y e a r l y r e g i s t e r B I O G R A P H Y

N A B O T S I B E N I ( N D H L O V U K A Z I ) , L A T E Q U E E N

R E G E N T O F S W A Z I L A N D .

N a bots iben i, a princess o f the M d h lu l i section o f the Swazi N a tion , was the w i f e o f N gw en y a m a M b a n d e n i , K in g o f Sw aziland, and m oth er o f B hunu, H e l i M a h lik h lo N g w a n e I I I . , and gran dm oth er o f the present N gw en y a m a o f Swaziland, Sobuza II. She was p ro ­c la im ed N d lilovu kazi a fter the death o f her husband, M b a n d e n i , in 1 8 8 9 . She ruled fo r 36 years, first as Q u een M o th e r and then as Q u een R egen t d u rin g the m in or ity o f the N gw en ya m a Sobuza. H e r son, N g w a n e III . re igned only' fo r a short tim e and d ied , leaving as heir the present ruler f o r w h om the N d h lovu ka zi acted. She was a w o n d e r fu l w o m a n ; a g o o d , wise and tactfu l ruler, and a ckn ow led ged by all the representatives o f the British T h r o n e as on e o f the cleverest rulers in A fr ic a . She was a skilled d ip lom at and cleverly avo ided m any difficult and dangerous issues w h ich cer­tainly w ou ld have been very disastrous f o r Swaziland. She had great faith in the late Q u een V ictoria and the British G ov ern m en t . T h o u g h uneducated , she wras h igh ly respected by all the H ig h Com m issioners and other British representatives f o r her w isdom and ability to handle w ith courage and tact a difficult national question . She W'as. not a Christian herse lf , but always w e lco m e d all missionaries wrho visited her country ; She d id m u ch f o r education in Swaziland, and actually sent her grandson, the present ruler, and other y ou n g m em bers o f the R oyal F am ily to L oveda le , the South A fr ica n .Native C o lleg e and other educational institutions fo r h igher education . She w~as the fo u n d e r o f the A ba n tu -B a th o , an English-B antu w eekly new spaper prin ted and published in Johan­nesburg. S ince her death some trouble arose betw een the Europeans and the Swazi N ation wrh ich necessitated the sending o f a deputation to H is M a je s ty the K in g o f E n gland . T h e deputation was headed by the N g w en y a m a Sobuza h im se lf . T h e r e fo l lo w e d a case b e fo re the Privy C ou n cil w h ich the Swazies lost.

N abotsibeni was never know n to d on E uropean clothes, a lthoughshe had m any presents o f fine c lo th in g sent to her fr o m the g o o d Q u een o f E n g lan d . In order to regain tost rights over certain tracts o f land in possession o f European settlers she raised £ + 0 ,0 0 0 w ith the o b je c t o f red eem in g the land, but fa iled to establish her <daim. She d ied in Swaziland at the age o f 80 years.

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R e v . H E N R Y R E E D N G C A Y I Y A . B orn in 1 8 6 0 in th e d istr ict o f F o r t B e a u fo r t , C a p e P ro v in c e . E d u ca te d at H e a ld t o w n In stitu tion w h e r e he passed th e T e a c h e r s ’ E x a m in a t io n . B ecam e schoolm aster, but after som e years h e res ign ed and b eca m e in terpreter in the A liw a l N o r t h M a g is tra te ’ s O ffice . A b o u t this t im e R e v . N e h e m ia h T i l e , head o f the T e m b u C h u r c h , and R e v . M a n g e n a M . M o k o n e , fo u n d e r o f th e E th io p ia n C h u rc h , w ere busy in the C a p e P ro v in ce u n it in g the tw o ch u rch es . *A call was m a d e f o r y o u n g m e n to j o i n the m in istry o f the U n i t e d C h u r c h , R e v .

