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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Bambatha's rebels: a profile: age, faction, motive
Author:Thompson, P.S.ISNI
Year:2003
Periodical:Historia: amptelike orgaan
Volume:48
Issue:2
Pages:98-108
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:Bambatha rebellion
1906
Abstract:In April 1906 the deposed chief Bambatha of the small Zondi tribe in the Umvoti Division of the Colony of Natal rebelled against the government. After carrying out several attacks in his district he transferred the rebellion to Zululand, where its suppression took several months. Based on information from official records, newspaper reports and private papers, this paper examines the following questions: what were the ages of the Zondi rebels? Why did they rebel? Did they represent the whole tribe? It concludes that the rebels were not particularly young, formed a minority, and participated at least partially under coercion. Although it is generally agreed that the rebellion was triggered off by the poll tax - which is why it is also often referred to as the 'poll-tax rebellion' -, the present paper contends that it was Bambatha himself who started the rebellion. His misconduct as chief made the government decide to remove him. He could not abide this. He went to Zululand and there talked to Dinuzulu, the putative king of the Zulu nation, then returned to Natal and launched a rebellion. It is doubtful whether he would have mustered much support if he had not claimed Dinuzulu's sanction. Notes, ref., sum. in English and Afrikaans. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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