T4A Logo
Africa Map Pin
Advanced Search »

 +  T4A GPS Maps on SD Card Online Special! Starts 15-Apr-2025 - until SD Card v25.05 gets released mid May!

When purchasing our current SD Card version 24.10 T4A GPS maps from our ONLINE SHOP ONLY, you will automatically receive SD Card version 25.05 in Mid May 2025 as your free upgrade as well as version 25.10 in October 2025. This offer is only valid for online SD Card purchases from our online shop, from the 15th April 2025 until our new version 25.05 is released in Mid May 2025. Contact our Sales team at sales@tracks4africa.co.za if you need more information.  

Please note that this special offer does NOT apply to our GPS Maps Download Links (ie. these are yearly subscriptions on our shop), APP or purchases made from Retailers.

Interesting Places Nongqawuse Prophetess Of Doom

ID: w157569 View large map

Located in South Africa :: Eastern Cape (Wild Coast)
Category: Attraction :: Interesting Places

Fourteen year old Nongqawuse, when fetching water at a nearby pool, claimed to see images of her ancestors in the water. They told her that they would drive the white settlers out of the country, but that the Xhosa people would first have to kill all their cattle and destroy their crops, in order to proof their faith. The spirits will then chase the settlers out of the country, and bring with them large herds of cattle to replace the ones slaughtered.

Nongqawuse reported the sighting to her uncle, Mhlakaze, a well-known spirit-medium, and chief Sarili believed in her prophecy. Over a period of ten months during 1856-1857, the Xhosa killed over 400 000 head of cattle, and destroyed all their crops, but on the promised day, Nongqawuse’s prophecy never came true. The Xhosa was now a starving nation, and turned to the settlers for help.

Sir George Grey, then governor of the Cape, instructed the settlers not to assist the Xhosa, unless they provide labour to the settlers. By the end of 1858, more than 40 000 people had starved to death, including Nongqawuse’s uncle, Mhlakaze.

Nongqawuse survived the famine and was later arrested and imprisoned on Robben Island. After her release she returned to a farm in the Eastern Cape, where she passed away in 1898.

Contact
Address :  Qolora, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Pictures [ add a picture ]

Be the first to upload an image.

Comments [ leave a comment ]

Be the first to leave a comment.

Extras [ add media ]

Be the first to submit a link or media file

Padkos Links [ submit a link ]

Be the first to submit a link

 
Suggest a Correction
 
Disclaimer: Please note that the Tracks4africa content is researched continuously and the data is updated regularly. Although we endeavour to keep our information as up to date as possible, this is not always possible due to the high volume of listings on our database. Therefore, please treat our information as a guide and reconfirm important items with establishments directly. Please help other travellers, by helping us to keep our data up to date, by submitting data corrections.

Places in the Vicinity

Categories in the Vicinity