H e n r y R e e d N g c a y iy a b e in g a m o n g the first to answ er the call. A f t e r som e t im e he was o rd a in e d b y B ish op T u r n e r w h o ca m e f r o m A m e r ica to c o m p le te the u n ion b e tw e e n the U n i t e d C h u rch e s an d the A . M . E . C h u r c h . T h i s u n io n , h o w e v e r , soon broke in to th ree sections, the m ain b o d y r e m a in in g w ith the A fr ic a n M e th o d is t E p iscop a l C h u r c h . O n e section f o l l o w e d R e v . D w a n e and b eca m e the E th iop ia n O r d e r u n d er the C h u r c h o f E n g la n d . R e v . H e n r y R e e d N g c a y iy a an d his fo l lo w e r s re-established the d isca rd edE th io p ia n C h u r c h , u n d e r the p re s id e n cy o f R e v . Sishuba, w h o carried on f o r som e years. A f t e r h is death he was s u cce e d e d as p res id en t b y the R e v . H e n r y R e e d N g c a y iy a . T h i s p os it ion h e h e ld f o r m o re than 16 years, d u r in g w h ic h t im e h e d id s p le n d id w ork . T h o s e p u re ly A fr i c a n C h u rch e s w e re m u ch suspected b y the E u ropean s, w h o , tog e th er w ith the G o v e r n m e n ts o f the da y , len t th em little e n co u ra g e m e n t . R e v . N g c a y iy a su ffe re d b o th in N atal and R h od es ia . T h e C h u r c h m o v e d o n u n til at last it becam e recog n ised by the G o v e r n m e n ts th ro u g h o u t South A fr ica . M a n y ch u rch es have s ince b een b u ilt especia lly in the p r in c ip a ltow n s o f the U n io n o f South A fr i c a . T h e y even a cq u ired ap r in t in g p lant, and pu b lish ed a ch u rch m a ga z in e .

R e v . H e n r y R e e d N g c a y iy a took great interest in th e progress o f his p e o p le . H e was C h a p la in a n d m e m b e r o f the E x e c u t iv e C o m m it t e e o f the A fr ica n N a tion a l C on gress s ince 1 9 1 2 . W a s a m e m b e r o f the 1 9 1 9 d ep u ta t ion o f the A f r i c a n N a tion a l C on gress to '•he British G o v e r n m e n t in E n g la n d . G a v e e v id e n c e b e f o r e a Sel'-ct C o m m it te e o f the U n io n o f South A f r i c a Parliam en t. W a s a g o o d p rea ch er , e n e rg e t ic , an d v ery sh rew d in his ju d g m e n t ; the soul o f g en eros ity , and m a d e m a n y sacrifices ; a v e ry c h e e r fu l d is ­p os it ion . In C o n f e r e n c e , w h e n e v e r a d ea d lock th rea ten ed , he was the o n e to f in d a w a y ou t . W a s lo v e d b y all his colleagues. H i s e ldest son is a schoolm aster in the U n it e d States o f A m e r ica .

R e v . H e n r y R e e d N g c a y iy a d ie d at his h o m e in 1 9 2 8 .

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M r . N E L A N I J O R D A N N O B A D U L A , born in 1 8 4 4 , at T a n d - jesberg , G ra a ff R ein et. H is fa th er was a servant to a D u tch farm er. N elan i attended a cou n try school w h ere he was taught to read and w rite . Later he w en t to East L o n d o n and was em p lo y e d b y a carpenter. A lso attended n igh t-sch ool. W h e n he l e f t East Londoni he had reached Standard I I I . besides b e in g a g o o d carpenter. In 1 8 7 6 he w en t to St. M a r k ’s Institution f o r fu rth e r ed u ca tion . T h e Xosa W a r broke out d u rin g 18 77 and he was ob lig ed to leave school. A fte r peace was declared he was ap poin ted teacher and catechist o f the A n g lican C h u rch to w h ich he had b ecom e attached. In 188 2 he was sent to St. J o h n ’ s C o lleg e to study th eo logy . D u r in g school hours he was at school, and in the a ftern oon s and even in gs he attended the T h e o lo g ica l Classes. O rd a in e d in 1 8 8 7 as priest and appoin ted to M o u n t Frere w h ere he w orked all his l i f e . D ie d in 1 9 2 0 . Established the H e b e h e b e , U n y ik a , G q o g q o ra , S ik ob en i, N q a d u , X abane and T o w e r U n yika A n g lica n Stations in the U m tata and St. C u th b ert ’ s D ioceses. H e d id m u ch missionary w ork a m on g the Bacas and the P ondos at M o u n t Frere. H is six sons and three daughters are w ell educated . H e had m u ch influence over c h ie f s and heathen p eop le .

