Journal of Negro Education

Bambata: Last of the Zulu Rebel Chiefs

Author(s): John Henrik Clarke
Source: The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Winter, 1962), pp. 88-91
Published by: Journal of Negro Education
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2294552 .
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 SectionE: Bambata:Lastof theZulu Rebel Chiefs
JoHN HENRIK CLARKE

WorldMutual Exchange,
on AfricanAffairs,
U. S. Correspondent
News Features
International

HEN CETEWAYO DIED IN 1884,and tionsimposedupon themby the Asiatic

theZulu tribewas brokenup into Law Amendment Act.
13 sub-divisions withouta centralhead, FartherSouth in the countrythatis
the Europeansin South Africabreathed now Rhodesia,anothercrisishad unfold-
easier and said: "At last the power of ed and ended in defeatand sorrowfor-
the-Zulu is broken." They had spoken another branchof theZulu tribe. Loben-
prematurely. The periodof easybreath- gula, king of the Ama-Ndebele,Mata-
ing did not last long. The 13 sub-divi- bele or Abukwa-Zulu,had been over-
sions of Zulus, each with conflictingwhelmedby Cecil Rhodes'armyof well-
viewsand aspirations, createdmorecon- equippedmercenary soldiers. His coun-
fusionthan stability.Soon the trekkerstry,Matabeleland,his people and his
fromthe Transvaalinto Zululand were conqueredsubjects,the Moshonas,had
glad to recognizeDinizulu as the para- been reducedto vassals. When Loben-
mountchiefof the 13 pettychiefswho gula died in 1893, the Europeansin
were ruling the remainingportionof South Africaonce morebreathedeasier
Zululandhaphazardly. Dinizulu was the and said again, "At last, the powerof
son and rightful successorto Cetewayo. the Zulus is broken."Once more they
The proclamation of Dinizuluas para- had spokenprematurely.
mountchiefwas followedby a "grant" Beforethe Zulu uprisings werefinally
of land to the Boerswho soon afterwardbroughtto an end moremen and issues
established a new republicwithVyrheir had to be dealt with-one man in par-
as its capital. ticular,Bambata,chiefof theZonditribe.
Paul Kruger,the Boer leader,wanted Bambatawas bom in 1865 in the re-
the territory of St. Lucia Bay and an gion called Mpanzo Valley. His father
outletto the ocean thatwould freethe was Mancinza,sometimecalled Sobuza.
Boers fromthe heavy duties that the A smalland notparticularly distinguished
Britishwere placing on their imports. branchof the Zulus,theZondi tribehad
The recurringhunger for more land as its chiefMancinza. The Zondishave
brought the Boersonce moreinto armed also been referred to as the Amazondi-
conflictwith the Zulus. The British meaningthe "haters." Bambata'smother
attempt at "peace-making"involvedthem was the daughterof Pakade, a well-
in a war withDinizulu. knownchiefof theCunu tribe.
Afterbrave and stubbornresistance As a boy, Bambata was headstrong
theZulu chiefhad to surrender and was and restlesslike most Zulu boys. He
exiled to St. Helena Island, along with was fondof fighting and frequentlyne-
his uncles,Ndabukoand Shingane. In glectedthe cattlehe was told to watch
1898, theywere allowedto returnand in orderto engagein fightswith other
it was thenthatDinizuluwas appointed boys. He becamean expertin theuse of
chiefof theUsututribein theNongoma the assegai,the traditional tribalfighting
districtand was recognized as theheredi- weapon.
taryhead of the Zulus.
Bambata'sfather,Mancinza,died in
The colonyof Natal was havingtrou- 1883. Bambatawas too youngto ascend
ble with its East Indian subjectswho, to the chieftainship of his tribe. A
underMahatmaGhandi'sleadership, were trustworthy uncle, Magwababa,was ap-
relentlessly fightingthe drasticrestric-pointed to the chieftainship.
88
 CURRENT TRENDS AND EVENTS 89

