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Dingane: A Reappraisal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

Felix N. C. Okoye
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Extract

Dingane was ruler of Zululand and Natal for over a decade (1828–40) and incurred, by the murder of Piet Retief and his followers, the seemingly undying hatred of historians. Almost every commentator on this period of Zulu history has portrayed him as a man with hardly a redeeming quality: blood-thirsty, capricious, treacherous, self-indulgent, an absolute despot, an ingrate and an inveterate liar. What is remarkable about this consensus among historians is that Dingane, as will be shown subsequently, lacked all these unflattering attributes. Many reasons could be given for this grievous error on the part of scholars. Among these must be included their failure to resolve the glaring contradictions between the promises and actions of the Zulu king, and an inability to understand the dynamics of an alien society.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , April 1969 , pp. 221 - 235
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1969

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References

1 For example, Becker, Peter, Rule of Fear: The Life and Times of Dingane, King of the Zulu (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1964), a most disappointing biography of Dingane. The least one can say against Becker is that he seemed more anxious to impress the reader with his smattering of the Zulu language than with understanding of his subject. He portrayed Dingane as a liar and as a dissembler. Most of the ‘facts’ in the primary sources were faithfully recorded without any textual criticism.Google ScholarGeorge, E. Cory (ed.), The Diary of the Rev. Francis Owen (Cape Town: Van Riebeeck Society, 1926), also harped on the treachery theme (p. iii). See pages 87–98 for important role played by ‘runaway Zulus’ in bringing about disruption of relations between Dingane and the British traders.Google ScholarGardiner, Allen F., Narrative of a Journey to the Zoolu Country in South Africa (London: William Crofts, 1836)–this book is a must for those who wish to have an insight into Dingane's utilitarian attitude towards Europeans. Gardiner characterized the Zulu monarch as mischievous–see page 65 of Diary of the Rev. Francis Owen.Google ScholarHerrman, Louis (ed.), Travels and Adventures in Eastern Africa, 2 vols. (Cape Town: Van Riebeeck Society, 1936 and 1937), the second volume is by far the best source for the early years of Dingane's reign; Nathaniel Isaacs, the author, labelled the Zulu king ‘a complete dissembler’ (ii, pp. 200–4).Google ScholarMackeurtan, Graham, The Cradle Days of Natal 1497–1845 (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1930), portrayed Dingane as capricious (esp. p. 168).Google ScholarMorris, Donald R., The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation under Shaka and its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879 (New York: Simon and Shuster, 1965) argued that the king's only interest was ‘self-indulgence’ and that he was merely treacherous'; he failed to recognize the importance of Zulu escapees (see esp. pp. 116–41).Google ScholarStuart, James and Malcolm., D. Mck. (eds.), The Diary of Henry Francis Fynn (Pietermaritizburg: Shuter and Shooter, 1950): this is a must for those who are interested in the maliciousness of the black wards of the Europeans.Google Scholar

2 Isaacs, , Travels, II, 193.Google Scholar

3 Stuart, and Malcolm, (eds.) Diary of Fynn, 174.Google Scholar

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5 Ibid, II, 229.

6 Ibid. 21; Stuart and Malcolm, Diary of Fynn, 162–3, 221, 241. The exceptions were Jacob, Meika and Sotobe. The last mentioned was appointed the principal chief on the Natal side of the Tugela.

7 Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 214, 221;Google ScholarGardiner, , p. 44–6;Google ScholarSchapera, I., Governinent and Politics in Tribal Societies (London: Watts, 1956), 158. A notable exception here was Mpande.Google Scholar

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32 Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 196;Google ScholarIsaacs, , Travels, II, 259. Dingane readily believed Fynn's excuse for failure to give him more muskets. He indicated a willingness to exchange, in the future, his ivory for any trumpery Fynn might present to him.Google Scholar

33 Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 196–7;Google ScholarIsaacs, , Travels, II, 239–20.Google Scholar

34 Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 197, 398.Google Scholar

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36 Ibid, 199–207.; Isaacs, , Travels, II, 222–7. Ogle also seems not to have left Natal.Google Scholar

37 Isaacs, , Travels, II, 223, 227;Google ScholarStuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 207.Google Scholar

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40 Ibid. 51, 175.

41 Ibid. 179–80.

42 Msika for having been one of Tshaka's favourites, Lukilimba for having virtually disavowed his allegiance to the Zulu monarch.

43 Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 204–5;Google ScholarIsaacs, , Travels, II, 228.Google Scholar

44 Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 209, 217;Google ScholarIsaacs, , Travels, II, 227–30.Google Scholar

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47 Ibid, 210.

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50 Ibid. 220–9.

51 Ibid. 230.

52 Gardiner, , Journey, 23–71;Google ScholarStuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 237–8. The fact that Dambuza and Mdlela had to be consulted on all weighty matters of state would seem to suggest that Dingane's despotism was not as absolute as that of his predecessor.Google Scholar See also Owen, , Diary, 49, 52.Google Scholar

53 Isaacs, , Travels, II, 219–20; Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 196–7.Google Scholar

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57 Gardiner, , Journey, 532.Google Scholar

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60 Ibid. 245.

61 Ibid. 242, 250; Isaacs, , Travels, II, 40–1, 52–4, 86;Google ScholarGardiner, , Journey, 111–13.Google Scholar

62 Gardiner, , Journey, 31. It should be pointed out that Dingane's concept of the missionary was that of either a Jack-of-all-trades or a walking encyclopedia.Google Scholar See Isaacs, , Travels, II, 233;Google ScholarOwen, , Diary, 72.Google Scholar

63 Gardiner, , Journey, 108.Google Scholar

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66 Ibid. 146–72.

67 Ibid. 162.

68 Ibid. 192–214.

69 Ibid. 213–21.

70 Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 262.Google Scholar

71 Gardiner, , Journey, 228.Google Scholar

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73 Ibid. 255.

74 Ibid. 255–6.

75 Ibid. 255.

76 Cradle Days of Natal, 195.Google Scholar

77 Owen, , Diary, 65, i.e. on his return to Natal in 1837 as Justice of the Peace.Google Scholar

78 Ibid. 110. Shortly after the murder of Piet Retief and his followers, the American missionary Venable was asked by Ndlela whether he could not teach the Zulu ‘to shoot, or to ride’.

79 Isaacs, , Travels, II, 45–6.Google Scholar

80 Ibid. 172.

81 Ibid. 59–60, 78, 80; Stuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 218–19.Google Scholar

82 Isaacs, , Travels, II, 51, 183, 193, 202, 207.Google Scholar

83 Gardiner, , Journey, 68.Google Scholar

84 Owen, , Diary, 71–3.Google Scholar

85 Owen, , Diary, 100–5.Google Scholar

86 Ibid. 98.

87 In 1837 they rejected the treaty and began to offer sanctuary to all Zulu refugees. Finally they stopped the sale of gunpowder to him. See Owen, , Diary, 67–8, 71–3, 98,111;Google ScholarStuart, and Malcolm, , Diary of Fynn, 259–60;Google ScholarBird, , Annals, I, 322.Google Scholar

88 Isaacs, , Travels, II, 46.Google Scholar

89 Owen, , Diary, 101.Google Scholar

90 Ibid. He now made the granting of land to the Voortrekkers conditional upon their handing over the guns and horses.

91 Isaacs, , Travels, II, 186.Google Scholar

92 Owen, , Diary, 110.Google Scholar