Episode 67 – Wardoctor Nxele begins to see visions as he synthesises amaXhosa religion with Christianity

Graham’s war in the Eastern Cape had sent the amaXhosa hurrying eastwards over the Great Fish River, with Ndlambe settling near where East London is today.
Not surprisingly, however, the 1812 explusions caused an increase in cattle raiding rather than more stability because the power of the chiefs had been removed from the area. While the British were putting their faith into the Rharhabe chief Ngqika, he was now a weak leader and no longer appeared to represent the views of the amaXhosa. By now, the local ladndrost Cuyler and all British officials had preconceived notions of good Ngqika, bad Ndlambe to put it simply. They were going to be obstinate in their dislike of the latter despite his repeated attempts at making a separate peace with the Colony. The war of 1811 and 12 was brief but of unprecedented ferocity. The amaXhosa chiefs request to stay on until the summer crops were fully harvested was deliberately turned down “We chose the season of corn being on the ground…” said Graham.
In the years immediately following 1812, political leadership passed from the hands of the chiefs into the hands of prophet-figures. As we know from contemporary politics, popularists are bit like prophets, they lead with a simple message and have enablers that spread the message.

It was now the time of wardoctors – traditional medicine men and some women. These wardoctors were ancient, they’d been credited over time with the ability to turn spears into water, and the people were searching for a solution to the colonists guns.