M r . J O H N N O G A G A , w h o was born in the C ap e P ro v in ce , Went to the Transvaal a n u m b er o f years ago. H e becam e e m p lo y e d by the C r o w n M in e s , L td . , as clerk, afterw ards b e co m in g c h i e f clerk. H e was a p rom in en t figure on the W itw atersran d , and took a keen interest in sports, and has don ated several cups for com p e tit io n in cricket. M r . N ogaga , w hose fa th er was very w ealthy, l e f t all his p roperty to his eldest son, but M r . N oga ga w orked his w a y until he , too, becam e w e ll -to -d o . H e d ied in 1 9 3 0 in Johannesburg .

M r . S I M O N M A J A K A T H E T A P H A M O T S E was born in Basutoland and educated at M o r i ja and L oveda le . B ecam e post­master at M ahaleshoek . A f t e r the A n g lo -B o e r W a r he cam e to the I ransvaal w ith Sir G o d f r e y L agd en and jo in e d the N a tive A ffa irs

d e p a r tm e n t , P ietersburg, under M r . C . A . W h e e lw r ig h t . A f t e r resigning his position , he was instrumental in establishing the first A fr ican newspaper in the Transvaal know n as T h e N a tiv e E y e . A f t e r some years M r . Pham otse returned to Basutoland and becam e secre­tary to the late C h i e f Johnathan w hose daughter he afterw ards m arried. M r . Phamotse was a very progressive m an, and d id m u ch fo r Basutoland. T h e Basutos a ckn ow led ged h im as b e in g their f o r e ­most leader. H e was respected b y both black and w h ite . H a t in g ■ujustice and tyranny he d id not hesitate to con d e m n ch ie fs w h a dealt arbitrarily w ith their subjects. W as a lover o f A fr i c a n liberty throughout the cou n try , especially in Basutoland.

7 9 D

B I O G R A P H Y T H E A F R I C A N

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Rev. A R T H U R G . N Y O V A N E .

Rev. A rth ur G . N yov a n e was educated at St. J o h n ’ s C o lle g e and w ent to St. C olum bus as a Catechist. W o rk e d at St. C olu m bu s and C apetow n until his ordination as a deacon . W e n t to K im b er ley and w orked fo r a num ber o f years at the H o ly Cross and St. Paul’ s Missions. As a student o f D iv in ity he was versed in G reek , Latin and H eb rew . Translated some books and took a keen interest in politics and history. A hard w orker and an honest and straight­forw ard m an, and was also a very good speaker. M r . N yov an e was very p rom in en t am ong his peop le , w h o respected h im very m u ch . H e took a keen interest in the education o f the y o u n g peop le . H e was a g o o d speaker and was o f te n invited to speak at p u b lic meetings F o n d o f sport and was a fine tennis player, and president o f the D uke o f W 'e llington Cricket C lu b at K im berley . W as also a very fine musician. H e d ied in the D iocese o f G e o rg e w h ere he w orked am ong the natives.

