1856–1857
Xhosa Cattle-Killing
Following Nongqawuse's prophecies, many Xhosa slaughtered cattle and destroyed crops; the failed prophecy contributed to famine, labour migration and expanded colonial control.
View in timelineIn 1856, Nongqawuse announced a prophecy that the dead would return, colonial power would be destroyed and a renewed Xhosa society would emerge if believers killed their cattle and destroyed their crops. Many Xhosa communities followed the movement during 1856–1857. The expected renewal did not occur; hunger, disease and displacement followed, and survivors increasingly sought wage labour or relief under colonial control.
Significance
The movement caused catastrophic hunger, death and displacement, weakened Xhosa political and economic independence, and enabled colonial authorities and employers to expand control over land and labour.
Why it matters
The movement caused catastrophic hunger, death and displacement, weakened Xhosa political and economic independence, and enabled colonial authorities and employers to expand control over land and labour.
Disputed interpretations
The event is established, but historians debate its social dynamics, colonial context and the degree to which colonial officials exploited the crisis.
Perspective notes
Nongqawuse's prophecy was received within a society shaped by war, land loss, cattle depletion and colonial pressure. Believers participated in a religious and political movement promising renewal, while Xhosa leaders and communities differed over the prophecy and experienced the resulting crisis unevenly.