His relationswith the Europeansin courseof action. Some of themhad re-

South Africawereneversatisfactory. Un- luctantly orderedtheirpeopleto pay the
likemostof theZulu chiefs, he wouldnot tax.
acceptthe reducedstatusof his tribe,in Dinizulu consideredhis positionand
spite of the fact that the Zondis were becamecautious. He could not afford
smallin numberand had onlyabouttwo to let it be knownthathe sympathized
dozen riflesbetweenthem. withBambata,thoughmuchof theaction
The totalstrength of the tribeat the thatfollowedprovedhe did. His most
end of 1905 was: 90 hutsin theUmvoti, able general,Cakijana,was slylyand un-
120 in New Hanover,21 in Umbeniand officiallyassigned to assist Bambata.
91 in Lion's River. These divisionsof They went secretlythroughNatal and
1,142 in all represented a totalapprox- Zululandrecruiting followersand stirring
imatepopulationof 5,000 men, women up feelingsagainstthe tax and European
and children.Less thana thousand were rule.
capable of bearingarms. He had only Bambatafound his strongest ally in
a few oddlymixedregiments, not com- ChiefSignanadaShezi of theCube tribe.
parable in strengthor organizationto The chief had five taxable sons and
theotherZulu clansin and aroundNatal. could not see why theyshouldpay tax
forlivingon land thathad been theirs
This did not keep Bambatafromtry- for centuries. Signanadawas about
95
ingto avengethepastand present wrongs yearsold at the time. In age he was
imposedon his tribe. He knew of the the seniorchief
amongthe Zulus and a
Zulu's greatness in victoryand in defeat. kindofelderstatesman and oralhistorian.
He wantedto redeemand enhancethe He had practically livedthrough the rise
name Zulu. He was resentful of most and fall of the Zulu empireand had
Europeans and feltno compunctions about participatedin most of the important
Taidingtheirfarmsforcattle. wars and eventsthatbroughtthe Zulus
The Boer War lastedthreeyearsand gloryand defeat.He had personalknowl-
theBritishcolonists wereheavilyin debt. edge of incidentsduringthe reignsof
In spite of the fact that the native formerZulu chiefs, Chaka, Dingaan,
Africangot nothingout of the war but Panda and Cetewayo. He had been pre-
some promisesthatwereneverkept,the sentat the deathand funeralof Chaka's
Britishdecidedthattheyshouldhelp pay mother,Nandi. He had servedin the
off this debt. Accordingly, a poll tax Mkutulshanaregimentof Chaka's half-
of $5 was imposedupon everymale Af- brotherand successor,Dingaan. As a
rican. This was in additionto the reg- memberof this regimenthe witnessed
ularhuttaxof $15 and a dog tax. Bam- the massacreof Piet Retiefand his party
bata decided that his small tribe of of Boersettlerin 1838.
5,500 wouldpay no tax at all. Signandafoughton the side of Cete-
Immediately Bambatastartedto search wayo at the battleof Ndondakusuka in
for allies amongthe otherZulu tribes. 1856. Later, he fled to the Graytown
The government orderedhimdeposedand district wherehe was befriended by Man-
named Magwababa,formerly the regent cinza, the fatherof Bambata. Cetewayo
of the tribe,to replacehim. Bambata recalledhim to Zululand in 1871 and
bad ignoredall the government orders appointed him a pettychief. Becauseof
and told his tribeto pay no tax. He this background and Signanada'sfriend-
threatened to killthedetachment ofwhite shipwithhis late father, it was a natural
policemensent to arresthim. Later he turnof eventsforBambatato seekrefuge
fledinto Zululandto see his paramount in and assistanceamongthe Cube tribe
chief,Dinizulu.Otherchiefssympathizedon theeve of theZulu Rebellionof 1906.
with Bambataand respectedhis daring On the 8th of Aprila detachment of
while lettinghim know thattheycould Britishtroopsunder the commandof
not committhemselves to followinghis ColonelLeucharssurrounded and shelled
90 THE JOURNAL OF NEGRO EDUCATION

