POLITICS AND SOCIETY IN INANDA, NATAL: THE QADI UNDER CHIEF MQHAWE, C1840-1906 HEATHER HUGHES Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of London, December 1995 1 ProQuest Number: 11010324 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 11010324 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 ABSTRACT This study of the -Oadi chiefdom begins with an account of its experiences of the Zulu kingdom, first subordinated to its rule and then forced to flee from it in the late 1830s. Remnants regrouped near the small settlement of Port Natal in what was soon to become the Colony of Natal. The Qadi elite under their Chief Mqhawe, whose reign was almost coterminous with colonial rule and is the focus of this study, rebuilt the material as well as political coherence of the chiefdom, showing a single-minded determination to employ whatever resources were locally available, even elements of the colonial framework itself. Opportunities for 'chiefdom building' were generally favourable in the period up to the 1870s; thereafter, with shifts in policy towards Africans (to do with extracting labour power for the mines), more defensive strategies had to be adopted. Basic to the chiefdom's development was that its heartland was situated in a valley that became a mission reserve of the American Zulu Mission. The Inanda station was one of its most prestigious, and the Qadi chief established a close relationship with one section of converts. Certain converts (notably the Dube and Cele families) had originally come from within the Qadi elite and after conversion, maintained their positions of influence within it. Qadi settlement on reserve land also meant that the chiefdom attracted a large number of schools. Coupled to the respect accorded Mqhawe by local settlers and colonial authorities, this meant that when Qadi men went out onto the job market, they were considered 'reliable' and were able to find a specific niche for themselves, as watchmen. The origins of anti-Indian racism, strong among both African converts and the Qadi elite at Inanda, are also traced. In all, the strength of Qadi identity was due in large measure to the vigorous strategies pursued by the Qadi chief and the elite throughout the colonial period. 2 FOR MY PARENTS, MARY AND HARRY HUGHES AND FOR DAVID AND CHRISTINA JEAN 3 PIP A composite photograph of, from left, James Dube, Chief Mqhawe and Madikane Cele. This picture hangs in the Qadi chief's court, in his home, in the local high school, Mqhawe High, and other public places in Emaqadini. It is a striking representation of the composition of the Qadi elite (Mqhawe is not in European-style dress, as he was for most other photographs ever taken of him). 4 CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................. 2 GLOSSARY OF ZULU WORDS .................................. 7 ABBREVIATIONS............................................ 9 NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY..................................... 9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................12 PART 1: INTRODUCTION................................ 16 CHAPTER 1: Introduction: 'Where old and new commingle into song' ....................... 17 PART 2: THE ENCIRCLING AUTHORITY OF STATE ........51 CHAPTER 2 'Shaka used to insult us and frighten us': the Qadi in the Zulu kingdom ....... 52 CHAPTER 3 'We of the white man's country': rebuilding the chiefdom,1840s to 1870s .. 77 CHAPTER 4 'We do not dwell in peace in this land': maintaining the chiefdom,1880s to 1906 . 112 PART 3: THE ENCROACHING AUTHORITY OF CHURCH 150 CHAPTER 5: 'Quite a stir in our neighbourhood': Mqhawe & the missionaries to the 1870s..151 CHAPTER 6: 'A spirit of division': Mqhawe and the mission from the 1870s ...................189 CHAPTER 7: 'So that we may be civilised': education in the Inanda valley, 1840s-1900s ..... 225 PART 4: THE UNDERMINING EFFECTS OF PRIVATE LAND 255 CHAPTER 8: 'We will be elbowed out the country': the Qadi chiefdom, white and Indian farmers, 1840s to 1 9 0 0 s ........................... 256 PART 5: CONCLUSION ................................ 285 CHAPTER 9: Conclusion: 'Merit not blood today the harvest yields' ......................... 286 APPENDIX 1: PRAISES OF MQHAWE ........................ 296 APPENDIX 2: CHIEFS AND CHIEFDOMS IN INANDA LOCATION, 1 8 9 0 S ..................................... 300 APPENDIX 3: EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS OF MADIKANE CELE AND JOHN LANGALIBALELE D U B E ............. 