Ngqika

Last updated February 06, 2024

The Ngqika people are a Xhosa monarchy who lived west of the Great Kei River ^[1] in what is today the Eastern Cape of South Africa. They were first ruled by Rarabe kaPhalo who died with his son Mlawu, who was destined for chieftaincy. The clan would be named after Ngqika ka Mlawu, the son of the then late Mlawu.^[2] It would be years before the child would rule his people who fought in the Xhosa Wars, which were sparked by the encroachment of European settlers on Xhosa lands.^[3]

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) that was responsible for trading and colonising of South African land in what is described as “founding” several urban areas like towns and cities in already populated areas of the west of South Africa. The organisation continually changed the boundaries in the Cape Colony due to European invasion and migration, establishing the Great Fish River as the eastern frontier in 1778.^[3]

In colonial times, the Ngqika lands were known as British Kaffraria. Later the Apartheid government of South Africa gave them a form of independence as the former "Ciskei" homeland.

The clan were referred to as “Gaika” people by the Europeans.

Origins

Birth of a nation

Ngqika ka Mlawu was the first chief of the Ngqika and the third paramount chief of the Rharhabe Xhosas. He had nine wives. The clan was named after him when his grandfather (Rharhabe, the founder of the sub-group) and father (Mlawu, who was to be the next chief) both died in 1782. Ngqika, at only four years old, was too young to rule. Ndlambe (who would eventually establish the AmaNdlambe people) was Rharhabe's other son and Ngqika's uncle who became regent until the boy matured – in the tradition of the Xhosas. Ndlambe was responsible for the expansion of his tribe's territory and influence.^[1] He absorbed smaller clans (like the imiDange people) into the Ngqikas or expelled them to far lands. They were eventually invaded by European settlers from the Cape Colony who fought with them over their prime grazing land, west of the Great Kei River.^[1]

Encroachment by European settlers, beginning in the Dutch colonial period, resulted in the century of Xhosa Wars (commonly known as the Frontier Wars) from 1779 to 1879 involving Xhosa tribes (including the Ngqika), Khoikhoi and San people. Relations between the European invaders were fluid throughout this period with the varying indigenous people and Europeans working for or against one another to secure land, resources and cattle. These groups changed allies depending on who would help advance their objectives over the years. In 1793, in collaboration with other Xhosa clans, the Ngqikas fought against white settlers during the Second Frontier War.^[1]

In 1796, Ngqika turned 18 and was ready to assume his rightful place on the throne, but his uncle was reluctant to give up power. Ndlambe appealed to the tribe to retain his power but this failed. His nephew imprisoned him a year later in an attempt to stifle his power. When he escaped across the Great Fish River in 1799 with his supporters, he attempted to collude with the Cape Colony's white government to overthrow Ngqika, but the colony continued to recognise his nephew as the paramount chief.^[1]

Ngqika ka Mlawu died in November 1829 after a chest illness and alcohol abuse.^[2]

List of chiefs during Xhosa Wars

Mgolombane Sandile the rightful heir of Ngqika, was only nine years old when his father died. Maqoma, born to Ngqika and Nomvakalisa Nothontho of the Ngqosini, was the chief's eldest son but because Sandile's mother was a descendant of abaThembu (a royal lineage).^[2] Her first son was thus considered the “Great Son”. Maqoma became regent until Sandile was ready to rule. The following is a list of chiefs of the Ngqika that ruled during the Xhosa Wars starting with Sandile's great grandfather, Rharhabe:

Rharhabe: lived 1778 (as the leader of the Rharhabe people) – 1782, ruled 1796 - 1782
Ngqika kaMlawu: lived 1778 – 1829, ruled 1796 - 1829
Mgolombane Sandile: lived 1820 – 1878, ruled 1841 - 1878^[2]

The native groups lost most of their land and were absorbed into the Cape Colony during this century. The Xhosa eventually lost access to the fertile land between the Great Kei River and Great Fish River to encroaching European settlers.^[4]

Related Research Articles

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Hintsa ka Khawuta, also known as Great or King Hintsa, was the king of the Xhosa Kingdom, founded by his great ancestor, King Tshawe. He ruled from 1820 until his death in 1835. The Xhosa Kingdom, at its peak, during his reign stretched from Mbhashe River, south of Mthatha to the Gamtoos River, in the Southern Cape.