Bambata'skraal,seemingly not knowing chiefsand was givena hospitablerecep--

thatBambataand his followers had cross- tion. On April 28, Colonel McKenzie
ed the Tugela River and escaped into was placed in commandof the Zulu
Zululand. fieldforces.The rebellion was spreading.
Bambatawas reportedto have taken Col. Sir AubreyWools-Sampson,a
refugein Cetewayo'sold stronghold in hero of the Boer War, was appointed
tlle Nkandhla Mountains,which were c-hief of staffto ColonelMcKenzie.The
considered to be inaccessible,
even to the wholeof the Zululandfieldforceexcept
Zulus. As the crisisgrewmoredrastic, thoseleft behind to maintainorderin
C. R. Saunders,Commissioner of Native otherareaswas campedin Dundee wait-
Affairs,left Eshowe for Nkandhla. ing forthe orderto marchon the rebels
Orderswere issuedto the chiefsof that in the NkandhlaForest.
districtto arm theirpeople and capture Troublewas also smoldering in other
Bambata. On April 14, the governmentplaces. A detachment of troopshad to
offered a rewardof 500 poundsforhis be sentto Helpmakaar, wherea powerful
capture. On April17, ChiefSignanada's chiefnamedKula was suspectedof sedi-
tribebrokeout in open rebellion. Din- tion. At the same timetherewere dis-
izulu, fearingthat his indirectsupport quietingreportsabout Chief Mehloka-
of Bambatawould becomeknown,sent Zulu in the Nqutu district.
a messageto the Natal government as-
sertinghis loyaltyand orderedhis chief On May 3, the Zululand fieldforce
leader,Mankulumana,to seek out Sig- leftDundeewith20 days'supplies.There
nanada. were 150 wagonswithtwocolumns.Be-
foretheyarrivedat Nkandhla,newswas
The situationhad becomecriticaland receivedof an encounter withthe rebels
thegravestanxietywas rampant.It was in thevicinity of Cetewayo'sgrave.These
fearedthat the rebellionwould spread rebels were mostlyfromChief Signa-
into Zululand. On April 20, offersof nada's tribe,thoughBambatawas seen
assistancewerereceivedfromotherSouth leading them and giving instructions
Africancolonies. Two companiesof froma whitehorse.
troopsleftforEshoweand one forGin-
ginhlove.An irregular corpsof 500 men The battlewas just a littlemorethan
was raisedforspecialservice. Dinizulu, a skirmish, with each side testingthe
theparamount chief,againoffered tohelp other'sstrength.The rebelsfed back
the government driveout Bambataand to the protection of the forest. More
put down the rebellion. His offerwas troopswere broughtinto the area and
not accepted. the battlestartedagain in the vicinity
of
Cetewayo'sgrave. Beforesundownthree
There was a possibility thathis part columnsarrived and tooka positionabout
in startingthe rebellionhad already a half mile fromthe
grave,near the
becomeknownto 'theBritish. His most junctionof the Nkungzanaand Insuzi
able general,Cakijana,was servingvery rivers. A heavy thunderstormbroke
boldlyat Bambata'sside. overthe campduringthe night.
On the 23rd of April the Transvaal Colonel McKenzie led a detachment
government offered to send a completelyof troopsintoBambata'smountainstrong-
equippedcavalryregimentof 500 men hold,MomeGorge,and thefinaland de-
to the troubledarea. The offerwas ac- cisivephase of the rebellionbegan.Over
ceptedby theNatal government on April 5,000 well-equippedtroopswere sent
26, and thefirst contingentleftJohannes-againstBambata'srebelarmy. The am-
burgforDundee. munition forBambata'sfewrifleshad long
The rewardfor the captureof Bam- been exhausted. Now his men were
bata was withdrawnafterhis location fighting only with ox-hideshields and
becameknown. With ChiefSignanada's spears. In spite of the inequalityof
help,he had collectedthreestrongrebel weapons,Bambataachievedsomesuccess
 CURRENT TRENDS AND EVENTS 91

in everyencounterwith the Zululand Amongtheprisoners was Signanada,the

fieldforces. aged chiefof the Cube tribe,the most
He knewthe mountainous terrainand remarkable Zulu alive at that time.He
couldmovehis fighters skillfullyoverit. was bitterand defiantand treatedhis
Most of the fightingwas done fromam- captorsas if theywerehis prisoners. A
bush. The Africansoldiersfighting with few dayslaterthe old warriordied.
theZululandfieldforcesworeidentifying The rebellionhad lastednine months
arm bands of whiteand black cloth to and had cost the Natal government five
distinguishthemfromthe rebels. Bam- milliondollars. Twenty-five of the lead-
bata put similarstripson his spies and ers were exiled to St. Helena Island.
sent themamongthe white soldiersto Otherinsurgents were sentencedto long
learntheirplans. prisonterms. Dinizulu,paramount chief
of the Zulus, was accusedof complicity
Twentyotherchiefshad joined the and was sentencedto
fouryears.
rebellion. Some less confidentones
doubtedthat he could succeed in his Bambata's followers refusedto accept
desperatemissionand refusedto commit the fact that he was dead, thoughthe
themselves and theirpeople. government publiclyexhibitedhis head
as proofand a warningto all otherswho
The sacrificialbraveryof Bambata's mighthave thoughts of rebellion. Bam-
followerscould not stopthe latestmodel bata'swife,who was one of his mostde-
machineguns in the hands of well-sea- voutfollowers, did not go intomourning.
sonedsoldierswho had recently won the Like some of his otherfollowers,she
Boer War. The more cautiouschiefs stubbornly and wishfullythoughtthat
who had failed to supportBambata's onlythe bodyof Bambatawas dead and
rebellion
wererightin one case at least- his spiritwould soon returnto lead the
Bambatadid nothavea chance. He and Zulus.
his menhad foughtbravely, but thiswas
not enough. The death of Bambataand the old
chief,Signanada,represented the end of
In everyengagement at Mkandbla,Oti- an era in South Africanhistory. The
mati,Peyana,Insuzi,McCrae'sStoreand firstEuropeanssettledin SouthAfricain
now at Mome Gorge,Bambataand his the middleof the 17th century. The
adherentshad foughtwithcouragebefit- Europeanconquestof South Africawas
tingthe bestpatriotsof any land. The not completed untilthe end of the Zulu
defeat,whichwas inevitable, gave them rebellionin Natal, April 1906.
a strangekind of victoryand a kind of
martyrdom thatwas notstrange at all. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bambatawas killedin theengagement W. Bosman,Natal Rebellionof 1906.
at Mome Gorge. His rebellioncollapsed J. Stuart,Historyof the Zulu Rebellion.
soonafterhis death. Twenty-threehun- 1906.
dred of his 12,000 followers H. C. Lugg, HistoricNatal and Zulu-
had been land. Union of South Africa,1949.
killed and 4,700 were taken prisoner. E. A. Ritter,Shaka Zulu, London,1955.