and nothing could be settled by the Z u lu National C ou n ci l w ithout first obtaining his sanction. T h o u g h uneducated, all important matters between the Zu lu ch iefs and the U n io n G o v e rn m ent were submitted to him by the Paramount C h ie f , Solom on Ka D in izu lu before any definite step was taken. H e d ied in Johannesburg Hospital in D ecem b er , 192 5, and was taken back to his h om e in Zululand to be interred alongside his father.

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CHIEF JUSTICE D A B U L ’A M A N D Z I M A R E L A N E .

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C H I E F J U S T I C E D A B U L ’ A M A N D Z I M A R F .L A N E .

C h i e f Justice D a b u l ’ A anandzi IVTarelane, son o f Sigcau an<J grandson o f M q ik e la Faku, was b orn abou n t 1 8 9 2 . “ J u stice ,” as he was n ick n a m e d b y the m issionaries, was ed u ca ted at L o v e d a le and Z o n n e b lo e m C o l le g e , C a p e to w n . H e was in the J .C . class ^ h e n h e was ca lled back h o m e to take his fa th e r ’ s p lace . H e advocated ed u ca tion f o r the P o n d o s , an d was n ot v e r y lo n g at h o m e w h e n schools began to spr in g u p all o v er the c o u n try . H e c o n tr ib u te d large sums o f m o n e y f o r the e re c t io n o f schools an d ch u rch es . B e in g a W e s le y a n , h e took great interest in c h u r c h affairs. H e was an athlete an d a sportsm an. W as v ery p op u la r w ith all sections o f h is p e o p le an d was h ig h ly resp ected b y E u ropean s and G o v e r n m e n t officials. T h i s y o u n g c h i e f d ie d o f in flu en za in D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 8 . fd is son , IVIandlonke, is n o w at sch oo l at L o v e d a le In stitu tion , C a p e P ro v in ce . T h e late P aram ou n t C h i e f Justice D a b u l ’ A m a n d z i M a re la n e e n g a g e d M r . E . T s h o n g w a n a , a v e ry c lev er m a n , as his- secretary. G re a t th in gs w ere e x p e c te d o f M a re la n e b y his p e o p le , an d his death at such an early age was a great loss an d caused m u ch sorrow a m o n g the p e o p le and all those w h o k n e w h im , especia lly his fe l lo w -s tu d e n ts . H e was said t o b e a v e r y b r ig h t s tu den ts P o n d o la n d , u n d e r his rule, was progressing fa v ou ra b ly .

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M O R E N A M A S O P H A

4S


M O R E N A M A S O P H A .

^ loren a M asoph a was a son o f the great M osh oesh oe . H e was born ln Basutoland. H e was a c h ie f u n der his fa th er and u n der Param ount C h i e f L ebr ie I. M o re n a M asoph a was a very progressive c h ie f and was very m u ch liked and respected by his peop le and the E uropean officials. In 1 8 9 6 a conflict arose betw een h im and M o ro o s i and a fter a hard battle M o re n a M asopha cam e out v ic torious. H e was very keen on the politica l l i f e o f Basutoland, and took great interest in the education o f the y o u n g peop le o f hiscountry .

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Qju> S J .o f , p 33 e

d

R ev . A . A . M A R E K A was a M su tu b y birth. H e was on e o f the first ministers o f the A .M .E . C h u rch and on e o f the most p rom in en t pres id ing elders. A hard w orker, a g o o d preacher, and m u ch loved by all w h o kn ew h im . O n several occasions he was one o f the delegates to the A . M .E . C h u rch G en era l C o n fe r e n c e in A m erica . H e also took great interest in the progress, o f his peop le and particularly in the education o f the ch ild ren .

M r . J A C O B M A N E L L E , C an terbu ry scholar. A f t e r com p le t in g his education he was ord a in ed priest and w orked at the Cala Parish, C a p e P rov in ce , u n d er A rch d ea con Coakes. H e w orked f o r m any years in the D iocese o f St. J o h n ’ s. M r . M a n c lle was the first N ative Priest in his d iocese. C ha irm an o f the N ative M issionary U n d e nom in ationa l Congress. H e d ied in 1 9 2 8 , at the age o f / 0 .