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C H I E F K G O R I K G A M A N Y A N E P I L A N E , son o f the Bakgatla C h i e f , K g a m a n y a n e , son o f P ila n e , a f te r w h o m the P ilansberg , in R u sten b u rg D is tr ict , was ca lled , was. th e y o u n g e r b ro th er o f the late P aram ount C h i e f L e n c h u e P ilane o f the B a k ga tla -b a -K ga fe la s e c t io n w h ose capital is M o c h u d i in the B echuanaland P rotectora te , w h e r e th e y settled in 1 8 7 0 , lea v in g about h a l f the tribe at P ilans- B erg in th e T ransvaa l. C h i e f K . K . P ilane was, f o r m a n y years, treasurer o f the T ran svaa l A fr i c a n C on gress , and later T re a s u re r - C e n e r a l o f the A f r i c a n N a tion a l C ongress . H e p la yed a ■very im p orta n t part in the affairs o f the A fr ican s , C h ie f P ilane w as also a dea ler in h ides and skins and s o ft g o o d s in the R u sten - Jburg D istr ict . H e had m a n y fr ie n d s a m o n g E u ropea n s in th e T ra n sv a a l , B ech u an alan d and R h od es ia . W as a patriot , a f r i e n d o f h is p e o p le , a loyal and honest officer o f the greatest N o n -E u r o p e a n p o lit ica l organ isation in South A f r i c a . T h o u g h he had m u ch in f lu e n ce over his p e o p le he certa in ly was not a speaker. H e d ie d In R u sten b u rg o n the 8 th S ep tem b er , 193 0 , at the age o f 5 9 years, a n d his b o d y was taken to Saulspoort w h e re it was b u r ied . H a d o n e son w h o is a clerk at R e d H i l l , N ata l. C h i e f P ilane was v e r y i f o n d o f h u n t in g and was o n e o f the best m arksm en o f his tribe .

IVIr. N G C U B U P O S W A Y O , son o f K ilil i P osw ayo . B orn in 1 8 8 0 . Started his ed u ca tion at the m ission school o f A ll Saints, i n the T ra n sk e i , a fterw a rd s at St. J o h n ’ s C o l le g e , U m ta ta , an d Z o n n e b l o c m , C a p e to w n . L e a v in g C a p e to w n he w e n t to E n g la n d f o r h ig h e r e d u ca tion . A f t e r passing several exam in ations , he d e c id e d to take up the legal p ro fe ss io n , and w e n t to L in c o ln ’ s I n n to read la w . H e s tu d ied f o r f o u r years w h e n he qu a lified as a Barrister- a t -L a w . R e tu r n in g to South A f r i c a he d e c id e d to practice as a •solicitor o f the S u p rem e C o u r t . H e w e n t to E n g c o b o w h ere h e o p e n e d an office. In a short t im e he was a v ery busy m a n , and his p ra ct ice increased e v ery day . W h i l e at the h e ig h t o f his p ro fe ss io n his health fa i le d h im . H e cam e to J oh a n n esb u rg H osp ita l f o r an

o p e r a t io n , but this d id not h e lp h im and he d ie d at the early age o f 4 6 years. M r . P osw ayo was v e r y pop u la r in the C ap e . V e r y m o d e st , he was liked an d respected b y E uropeans and natives alike. A keen sportsm an and a v ery re lig ious m an . H e had a hu m an h e a rt ; h e was a fr ie n d o f all and assisted m a n y o f the p o o re r natives p ro fess ion a lly w ith ou t asking f o r the usual f e e . H e b e l ie v e d in hard w ork , and was o f te n seen p lo u g h in g in the fields. M r . P osw ayo w a s the fo u r th A f r i c a n barrister to q u a l i fy in E n g la n d .

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M r . P H I L I P D A N I S O P O S W A Y O , born in 1864. Educated at G raham stow n where he qualified as a teacher. H e lived at E n gcobo , 180 miles from Graham stown, and travelled on fo o t to school.

"On one occasion he encountered a lion w hile proceeding to school, -and sum m oning all his courage he walked on and the lion dis­appeared into a bush. A fter teaching at All Saint’ s Institution fo r ■some time he resigned to becom e interpreter at the M agistrate’ s G o u rt in E ngcobo . A m em ber o f the Transkei General C ouncil. D ie d in 1908.

Rev. C . P A M L A was one o f the first native ministers o f the W esleyan M eth odist C hurch in South A fr ica . H e belonged to the .great H lu b i clan, and was born in the Cape Province. H e was con ­verted w hile only a boy, being under various European missionaries fr o m w hom he received his education. H e began to preach and later jo in e d the ministry o f the Wesleyan M eth odist C hu rch , taking great interest in his work. H e was a very pow erfu l preacher and soon became one o f the outstanding ministers in the Cape Province. W as h ighly respected by both Europeans and A fricans. D u rin g his m inistry he converted thousands o f natives, m any o f w hom are to-day ministers and leading churchm en in the various denominations. H e was the father o f a num ber o f children and to all he gave a good education. H is sons Charles and G eorge , one a minister and the other a court interpreter and clerk, are well known through­o u t the Cape Province. 'The late Rev. Pamla was a fine example o f what a good Christian should be. H is w on d er fu l sermons still linger in the minds o f many w h o had the privilege to listen to him preaching.

