McFecane: History of the Zulu and Nguni Wars

The Mfecane, alternatively known as Difaqane or Lifaqane in Sesotho, signifying "breaking, dispersion, enforced displacement, forced migration," marked a period of heightened military conflict and migratory movements in Southern Africa, closely tied to processes of state formation and expansion. Pinpointing the precise timeframe of the Mfecane varies depending on the source. While the broader period spans from the late eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century CE, scholarly focus oft...