Maqoma: Xhosa resistance to colonial advance, 1798-1873

by Timothy J. Stapleton

Book by Stapleton

Genres: History

261 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Yvonne]

This book made me look at the frontier wars in a new light and realise that black history on the frontier has been unfairly underrated. It is far more complicated than I ever knew, having been taught so little at school and always with a European bias. There are many conflicting opinions on this period of history but some of the more recent examinations, like this one, show the colonial authorities to be erratic in their policies as different governors were sent to the Cape, and unreliable in sticking to their agreements. Their main focus was to obtain land for the settlers and labour for the farmers and that they did at any cost. Maqoma it would seem was a wily tactician who resisted as far as he could the colonial advance. He wanted only to remain on his land, keep his cattle and live with his clan. It is no wonder that the wars of dispossession, as they are now called, caused such bitterness.

[Odwa]

I love this book, the author has done good research and he explains views of other authors on certain topics and explains why he differs from them. As a Xhosa South African, I feel Maqoma should be given more recognition in the Eastern Cape (South Africa). This is a must read for all interested in South African history because they do not teach you such things at school.

[Batha]

I read this a long long time ago. Another lifetime, it feels like.

Someone made me curious about the human side of Maqoma, so I’m on the hunt for books about him.