M r . J. P A N Y A N E , a M sutu , was born in Basutoland w here l*e received his early education. Later he w ent to K im berley and Joined the C iv il Service in the Post Office Departm ent. H e was a good sportsman and soon became very popular. H e had a large c 'rcle o f friends and was respected by all w h o knew him. A fte r many years he retired and m oved to B loem fon te in w here he Established a very successful business. H e soon became one o f the f a d i n g m en o f that city. H e was married and was the father ^ f tw o sons and a daughter. H e d ied at B loem fonte in .

S3

B I O G R A P H Y T H E A F R I C A N

T H E R I G H T R E V . B I S H O P P H I L ­L IP S , D . D . , was a native o f W e s t A fr ic a . H e was ed u ca ted in W e s t A f r i c a an d E u ro p e . A f t e r som e t im e he took H o l y O rd e rs , an d th rou g h his g o o d w o r k , his ab ility , his e x p e r ie n ce and in flu en ce h e soon beca m e b ish op . H e was m u c h respected b y his p e o p le an d b y E u r o ­peans w h o cam e in con ta ct w ith h im . B ishop P hillips was a k in d -h e a r te d , C hristian gen tlem a n . H e was v e ry p r o ­gressive and d id m u ch to h e lp his p e o p le .

M r . M A R K R A D E B E , Snr., was born in P ie te rm a r itzb u rg , N a ta l , and ed u ca ted at L o v e d a lc In stitu tion . O n c o m p le t in g his ed u ca tio n he re tu rn ed to Natal and b eca m e a clerk and shop assistant in th e o u t f i t t in g and d ra p ery store o f M essrs. Ire la n d and Son . A f t e r w o r k in g f o r a n u m b e r o f years he severed his c o n n e c t io n w ith this firm and o p e n e d his o w n store as ou t fitter an d drap er . L ater h e , tog e th er w ith others, established a native n ew spaper , u n d er the n a m e I Te T a lo H la n g a . It b eca m e necessary to d e v o te all his a tten tion t o the p r in t in g and p u b lish in g o f this paper, so he sold his store. A l l d id n ot g o w e ll , and financial difficulties f o r c e d th em to close d o w n . H e b eca m e clerk to M r . J. I ) . Stalker, a so lic itor , e tc . , at the same t im e o w n in g tw o restaurants in P ie te rm a r itzb u rg . H e was o n e o f th e fo u n d e r s o f the N ata l N a t iv e C on gress an d was tw ic e a p p o in te d secretary. H e took great interest in ch u rch m atters, an d , in a d d it io n to b e in g a local p rea ch er , h e was c h o ir master and organist o f th e W es leya n M e th o d is t C h u rc h in P ie te rm a r itzb u rg . H e had rea ch ed the p r im e o f his l i f e w h e n he d ie d , b e in g survived b y his w i f e an d sons.

M r . N D Z I M E N D E S K O T A , eldest son o f Soshebe Skota, a m e m ­b er o f the royal fa m ily o f th e H lu b i T r i b e , was b o rn in 1 8 4 8 , at E n c w a z i , in the district o f K in g w il l ia m s to w n . H is m o th e r was th e d a u g h ter o f M su m a su m a and related to C h i e f M a to m e la . In his b o y h o o d N d z i m e n d e a tten d ed d a y -sch o o l at his h o m e . W K e n about 23 years o f age, h e w e n t to P ort E liza b e th w h e r e he spent a n u m b e r o f years. H e re tu rn ed to his h o m e to g e t m a rr ie d . H e was a p p o in te d an evangelist an d sent to H e r s ch e l w h e re he d id g o o d w ork . H e w’as a v e ry p o w e r f u l p rea ch er and la b ou red d i l ig e n t ly a m o n g his p e o p le , an d soon w o n h u n d re d s o f th em to C h r is t ia n ity , som e o f w h o m arc, to -d a y , m inisters in the W es le y a n C h u rc h . In private l i f e he was a q u ie t m an , a g en tlem a n at heart, and a true C h rist ian . H e d ie d in 1 9 2 9 at his h o m e in H e rsch e l .

