Essay Topic Iv: the Varying Views Towards the ‘Mfecane’
Bishops | Unit IV: Southern African Transformation | Essay Topic IV: The Varying Views Towards The ‘Mfecane’ | | Aidan Bizony | 05-Aug-13 |
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Essay Topic IV: The Varying Views Towards The ‘Mfecane’
During the course of this essay, I will be comparing the views of Professors Carolyn Hamilton and Julian Cobbing. I have just two very simple reasons for choosing these historians: they have both achieved high accolades in their various fields and the fact that Hamilton and Cobbing don’t exactly see eye-to-eye on the history of the Mfecane makes a somewhat entertaining read. Although the professional opinions of both Hamilton and Cobbing will form the basis of this work, I also want to bring my own opinion of the Mfecane period into play.
One of my biggest sources in this work relating to Carolyn Hamilton’s viewpoint on the Mfecane is a seminar paper that she wrote in June 1991 at the University of Witwaterstrand. The reason for choosing her counterpart in this work is predicated on two reasons: one, Hamilton makes extensive mention of Professor Cobbing in this seminar paper and two; Julian Cobbing is known for his extensive writing on the subject of the Mfecane. So there is both ample knowledge between the two as well as conflict.
In terms of Julian Cobbing himself, the biggest resource that I’ve decided to use is an abstract from his seminar paper, The Case Against the Mfecane also from the University of Witwatersrand published in March 1984.
In her seminar paper, Hamilton makes it quite clear on her standpoint to Cobbing’s ideologies; she even went as far as to say, “In particular, Cobbing has come under fire for making sweeping generalizations and employing imprecise periodisation.”
In my opinion, the Mfecane itself is just a story of Westerners who arrived on the banks of Southern Africa to further their own (and their nation’s) wealth through trade. The story would take a turn when some of the traders felt that they were coming
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Essay Topic IV: The Varying Views Towards The ‘Mfecane’
During the course of this essay, I will be comparing the views of Professors Carolyn Hamilton and Julian Cobbing. I have just two very simple reasons for choosing these historians: they have both achieved high accolades in their various fields and the fact that Hamilton and Cobbing don’t exactly see eye-to-eye on the history of the Mfecane makes a somewhat entertaining read. Although the professional opinions of both Hamilton and Cobbing will form the basis of this work, I also want to bring my own opinion of the Mfecane period into play.
One of my biggest sources in this work relating to Carolyn Hamilton’s viewpoint on the Mfecane is a seminar paper that she wrote in June 1991 at the University of Witwaterstrand. The reason for choosing her counterpart in this work is predicated on two reasons: one, Hamilton makes extensive mention of Professor Cobbing in this seminar paper and two; Julian Cobbing is known for his extensive writing on the subject of the Mfecane. So there is both ample knowledge between the two as well as conflict.
In terms of Julian Cobbing himself, the biggest resource that I’ve decided to use is an abstract from his seminar paper, The Case Against the Mfecane also from the University of Witwatersrand published in March 1984.
In her seminar paper, Hamilton makes it quite clear on her standpoint to Cobbing’s ideologies; she even went as far as to say, “In particular, Cobbing has come under fire for making sweeping generalizations and employing imprecise periodisation.”
In my opinion, the Mfecane itself is just a story of Westerners who arrived on the banks of Southern Africa to further their own (and their nation’s) wealth through trade. The story would take a turn when some of the traders felt that they were coming
References: Ballard, C., 1981. The Role of Trade and Hunter-traders in the Political Economy of Natal and Zululand, 1824-1880, s.l.: African Studies Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bottaro, J., Visser, P. & Worden, N., 2011. In Search of History (Grade 10). Pietermaritzburg(Eastern Cape): ABC Press. Cobbing, J., 1984. The Case Against The Mfecane, Johannesburg: University of Witwaterstrand Press. Hamilton, C., 1991. The Character and Objects of Chaka: A Re-Consideration of the Making of Shaka as the 'Mfecane ' motor, Johannesburg: University of Witwaterstrand Press. [ 2 ]. (Cobbing, 1984) [ 3 ] [ 4 ]. (Ballard, 1981) [ 5 ] [ 6 ]. (Hamilton, 1991, p. 5) [ 7 ] [ 8 ]. (Hamilton, 1991, p. 5) [ 9 ]