The Mfecane, also known by the Sesotho names Difaqane or Lifaqane (all meaning "crushing," "scattering," "forced dispersal," or "forced migration"), [1] was a historical period of heightened military conflict and migration associated with state formation and expansion in Southern Africa. The exact range of dates that comprise the Mfecane varies ...

Mfecane, series of Zulu and other Nguni wars and forced migrations of the second and third decades of the 19th century that changed the demographic, social, and political configuration of southern and central Africa and parts of eastern Africa.

Aug 31, 2018 · The word mfecane is derived from Xhosa terms: ukufaca "to become thin from hunger" and fetcani "starving intruders." In Zulu , the word means "crushing." Mfecane refers to a period of political disruption and population migration in Southern Africa which occurred during the 1820s and 1830s.

Nov 24, 2011 · The mfecane was caused by a number of inter-related factors including environmental and societal changes, as well as severe conflict and fear among the people of southern Africa. It affected the continent as far north as Malawi.

Nov 15, 2017 · The Mfecane (a Zulu word which translates to “the crushing”) or Difiqane (a Sotho word which translates to “forced removal) was a series of Nguni and other Zulu wars and forced migrations from the 1820s. The Mfecane is characterised as a revolutionary period and over a period up until the 1830s its’ influence spread over a vast area ...

The Mfecane was a time of wars and migrations in southern Africa in the early 1800s. The people involved belonged mainly to Zulu and other Nguni groups. Mfecane means “destruction” or “crushing” in the Zulu language.

Sep 20, 2024 · Mfecane, a term often translated as “the Crushing” or “the Scattering,” refers to a period of widespread upheaval, migration, and conflict that swept across Southern Africa during the early 19th century.

Mar 6, 2020 · The Mfecane was a pivotal period in southern African history, characterised by widespread violence, displacement, and transformation. While it brought immense suffering to countless communities, it also led to the formation of powerful new states and reshaped the region’s social and political dynamics.

May 31, 2019 · The period was marked by massive migrations, sporadic raids and battles, and frequent periods of privation and famine for many people in the region. This ‘mfecane’ has been explained in many ways by historians, but never adequately.

The so-called ‘mfecane’ has been explained in many ways by historians, but never adequately. Julian Cobbing has absolved the Zulu of culpability for ongoing regional conflicts, but his work is severely flawed in its use of evidence.