African resistance a much-needed example of what unity can achieve

The history of Chief Jongumsobomvu Maqoma should inform the youth on what unity could do — unity of purpose and resolve. This is the view of Rhodes University academic Prof Ncedile Saule.

“It is a history that demonstrates to all and sundry what ubuntu is all about — lest we’ve forgotten,” Saule said.

“It’s a history that answers this question, how could you say you love this country and its people, unless one time in life you give up all of yourself, expecting nothing in return.

“Such was his selfless in all respects, brave in battle and very intelligent in victory”.

Just like other speakers, Saule touched on the issue of land and social cohesion.

The academic, who hails from KwaMaqoma (formerly Fort Beaufort), said Maqoma and the leaders of his time, and before his time, refused to be captured by colonialists, “unlike the contemporary leadership, that has succumbed to a new-look 21st century colonial materialistic web cage”, he said.

Saule lauded the pivotal women who were making their presence felt in various fields, including politics and business.

He said women also supported Maqoma in his efforts against colonialism.

“A perfect example of symbolic women power was Queen Nothonto [Maqoma’s mother, who supported her son all the way],” Saule said.

He said Maqoma was part of a collective that was an enemy of the colonial state.

“Therefore, [he] was a prime target for harassment,” Saule said.

He said Maqoma used to hide from the British army in a cave in the Winterberg.

Saule said when you took off your shoes and walked into the cave, you could feel the spirit of Maqoma, “and walk out to dive into the serene water in front of it”.

“I’m telling you, you would come out with energies doubled and redoubled 10 times,” he said to laughter from the appreciative crowd.

“Many people would ask, ‘how do you know that, Saule?’ I grew up in that area. My grandfather used to tell me and other boys ‘here is the cave of Maqoma’. We knew nothing about Maqoma, it did not make sense, but now it does.”

He said there was an urgent need to repurpose the history of Maqoma positively for black Africans and white alike.

“Make no mistake, the white people were also given the wrong history for them to suffer from a superiority complex,” Saule said.

“The time for the declaration of hostilities is over. [Nelson] Mandela turned it off. Now is the time to feed the hungry.

“Give our youth time to design their future.

“What projects do we have for youth to develop themselves? That’s a question Maqoma would have asked.”