The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement for AP World History

Jan 25

2 min read

The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement is an illustrative example for the Indigenous Responses to State Expansion topic in Unit 6 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test.

The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement, also known as the Xhosa Cattle-Killing Delusion, was a devastating social and spiritual upheaval that occurred among the Xhosa people of southern Africa in the mid-19th century. Rooted in prophetic visions, the movement led to widespread famine, social dislocation, and loss of life, leaving an indelible mark on Xhosa society and culture.

The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement originated with the prophecies of a Xhosa teenage girl named Nongqawuse and her uncle Mhlakaza in 1856. According to their visions, the Xhosa ancestors would return, driving away the British colonizers and restoring the Xhosa to their former glory. To hasten the fulfillment of these prophecies, the Xhosa were instructed to slaughter their cattle and destroy their crops, as these actions were believed to cleanse the land and bring about a new era of prosperity.

The prophecies of Nongqawuse and Mhlakaza spread rapidly among the Xhosa people, leading to widespread adherence to the dictates of the movement. Thousands of Xhosa willingly slaughtered their cattle and destroyed their means of subsistence, believing in the inevitability of salvation and the restoration of their way of life. However, the consequences of these actions were catastrophic. With the loss of their cattle and crops, the Xhosa faced famine and destitution on a massive scale, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of people from starvation and disease.As the famine worsened, British authorities intervened to provide relief to the starving Xhosa population, while also exploiting the crisis to consolidate their control over Xhosa territories. In the aftermath of the Cattle-Killing Movement, the Xhosa suffered profound social and economic dislocation, with many communities displaced and traditional structures disrupted. The movement also led to a crisis of faith and identity among the Xhosa people, as they grappled with the devastating consequences of following the prophecies of Nongqawuse and Mhlakaza.

The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement remains a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between spirituality, colonialism, and social change in southern Africa. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of messianic movements and blind adherence to prophetic visions, while also highlighting the resilience and endurance of the Xhosa people in the face of adversity. The legacy of the movement continues to shape Xhosa identity and collective memory, underscoring the enduring significance of this tragic episode in southern African history.