Apostle of the Xhosa (Nongqawuse)

Nongqawuse was a young Xhosa prophetess in 1856 who believed she received divine visions predicting the Xhosa people’s future salvation through spiritual means. She urged her people to kill their cattle and destroy crops, believing this would bring about spiritual cleansing and enable ancestors to drive out British colonizers and restore their land. However, this caused a mass cattle slaughter and crop destruction, leading to famine, death, and social upheaval. Nongqawuse’s actions, driven by her prophetic visions, significantly impacted the Xhosa community and highlighted the complex interplay of tradition, colonialism, and misguided faith.