8 4

Ne a r l y r e g i s t e r B I O G R A P H Y

A he H on ora b le S A M U E L A . R O S S was the Postmaster-General ° f L iberia , his native country . W as one o f the most prom in en t Citizens and leading statesmen o f that N e g r o R epu blic . M r . Ross had a beautifu l hom e at Sinoe and was a man a great influence, be in g hind and fr ien d ly to everybody. W as in turn m uch respected by the peop le o f W est A fr ica in clu d in g the European residents. H e had just returned fr o m E urope w ith his w i f e w h en he died .

M r . P E T E R S I H L A K A H L A K A was born about the year 18 56 at Emsapa, P .E .A . A t the age o f ten years he w ith fo u r other hoys w ere k idnapped by a European trader w h o gave them treacle. *They w ere put in a donkey cart and driven away. T h e y learnt later that their destination was the D ia m on d Fields. A t K im berley they tvere put up f o r sale, but as they w ere so y ou n g the prices w ere low , and the offers w ere refused. From the D ia m on d Felds they w ere taken to U itcn h age . H e re Peter Sihlakahlaka was handed ° ver to a magistrate, M r . Philport. T h e others w ere taken to an Unknown destination. H e w orked f o r his n ew master for some tim e and on the latter be in g transferred, Peter Sihlakahlaka was handed ° ver to a R ev . Surgeon, w h o was a minister 'n the W esleyan M eth od ist C h u rch . W h e n R ev . Surgeon le f t he was handed over to M r . Pittman. At this tim e he was a free man. A t the age o f 30 years

m arried a girl f r o m U itcn h age . T e n years later he w ent to ^ e a ld to w n for education. H e r e he rem ained for five years, at the ^nd o f w h ich he was appointed a lay preacher. A f t e r some tim e he

appointed evangelist and was sent to the district o f K ingw illiam s- tow n. T h e pay was small and inadequate to support his fa m ily , so

w ent to the Transvaal w here he w orked as an evangelist fo r tvven ty -fo u r years. H e d ied at his hom e in 1931 .

R ev . S I M O N P. S I H L A L I was born in 18 56 at H an key , Cape p ro v in ce . H is parents w ere Christians. H e attended the H ankey ^ ay-school, and later St. M a rk ’s Institution. F rom St. M a rk ’ s he ''Vent to Lovedale and in 1880 he matriculated. F or a t im e he

em ployed as a teacher but soon became a student o f T h e o lo g y , and was ordained a minister o f the In d ep en d en t IfFree C h u rch o f r^otland. D u r in g his schooldays M r . Sihlali was a bright scholar.

sermons---- m any o f them preached to European congregations----o fte n com m en ted upon by the European Press o f the Cape.

VVas a very industrious man and encouraged im provem ents in agri­culture, and spent m any hours in the fields p lou g h in g and garden ing . *ais ch ildren are all educated . R ev . Sihali d ied peacefu lly in 1910 ** His hom e in E n g co b o , T e m b u la n d .

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C H I E F S A N D I L E .

C h i e f Sandile, a son o f Gaika, was born about 1823 . Ga.ka "Was a great fr ie n d o f the n e igh b ou rin g D u tch farmers. A ft e r the hirth o f Sandile some o f these farmers paid h im a visit. O n b e in g in fo r m e d o f the birth o f the y ou n g prince and heir the farmers "Were very pleased and suggested that lie be g iven the name o f tc A lexander de G ro o t ” saying they hoped he w ou ld be a great man. T h is name was accepted by the Xosas w h o Kaffirised it <c Sandile.” In 1 85 0 the British colonists dou bted Sandile ’ s f r ie n d ­ship, and in the same year Sir H a rry Smith instructed him to com e and sec him in order to settle a quarrel brought about through alleged ■cattle m arauding. Sandile replied that the matter must be settled b y C h ie fs Pato and IVIaqoma, his uncles, w n o were older and alst&rnembcrs o f his council. O n rece iv ing this reply Sir H a rry Sfttnh despatched f i fty m ou n ted soldiers to arrest Sandile, K in g o f ' te ' Xosas. T h e Gaikas declined to hand over their beloved ruler tcwfcthe w h ite m en as a prisoner. T h e soldiers attem pted to use fo r c e a n a were massacred by the enraged Gaikas. Sandile cou ld ncl| fie suadued. In 1 8 53 the missionaries prevailed upon Sandile