C A N O N M A S I Z A , an A fr ic a n priest o f the A n g lican C h u rch , was o r d a in e d in G rah am stow n. H e was an eloquent preacher, and th ro u g h his en erg y the A n g lica n C h u rch penetrated the T ranskei. H e w orked f o r m an y years in the St. M a r k ’ s, T s o m o , N gqam akw e a n d Butterw orth Districts. A f t e r the death o f his w i f e he lived in ce lib a cy . H e was a linguist. M a d e a p ilgr im age to Jerusalem. D ie d at the age o f 80 .

R ev . D . M S I K I N Y A was born in the C ape P rov in ce and e d u c a te d at L oveda le . A fte r q u a li fy in g , he studied f o r the m inistry . H e was later orda in ed a m inister o f the W esleyan M eth od is t C h u rch . H e was a very progressive m an, a hard w orker and a p o w e r fu l preacher. H e served in the W esleyan C h u rch fo r m any years, but resigned that d en om in ation and jo in e d the A fr ic a n M e th o d is t E piscopal C h u rch f o r w h ich he d id very g o o d w ork. H e d ied in P o n d o la n d .

R ev . E . M T O B T , a y ou n g er brother o f the late R ev . J oh n M to b i , w as born at H e a ld to w n . H e received his education at H e a ld to w n T r a i n i n g Institution w h ere he took the T e a ch e rs ’ C ertificate. A f t e r tea ch in g f o r som e tim e he jo in e d the m inistry o f the Wresleyan G h u r c h . H e served as a m inister in several places in the C ape P ro v in c e w ith great success. E ike his brother he was a hard w orker and a g o o d preacher, and earned the respect o f both w h ite and black. H e w as m arried and had one son. H e d ied in K im ber ley .

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M r . 1 H O S . J. M Q A N D A was born and •educated in the Cape Province. H e 'Was popular w ith m any, and took a keen interest in the political, educational and

-social l i f e o f his people. H is advice was -always respected. H e was one o f the founders and directors o f the Izzcey a W eekly newspaper printed and published

East L o n d o n , Cape Province.

M r - S IL A S T H E L E S H O M O L E M E , born in Bechuanaland in^ 8 5 2 , was a n ephew o f Paramount C h ie f M ontsioa o f the Barolong"Tribe. W as educated at H ea ld tow n Institution and obtained his"Teacher ’s Certificate in 18 77 . In those days travelling in South-A f r i c a was difficult, there being very f e w railway lines. IVTost o f‘the journeys w ere done by coach, w agon, horse or on fo o t . O n hisreturn to his h om e in M a fe k in g in 1 8 7 8 , M r . M o le m e organisedth e first day-school am ong the Barolongs. In 1 888 he was appointedprivate secretarv to the Paramount C h ie f . H e rendered special -service to the Barolongs in the dem arcation o f the inter-Barolong *and Bangwaketse border bv M a jo r -G e n e ra l G ou ld -A d a m s in 1889 . M ’as com m an d er o f the Barolong detachm ent in the d e fe n ce o f M a fe k in g by M a jo r -G e n e ra l B aden-P ow ell between 1 8 9 9 -1 9 0 0 . Mâs special interpreter o f the M ilitary T rib u n a l at M a fe k in g from 1 9 0 0 -1 9 0 1 . In 1902 he fou n d ed , ed ited , and published the B echuana G a zette . Wras a perm anent m em ber o f the C ou n cil and Barolong Comm issions. L ed a deputation o f Bechuanaland ch ie fs to C apetow n against the N ative Adm inistration A ct , 19 27 . W as a fr ie n d o f everybod y and was m uch respected by Europeans. T o o k

.great interest in the w elfare o f the A fr icans , especially their ed u ca t ion . H e had the gratification o f w e lcom in g h om e his son, D r .

M . M o le m e , w h o took the M .B . , C h .B ., in 1 91 9 at the U n iv e r - îty o f G lasgow .

b i o g r a p h y T H E A F R I C A N -

C H I E F M O N TSIG A .

