The Historiographical Development of the Concept “mfecane” and ...

Articles on African history published by Africans in the vernacular during this
period appeared mainly in African-language newspapers, as well as missionary,
church and teachers’ periodicals. 40 These articles had no impact on the
development of mfecane historiography, as none of the English-speaking
writers read them. Historical texts published by Africans in English were rare in
this period. Two appeared in the 1890’s. One was by a Ghanaian who lived in
Cape Town and whose text was heavily indebted to Theal, but more balanced.
The other was a history of Ntsikana by Bokwe, which read like a novel. 41 There
were, however, four articles published in English, which were attributed to
African authors. Three were published in the late nineteenth century. One was
published in 1909, but clearly belongs to the same genre and thus needs to be
considered at this point. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that these four
texts were constructed and published by Europeans. The background to the
writing of these articles can be found in the late 1870’s, when authors realised
that the older generation that had witnessed historical events were in danger of
taking their memories to the graves and that ‘collecting the stories of the old
people yet remaining, and who are so rapidly passing away’, 42 as Mabille
declared, was vital. Thus began a process of collecting and publishing oral
testimonies from elderly Africans, as well as from boers who had been part of
the Great Trek, in a more deliberate and systematic way than before. 43
40 Schreuder, Scramble for Southern Africa, 53. Tisani, ‘Xhosa Historiography', v.
41 F. Peregrino, A Short History of the Native Tribes of South Africa (London, 1899). J.K. Bokwe,
Ntsikana: The Story of an African Convert (Lovedale, 1896). Saunders, South African Past, 106.
42 Moshoeshoe, ‘Little Light', 221. Moloja, ‘Story of Fetcani Horde', 267.
43 See Stow, Native Races of South Africa, J.M. Orpen, Reminiscences of Life in South Africa:
From 1846 to the Present Day, with Historical Researches (Durban, 1908). Bryant, Olden
Times. Webb et al. (eds), James Stuart Archive, 5 Vols. D.P. Bezuidenhout, 'Voortrekkers
Verhaal', Orange Freestate Monthly Magazine, 3 (December 1879), 84-92. J. Brill, 'Een
Gedenkskrift over den Trek', Orange Freestate Monthly Magazine, 2 (July 1879), 881-3. W.G.
Nel, Een Bladzijde uit de Geschiedenis der Voortrekkers (Pietermaritzburg, c.1897). D. Postma,
Eenige Schetsen voor eene Geschiedenis van de Trekboeren (Amsterdam and Pretoria, 1897).
A.E. Steenkamp, 'Een Gedenkskrift of Journaal van onze Uittogt uijt onze Moeders Lant tot hier
aan Port Natal', Orange Freestate Monthly Magazine, 2 (July, 1879), 883-90. [A. Steenkamp],
'Journal of a Voor-Trekker', The Cape Monthly Magazine, 13 (September 1876), 180-7. D.C.
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