How Maqoma outwitted experienced British colonel on the battlefield

Ilima Heritage Institute director and author Dr Jongi Klaas explained how Chief Jongumsobomvu Maqoma outwitted decorated British Col Harry Smith, who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.

Maqoma was bitter after the removal of his nation, Amajingqi, from the rich land of Kwamaqoma (formerly Fort Beaufort) as well as that of amaxhosa between Gqeberha and the Nxuba River in the 1800s.

The amaxhosa-british war started after amaxhosa invaded Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) to take their land back in 1819.

“It was a disaster. They were mowed down by the British artillery. They died in large numbers,” Klaas said.

To add more to Maqoma’s misery, the British killed King Hintsa in 1835 — the year of the third-biggest war between amaxhosa and the British, preceded by two others in 1811-12 and 1819.

Klaas said Maqoma challenged the British army in the mountains after they left a trail of destruction.

“He said, ‘come on, bring it on’,” Klaas said.

Maqoma, who was regent at the time, avoided facing the British on open land because he was already aware of their strengths.

“He made sure there was no higher concentration of soldiers in one area,” Klaas said.

“Maqoma made sure he was not going to repeat the mistakes made by Ndlambe in 1819 fighting the British artillery in the open.

“What Smith encountered there was shocking,” Klaas said. “What the British did, traditionally, they would go to an area, station up, line up the artillery, and start attacking ... the way they used to do it in Europe.

“But Maqoma never gave them that chance. He attacked them while they were entering the Amathole mountains.”

Maqoma and his men defeated the British.

Again, Maqoma in the 1850-1853 Emlanjeni war came out on top when Smith attempted to avenge the 1835 loss. “Smith had to run away and come and hide in King William’s Town [now Qonce],” Klaas said.

Amathole Museum historian Dr Stephanie Victor highlighted the contribution by Maqoma’s mother, Queen Nothonto, during the wars of resistance.

Victor, however, felt the roles of women traditional leaders needed careful consideration and redress.

“As a rule, Xhosa-speaking women of royalty did not serve as rulers or chiefs, but many did hold influential positions as members of the royal household, political advisers, diplomats, traditional healers, regents and queen mothers.

“They derived powers indirectly through the ruler,” Victor said.

In his thanksgiving speech, Cogta MEC Zolile Williams applauded the Daily Dispatch and DSRAC MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe for organising the dialogues.

“They’ve taken us back to our roots to understand who we are,” he said.