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M O N T S I O A , or S c ja -N k a b o -a T a u a n a . A m o n g the best kn ow n c h ie f s o f the m id -V ic t o r ia n days. T h e son o f T a u a n a , the son o f T hut] wa, the son o f T s h id i , head o f the secon d branch o f the H o u se o f T a u , w h o was K in g o f the B aro lon g about 1 7 4 0 . M o n ts io a was b o rn soon a fte r 18 10, so that he was a y o u n g m an in the late tw en t ies o f the last cen tu ry w h e n M z i l ik a z i , w ith his w e ll -t ra in e d arm ies, trekked from the east; co n q u e re d the B echuana T r ib e s and p ro c la im e d h im s e lf suprem e ruler o f C entral South A fr ic a . H e then c o m m e n c e d to lc\^ taxes on the Bechuana tribes, in c lu d in g the B a ro lon g a long the M o l o p o R iv e r . In 1 8 3 0 the B a ro lo n g se ized K in g M z i l ik a z i ’ s tax -co llector , b y nam e B h oya , an d k illed h im and his co m p a n ion in co ld b lo o d . T h i s s e e m in g ly isolated act b rou g h t d o w n upon the B a ro lon g the fu l l f o r c e o f M z i l ik a z i ’ s w rath , and the M atabe le im pies sw o o p e d d o w n u p on th em like an avalanche. T h e B arolong , w h o had fo u g h t th e ir w ay d o w n f r o m the great lakes and w ere k n ow n a m on g o th er tribes as “ baga R u n g oa n a le bogale ” ( th e p e o p le w ith the sharp spear) w itnessed , f o r the first t im e , a k ind o f w a rfa re w h ich m ade n o d ist in ct ion b e tw e e n m an , w o m a n o r c h i l d ; and f o r nearly three-quarters o f a ce n tu ry th ere a f te r , the M ata b e le and all tribes allied to th em , ( e .g . , Z u lu , X osa , S w a z i, Shangaan, e t c . , ) w ere regarded wîth aw e, and the B echuana w o u ld have n o th in g in c o m m o n w ith th em . It speaks vo lu m es f o r th e m agica l f o r c e o f C h rist ian ity i f the ir descendants n o w in te r - m a rrv w ith m em b ers o f such tribes.

M o n ts io a , as a y o u n g m an just turned tw e n ty , must have taken a p ro m in e n t part in B h o y a ’ s e x e cu t io n , f o r the poets o f the dav im m orta lised the even t writh the f o l lo w in g lines in his h o n o u r :----

R e k ile ra in ee le la d ichaba,Ra ineela , ka lecogo , rnerafe;S eja -N k a b o a sale 7?i7notlauay A sale m o th a rin g eaga S eb od io .Jaana k e in m o n y e a tlhatlosa jn o th o lekgabatia A 77io -pega 7icoe ja G a -K h u n oa ?ia t lh o g o y A 7iale 77i77iabay a ea g o bolaoay S eja -N k a b o -a - T aua7ia.

T o o lo n g w e ’ ve ben t the knee to fo re ig n ers ,T o o lo n g w e ’ ve y ie ld e d the arm to strangers;M o n ts io a , at that t im e , was still a baby A str ide the back o f his m o th e r , S eb od io ."N ow have I seen h im lead a m an up hill,T e a d in g h im up to the crest o f M o u n t K u n a n a ; C o n d u c t in g a fo e m a n up to his kill,S e ja -N k a b o , the son o f T au a n a .

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B I O G R A P H Y T H E A F R I C A N ^

A ft e r th e ir destru ction b y the M a ta b e le , T a u n a and his p e o p lef o u n d a shelter a m o n g M o r o k a ’ s p e o p le ---- the Seleka bra n ch o f the-tr ibe---- at T haba ’ N c h u , n o w O .P .S . H e r e the first party o f im m i gran t Boers, u n d e r Sarel C elliers , o n the ir w a y n orth , f o u n d th e m . T h e y , to o , had a taste o f M z i l ik a z i ’ s sw ord and also f o u n d an asylum u n d e r the w in g o f M o ro k a at T h a b a ’ N c h u . T h e B a ro lo n g and the Boers w e r e later r e in f o r c e d b y a c o n t in g e n t o f G r iq u a h orsem en , u n d e r an in trep id lea d er n a m ed D o u t . T h e B a ro lon g lev ies w ere le d b y T a u a n a ’ s son, M o ts h e g a r e ; the c o m b in e d forces-b e in g u n d er the suprem e c o m m a n d o f H e n d r ik P otg ie ter---- a f r i e n do f the natives, i f ever there was on e . T o g e t h e r th ey d e f e a t e d M z i l ik a z i ’ s arm ies and f o r c e d the M a ta b c le to trek to the fa r n orth , n o w k n ow n as Southern R h od es ia .