301 APPENDIX 4: MAGISTRATES AND ADMINISTRATORS OF NATIVE LAW, INANDA LOCATION ..................... 307 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................... 308 5 MAPS Colony of Natal showing locations and mission reserves .................................. 10 Inanda district in colonial Natal .................... 11 Landholding in Inanda Division of Victoria County, 1873................................................... 262 ILLUSTRATIONS Composite photograph of Mqhawe, James Dube and Madikane Cele ............................................ 4 The Umzinyathi Falls .................................. 87 Chiefs of the Inanda location, cl890s .............. 132 Mqhawe's homestead, 1903 ............................. 145 Daniel Lindley ........................................ 164 Lindley's first Mission Station at Inanda .......... 164 Nancy Damon ........................................... 168 Pupils at Inanda Seminary ........................... 241 'Girl under spell of love charm' ..................... 241 Mary Edwards ........................................... 247 John Langalibalele Dube ...............................247 DIAGRAMS AND TABLES Diagram 1: Genealogy of the Qadi Chiefs .............. 58 Table 1: Qadi homestead size and composition, 1891...122 6 GLOSSARY OF ZULU WORDS USED IN THE TEXT (alphabetised according to root, not prefix) amabele maize isibhalo forced labour, requisitioned by the colonial state Ibhememe rinderpest imbongi declaimer of praises izibongo praises, praise poetry iJbutho, amabutho military regiment(s) idhlozi ancestral spirit udwendve party accompanying bride to her wedding ukwethula present a daughter, usually first-born, to a chief as a source of lobolo revenue umfundlsi teacher, preacher ukugiya vigorous dance; war-dance ihlambo, amahlambo cleansing ceremonies to mark the end of mourning, including a ritual hunt to 'wash the spears' omhlophe white ukhethc party accompanying bridegroom to wedding ukukholwa, kholva believe; thus also Christian ukukhonza, khonza owe allegiance; subject oneself umkhosi the celebration of the 'first fruits' ceremony inkosi chief ukotula rinderpest inkosikazi married woman; wife of chief lala, amalala term of abuse used by Zulu rulers for the partially- incorporated peoples on the southern periphery of the kingdom; term describing those who fled south from the Zulu kingdom; dialectal difference ukulobola, lobolo practice of transferring cattle (or equivalent) from bride­ groom' s people to father or male guardian of bride as necessary affirmation of her new status induna, izinduna chiefly official - a political appointment ukungena practice of widow marrying a brother of her late husband ukusisa, sisa cattle loaned by chief to followers 7 insizwa, izinsizva youth(s); young man/men ntungwa dialect of Zulu spoken at the Zulu court; 'inner' chiefdoms of the Zulu state ukwomulisa ceremony for daughter of marriageable age; 'engagement' ceremony tekela, tekeza Zulu dialect, spoken among others by those designated as Lala Isl tshlmiyana highly intoxicating drink made from sugar byproducts ukuvalellsa leave a chiefdom by paying a fee uzoko leprosy amazosha unwanted newcomers 8 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT ANL ........... Administrator of Native Law AZM ........... American Zulu Mission KCL ........... Killie Campbell Library NLCC .......... Natal Land and Colonisation Company SNA ........... Secretary of Native Affairs USNA .......... Under Secretary of Native Affairs NOTES ON TERMINOLOGY AND USAGE • The term kholwa is used interchangeably with 'convert' to describe Christians. The term 'traditionalist', though far from satisfactory, has been used to describe those adhering to a way of life associated with homestead production. It is not meant to signify a polar opposite of 'modern' or kholwa. • References to documents in the SNA Papers give the series and volume numbers first (eg 1/1/329), followed by the document number, which always included the year (eg 2844/1905) • The American Board Papers in the Natal Archives are referred to as 'A608' . • After the first full citation, acknowledging the editors, The James Stuart archive is referred to by title alone 9 Newcastle Dundee Harrismith Ladysm ith Bergvili; ji Greytown \K.ranizkop^ O Hermannsburg M.S. \ Wattle r I , Wwie R T E w v. h a n o v e r J New Hanover t ND WE DWE.- Richmond DURBAN NATAL 1905 Magisterial Districts Railways v-V •/P o rt Shcpstone 0~TeJ African Reserves or Locations v Sugar/ Land purchased by Africans 30 Miles Colony of Natal, showing locations and mission reserves Source: Marks