Mlawu ka Rarabe was a son of Rarabe ka Phalo, the founder of the right hand house of the Xhosa nation.

Chief Mbuso Alphin Mqalo was the chief of the Amakhuze Tribe in Alice, South Africa and the oldest chief of the Rharhabe Kingdom. His reign was from the early 1960s to 2006.

The Rharhabe House is the second senior house of the Xhosa Kingdom. Its royal palace is in the former Ciskei and its counterpart in the former Transkei is the Gcaleka, which is the great house of Phalo.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makhanda (prophet)</span> Xhosa indigenous doctor

Makhanda, also spelled Makana and also known as Nxele, was a Xhosa indigenous doctor. He served as a top advisor to Chief Ndlambe. During the Xhosa Wars, on the 22nd of April, 1819, he initiated an abortive assault on the town of Grahamstown, in what was then the Cape Colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maqoma</span> Xhosa chief

Jongumsobomvu Maqoma was a Xhosa chief and a commander of the Xhosa forces during the Cape Frontier Wars. Born in the Right Hand House of the Xhosa Kingdom, he was the older brother of Chief Mgolombane Sandile and nephew to King Hintsa. In 1818, he commanded the forces of his father, Ngqika, who seemingly was trying to overthrow the government and become the king of the Xhosa nation. In 1822, he moved to the so-called neutral zone to take land but was expelled by the British troops. and Chief Maqoma his Know Usenam Ningi

The AmaNdlambe or the Ndlambe is a Xhosa principality located in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Founded by Prince Ndlambe, son of King Rharhabe and grandson of King Phalo, Ndlambe's advisors and strong army were known as the 'AmaNdlambe'. Prince Ndlambe was also the uncle of King Hintsa.

The Imidushane clan was founded by one of the greatest Xhosa warriors Prince Mdushane who was the eldest son of Prince Ndlambe, the son of King Rharhabe.

The Battle of Amalinde was an armed confrontation between two Xhosa chiefs of the Rharhabe House, which took place in October 1818 just outside of what is today King Williams Town, in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. on the eve of the fifth Xhosa War. Chief Ngqika had close ties with the British, while his uncle, Chief Ndlambe, had no such agreements and painted Ngqika as someone selling out his people in return for personal gain. Chief Ndlambe was assisted in the battle by the senior, King Hintsa and his Gcaleka warriors. When chief Ngqika was defeated in the battle, he retreated and appealed to the British for protection. A British-led force commanded by Colonel Thomas Brereton then seized 23,000 head of cattle from Ndlambe's people in retaliation, leading to the battle of Grahamstown.

Emma Sandile, also known as Princess Emma, was the daughter of the Rharhabe Xhosa King Mgolombane Sandile. She was educated by the British in the Cape Colony, and later became a landowner possibly the first black woman to hold a land title in South Africa.

References

1 2 3 4 5 2017. Ngqika ka Mlawu, 3rd Paramount Chief of the amaRarabe. Geni. Accessed 13 March.
1 2 3 4 2017. Maqoma's final resistance. News24. Accessed 13 March.
1 2 "2011. Conquest of the Eastern Cape 1779-1878. SA History. Accessed 13 March". Archived from the original on 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
↑ 2017. Battle of Amalinde. Buffalo City. Accessed 13 March.

External links

List of wars

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[Geni-1] 1 2 3 4 5 2017. Ngqika ka Mlawu, 3rd Paramount Chief of the amaRarabe. Geni. Accessed 13 March.

[Family_tree-2] 1 2 3 4 2017. Maqoma's final resistance. News24. Accessed 13 March.

[Invasion-3] 1 2 "2011. Conquest of the Eastern Cape 1779-1878. SA History. Accessed 13 March". Archived from the original on 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2018-04-02.

[Amalinde-4] 2017. Battle of Amalinde. Buffalo City. Accessed 13 March.

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