This book examines the active role played by Africans in the pre-colonial production of historical knowledge in South Africa, focusing on perspectives of the second king of amaZulu, King Dingane. It draws upon a wealth of oral traditions, izibongo, and the work of public intellectuals such as Magolwane kaMkhathini Jiyane and Mshongweni to present African perspectives of King Dingane as multifaceted, and in some cases, constructed according to socio-political formations and aimed at particular audiences. By bringing African perspectives to the fore, this innovative historiography centralizes indigenous African languages in the production of historical knowledge.

Presents the first comprehensive textual and archival analysis of representations of King Dingane Foregrounds African texts and viewpoints to construct an alternative to dominant white South African historiography Argues for the centralization of indigenous African languages in the writing of South African history Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Sifiso Mxolisi Ndlovu is an Executive Director at the South African Democracy Education Trust, Professor of History at the University of South Africa, and a member of UNESCO's Scientific Committee on the General History of Africa multi-volume series.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Magolwane kaMkhathini Jiyane and Mshongweni: Izibongo and the construction of King Dingane's archive.- 3. Oral Traditions and the Consolidation of King Dingane's Archive: Mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century.- 4. The Image of King Dingane and Zulu Nationalist Politics.- 5. 'Remember Dingaan's Day the passing of African Independence': Public history and the counter-commemoration of King Dingane, 1920-1930.- 6. African Nationalists and Contending Perspectives of King Dingane: 1916-1980s.- 7. African Academics and Poets: The roots of scholarly perspectives on King Dingane, 1930s to 1980s.- 8. The Political Images of King Dingane in the Age of Armed Struggle, 1960-1994.- 9. Conclusion.