hn tprn prevailed upon his peop le to cease hostilities. T h e fu rth er succeeded in persuading Sandile to cede to the

Br^rtin the P rov ince o f Ivafraria. In 1 8 7 7 another Xosa war >ke out. Sandile rem aining neutral until 1 8 7 8 . A t this tim e

t h * t >rakelas a section o f the Xosa tribe had been weakenedc o fc id e r a fty by the British C olon ia l G ov ern m en t . Sandile had rn\ t ip I his m in d not to take part in this war, but he was relfartautl v dragged into it. Sandile m et the British com m a n d o that was k n t to arrest h im at T y ity a b a w here a deadly battle was fo u g h t , at, the end o f w h ich the belligerents on both sides were ■ c x l i $ i u s * c d . A fte r this battle Sandile retreated to the P irie Bush (H fih o ̂ H h e r e he was killed b y tw o bullets fired at random . E d it ion i^ S ig on y e la , Sandile ’ s son, was em p loyed as clerk at the Eoi% Beaufort M agistrate ’ s office, and on hearing that his father ■Wasi dragged against his wish into the war, he at once resigned a n d S jo in ed him in the struggle w h ich en d ed in the death o f his helot-ed father. Sandile ’ s eldest daughter, Princess V ictoria , m arried C h i«£ Um hlangaso, a grandson o f the great Faku. E d m o n d , S a n d i l e s n e i r , d ied at Kentani w h ere his peop le lived a fter the <ieath o f Sandile. Sandile ’ s son and tw o daughters w ere educated. H e gave m uch fo r the b u ild in g o f schools and churches. C ou ld r ead and w rite Xosa, and was very popular w ith the missionaries. H , was also respected by the British agents.

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CHIEF SEBELE.fll ■a f 6$

IW b i s oalc 8bvw

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C H I E F S E B E L E .

C h ie f Sebele I. was the son o f Sechele I., head o f the Bakwena T r ib e , whose country extended from Bechuanaland to the Trans- Vaal. H e was a kind and i ust man. V ery much respected by his people. H is appearance com m anded respect. H e did not coun­tenance quarrels and disliked strife. H e was a fr ien d o f the missionary o f the L on d on Missionary Society. T h e Bakwena and the Bangoakwctsi T ribes belong to the same stock. T h e y originally came from Loe. T h e y are o f the same fa m ily with the Basuto, Bahurutsi, Bamangoato and the Baphalanc. T hese people are now resident in various parts o f Bechuanaland, Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Basutoland.

B IO G R A P H Y T H E A F R I C A N

RKV. T I Y O SOGA.

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R E V . T I Y O S O G A .

Rev. X iy o Soga, the first o f the A fr ica n race in South A fr ica t o becom e an ordained minister o f the G ospel, was born in 1 8 2 9 y at G w ali, a station o f the Glasgow Missionary Society in the C hum ie Valley, Cape Province.