A f t e r this o v e r th ro w and expu ls ion o f M z i l ik a z i , T a u a n a an d his p e o p le re tu rn ed to the M o l o p o re g io n , w h e re h e d ie d an d was; su cceed ed b y M o n ts io a as C h i e f o f the R a -T s h id i s e c t io n ; bu t, u n d e r h im , th ey w ere not l e f t l o n g to e n jo y th e ir hard w o n p eace . S o o n a f te r vhe voortrekker wave had spent itse lf b y sp rea d in g ou t and settling la n d in the distant areas o f the N o r th e r n T ra n svaa l, th e sou th en i territories w e re overru n by stray w h ites , w h ose la n d -h u n g e r v ie d w ith their utter d isregard o f the vested rights o f those w h o s e territories th ey in va d ed . Som e bands o f these w e re labelled filibusters (o r f r e e b o o t e r s ) , but the d i f fe r e n c e b e tw e e n th e asp irations o f such free la n ces and those o f the n e w ly established T ra n svaa l R e p u b lic the natives f o u n d it v ery hard to d e fin e . T h e s im ila r ity be tw een th em was particu larly noticeab le a fte r the passing o f t h e Potg ieters , th e Pretoriuses and others w h o , w ith the ir native fr iends,, b o re the bru n t o f the p io n e e r w ork . T h e i r places in th e n o w settled cou n try w e re taken b y the n e w Pharaohs w h o k n e w n ot Joseph, »nd it was the bane o f M o n ts io a ’s ch e q u e re d l i f e to have th em ar n e ighbours .

F o r instance, parties established the m in ia tu re repu b licso f Stellaland and G o s c h c n , w ith V r y b u r g as th e ir cap ita l; bu t, t o th e ir c re d it let it be said that these settlers in th e ir d im in u t iv e rep u b lic trou b led the B echuana v e ry little. M u c h o f the b r ig a n d age against M o n ts io a and th e filibustering forays in to B ech u a n alan d w e re usually organ ised on T ransvaa l soil and all captu red ca t t le w e re p r o m p t ly d r iv e n across the f r o n t ie r in to the South A f r i c a n R e p u b lic . O t h e r B a ro lon g tribes w e re c a jo le d and organ ised against M o n ts io a . T h e R a - T l o u sect ion , d e s ce n d e d from the sen ior H ou se- o f T a u , w ere assured that th ey a lone shou ld b e at the head o f all B a ro lon g affairs in c lu d in g M o n ts io a ’ s, and th ey w ere u rg e d t o j o i n the Boers in th e ir ca m p a ign against that usurper in o r d e r t o b r in g about a desirable read ju stm en t. O f course, w h ite p e o p le w e re n e w in the cou n try and it was not suspected that the s o l ic i tu d e

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o f these intriguers l o r the regulation o f the B a ro lon g succession was s tim u lated b y a n y th in g but a keen desire to place the H o u s e o f T a u in its r ig h t fu l pos it ion .

T h e tactics o f the adventurers w ere rem arkable. T h e y first •engineered a treaty b e tw e e n the British G o v e r n m e n t an d th e T r a n s vaal R e p u b lic . U n d e r this treaty the E n g lish w ere to p reven t the sale o f arms to savages, so that w h ite m en a lone c o u ld purchase firearms. T h e terms o f this agreem en t w ere e n f o r c e d by the British authorities w ith a firm h a n d , but som e w h ite m e n soon saw

ithat the e f fe c t o f the pact was to l im it the spread o f British D o m in io n in the in ter ior . M o s t “ savages ” resisted the B oer ex p a n

s io n w ith n o o th er o b je c t but to b r in g th e ir o w n p e o p le u n d er British p r o t e c t io n ; and m a n y British p ioneers sym pathised w ith the v io lation o f that treaty. S om e actually cam e in to B a ro lo n g terr i

t o r y and shared in the native d e f e n c e o f th e ir c o u n try against B oer en croa ch m en ts . A m o n g these m ay be m e n t io n e d the late R ich a rd R o w la n d , C h r is to p h e r Bethell and others. T h e y n ot o n ly p ro cu re d arm s f o r M o n ts io a but actually h e lp e d his w arriors in battle. B ethell f e l l on the battle fie ld a m o n g the sons o f M o n ts io a near the present T ra n sv a a l-B ech u a n a la n d bou n d a ry .

T h e clashes b e tw een the B aro lon g and the Boers e x te n d e d over several decades. T h e s e hostilities necessitated the rem ova l o f the

h eadqu arters o f the tribe to the present site, w h e re the natural fo r m a t io n o f th e rocks and the thickets in M on tsioastad a f fo r d e d som e shelter to the d e fen d ers . T h u s B a d e n -P o w e l l ’ s lo n g d e f e n c e

o f M a f e k i n g was n ot th e first; the place h a v in g b een be leagu ered m o r e than o n ce b e fo r e the British an nexation .

T h e H i g h C o m m iss io n e r , in a dispatch to the C o lo n ia l O ffice , a b ou t this t im e , points ou t the cruel a n om a ly w h e r e b y H e r M a je s t y ’ s C o lo n ia l F orces at the C a p e w ere e m p lo y e d to p reven t the d e l iv e ry o f arms an d a m m u n it io n to N atives w h o w e re w a g in g a g r im struggle in the interests o f British co lo n isa t io n ; w h ile th e British C o lo n ia l A u th or it ies , at the same t im e , w e re d o in g e v e r y th in g in th e ir p o w e r to fa c ilita te the d e l iv e ry o f arms to the Boers f o r use in su b d u in g such loya l fr ie n d s o f th e Im p eria l G o v e r n m e n t as M o n ts io a and his B a ro lon g---- W a r Of f ice Dispatches^ 1 8 7 7 .

D r . J . E . M a c k e n z ie , son o f the fa m ou s m issionary, w r i t in g on t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f R h od es ia , in a co lon ia l m a g a z in e som e years la ter , said, “ T h e British w o u ld n ev er be able to rep ay the d eb t th e y o w e to those tw o B echuana c h ie f s , M o n ts io a and M a n k u roa n e o f the B atlh ap in g , f o r the losses th ey have sustained in the wars

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B I O G R A P H Y T H E AFRICATST

th e y w a g ed against the Boers in o rd e r to keep op en f o r the British th e trade route to the N o r th , o f t e n in the fa ce o f British op p os it io n .”

T h e h istory o f these hostilities is un iqu e in that M o n ts io a h a d a m o n g his praise names an A fr ikaan s d it ty that w'as sung and p la y ed b y Boers in the W e ste rn Transvaal. I have fo rg o t te n th e stanzas,, but the r e fra in was:----

H o e ry die pad, Jioe ry die pad,Na M ontsioa toe?Kanoonkop oyer eti die M olop o deur;D ie Boer die skiet dat die stop so siaanMaar die Kaffir op sy plek bly staan.

It is n o t difficult to realise h o w these persistent raids a n d c o n tinuous losses o f m e n and possessions w h ich th ey in v o lv e d w e r e h a v in g a d em ora lis in g e f fe c t upon M o n ts io a ’ s tribe, and their p l ig h t even tu ally attracted the attention o f f r ie n d s o f the N atives at the C a p e . T h e y stron g ly su p ported the B a ro lo n g ’s f ra n t ic appeal* f o r British p ro te c t io n . T h e result o f these petit ion s was th e W a rre n e x p e d it io n in 1 8 8 5 , w h ich a n n ex ed B echuanaland as f a r as the Ram atlhabam a Spruit, and p ro c la im e d a protectorate o v e r th e territories o f B cch uan a tribes fu r th e r north up to the IVlatabele borders . S o that, a f te r a most e v e n t fu l l i f e , the o ld w arr ior a n d h u n ter was able to spen d the e v e n in g o f his l i f e in com p a ra t iv e peace.

T h i s p eace c o n t in u e d until 1 8 9 6 , shortly a fte r the annexation, to the C ap e , w h e n he was unsettled b y the r inderpest scou rge , w h ic h sw ept th rou gh Bechuanaland like a b l iz za rd and d e n u d e d his territories o f nearly ev ery beast. Buffaloes and w ild eb eest in th e forests perished like d om estic kine and m a n y f lou r ish in g cattle posts w ere r e d u ce d to ruins. So that w h ere fo rm e r ly large h erd s

o f sleek fa t o x e n sw arm ed over the grasslands as a m o v in g te s t im o n y o f B aro lon g w ealth , o n ly heaps o f w h ite n e d skeletons r e m a in e d , the o n ly vestige o f the an im al l i f e that o n c e throve there. It wa* a heart-break in g situation. T h e m isery o f his p eop le b e in g a th in g terrib le to con tem p la te . H y e n a s and w ild h ou n d s g o r g e d them selves to excess, w h ile flocks o f carrion birds and o th e r scavengers o f the w ood s w ere attracted b y the stench o f ro tt in g carcasses.

As a h u n ter in the chase, C h i e f IVIontsioa fro m his y o u th u p was as fearless as he was brave in war. H e e n jo y e d a great rep u ta t ionas a l io n -k il le r ---- on e o f the f e w B cch uan a w h o w o u ld f o l l o w aw o u n d e d l ion straight in to a thicket. H is character in that respect has also been put in to irregular verse b y the cou rt jesters o f h i* t im e , f o r th e y sang:----

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M ogatsa M a ja n g y tan ga di kalo!Tan ga di kaloy m oroa A1 henyana.Cja di ke di bolaoa leroboroboy D i ba di etia d ip h olofo lo tsa g op oy D i ba di edioa pitse tsa g o p o yLekau ja G on tsc-a -T d u a n a ! •Tau di bolaoa dile thataroy L e ja dile pedi dia bo di ntse.

( T h a t ’ s not the w ay to kill lions,O , husband o f M a ja n g !T h a t ’ s n ot the w ay , O , o f fsp r in g o f M ’ H e n y a n a !L ion s shou ld n ot be b u tch ered by the score N o r like h u n ted animals at the chase;L ion s should not be slaughtered in such num bers,T o litter the fie ld like carcasses o f dead zebra ,O , d escen d an t o f G o n tse , son o f T a u a n a !S ix lions at a t im e are qu ite en ou g hF'or, even tw o at a t im e are n ot to o f e w ! )

A n d here is a rare c o in c id e n c e : the nam e “ M o n ts io a ” (h e w h o is taken o u t ) bears the same m e a n in g as the H e b r e w nam e “ M u s h e h ”(M o s e s ) ; and , as the S e -R o lo n g expression has it---- Ina lebe scrom o(a n ill nam e is an ev il o m e n ) .

C h i e f M o n ts io a survived the r inderpest catastrophe b y barely on e y ea r . A t the age o f 8 6 he su ccu m b ed to p u lm on a ry disorders aggravated b y a fa tty heart. H e was b u ried b y his p e o p le in his cattle f o l d . R e v . A l f r e d S. Sharp, W es le y a n M iss ion a ry , n o w in re t irem en t in E n g la n d , c o n d u cte d the fu n era l service. A m o n g the E u ropean s in attendance w ere M r . G e o r g e J. Boyes, R es id en t M agistrate ( w h o d ie d at C a p e to w n , not lo n g a g o ) and som e T ransvaa l Boers, in c lu d in g his f o r m e r m ilitary fo e s w h o , despite the ir proverb ia l weakness in the fa ce o f co lou r , cou ld respect a brave m an w h e n e v e r th e y m et on e .

A m o n g C h i e f M o n ts io a ’ s T ransvaa l fr ien d s in c lu d e d G e n e ra l P iet C r o n je , a fo r m e r adversary and the noblest M in is te r o f N a tive A ffa irs that ever sat in a K ru g e r C a b in et . H e spoke the B aro lon g to n g u e almost like a native an d an sw ered to the native sobriqu et o f “ R a - N t h o ’ akgale .” A f t e r the peace in 1 8 8 5 , the o ld c h i e f som etim es v is ited his B oer f r ie n d s across the T ransvaal b ord er . O n such occasions H r. M o le m a ’s fa th e r or the D o c t o r ’ s fa th e r - in - law (R e v . M . J . M o sh o e la , n o w o f K lerk sd orp ) a cco m p a n ie d the

o l d w arr ior as secretary, and sent back d u r in g his absence, on e b u lle t in a fte r an oth er to keep his p e o p le i n f o r m e d o f the progress o f their b e lo v e d c h i e f and his re cep tion a m o n g the Boers.

-----S o l T . P l a a t j e .

57

Collection Number: A1618

Collection Name: T.D. Mweli SKOTA Papers, 1930-1974

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