H is father was one o f the c h ie f councillors o f Gaika. A poly ­gamist and husband o f eight wives and a father o f th irty -n ine children, and personally a remarkable man. X i y o ’ s mother was the principle w i fe o f Soga, and X i y o was her seventh child . Soga was killed in the war o f 1878. H is w ife became a Christian, and you n g X iy o began to attend school in the village, taught by his elder brother Festire. From the village school he was sent to M r . W illiam Chalmers w h o discovered that X i y o was a bright boy. In 1844 the U n ited Presbyterian Mission sent him to L oved ale. A t Lovedale he slowly but surely crept to the head o f all his classes. A bout 1 84 6 he went to Scotland w ith M r . G ovan, and continued his studies at Inchinnan, and afterwards at the Glasgow Free Church Norm al Seminary. H e returned to A fr ica with the R ev . G eorge Brown. Became an evangelist at Keiskama and at A m atole , and later returned to Scotland with M r . N iven about 18 50. H e entered the G lasgow University in 1851 , and in 1852 he began t o attend the Xheological Hall o f the U n ited Presbyterian Church at Edinburgh . H e com pleted his course in 18 56, and on leaving, his fellow-students presented him with a valuable testimonial in books,, as a mark o f universal respect and esteem. H aving passed the final examinations, he was licensed at the end o f that year by the U nited Presbyterian Presbytery o f G lasgow to preach the G ospel. X h e fo l low in g year he married Miss Janet Burnside in G lasgow . X h is lady stood fa ith fu lly by her hunband’s side through all the difficulties o f his l i fe . X h e late Rev. X i y o Soga was the father o f fou r sons and three daughters. H is sons are well known in South A fr ica . X h e y are D r. John W illiam Soga, M .D . , C .M . ,Glasgow University, and M r . A llen Soga, also at G lasgow University,, w h o at one time acted as Assistant Magistrate at St. Marks. X h e youngest son, M r . J. F. Soga, is a M .R .C .V .S . o f D ick College. E dinburgh. X iy o Soga’s eldest daughter d ied in 1880. X h e second is engaged in mission work in the Cape Province. X h e youngest is a music teacher in Glasgow, Scotland.

X h e Rev. X iy o Soga returned to South A fr ica in the year 185 7- and proceeded to Peelton, in the district o f K ingwilliam stown, a station o f the L on d on Missionary Society. Later he m oved t o Em gw ali, where, along with the Rev. R . Johnson, w h o had been a class-fellow in E dinburgh , he set about reorganising the g ood work 'hat was broken by the wars o f the previous years. Rev. Soga

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succeeded in converting a very large number o f his countrymen. T h e n came the task o f building a church. T o do this he visited a number o f larger towns to collect funds. H e had already preached to many European congregations with great acceptance. In 1860 he received and accepted an invitation to an audience by H .R .H . Prince A lfred , Duke o f Edinburgh w ho was in Cape­town at the time. Rev. Soga travelled extensively in theCape Province and his work grew w onderfu lly , but in 1866 he had to cease work fo r a time on account o f ill-health. D u rin g his illness he completed his translation o f the Pilgrim 's Progress into Xosa. H e also composed a number o f hymns o f great merit, including the famous Lizalis' idinga lako (Fulfil T h y promise, O L o r d ) . H e gradually became worse until he could move about on ly with the greatest difficulty. In 1 868 he rendered most valuable service as one o f the Board form ed fo r revising the Xosa B ible , w h ich was translated by the Rev. W . Appleyard. In 1867 the Rev. T iy o Soga m oved from Emgwali to Somerville at the request o f the late C h ie f Kreli and continued there in spite o f all diffi­culties to preach, organise and translate. In 1871 a change fo r the worse came about as a result o f getting thoroughly wet while visiting C h ie f Mapasa on mission work. H e died on the 12th August in the arms o f his fr ien d , the Rev. Richard Ross, at the age o f 42 .

T h e Rev. T iy o Soga was neither an enthusiast, a fanatic nor a bigot. H e was a true Christian, a thorough gentleman, w h o died in the service o f his Master.

From the many articles that appeared in the Press at the death o f the Rev. T iy o Soga, we can only insert the fo l low in g two:—

“ T h is gentleman— fo r in the true meaning o f the word hewas, to all intents and purposes, a perfect gentleman was a pure-born Kaffir. H is father was, and still is, a councillor o f Sandile’ s tribe, and an avowed heathen, in point o f fact, a “ Red Kaffir.” H is son, however, as a youth, was sent to the Missionary Institution at Lovedale, and there distinguished him self so much by his keen intelligence and his ready aptitude for learning, that he was sent hom e to Glasgow to prosecute and complete his studies at the U n i­versity o f that place. H e went through the full curriculum required in Scotland from candidates for the ministry, and in due time was licensed and ordained as a minister-missionary o f the U nited Presbyterian Church. As a preacher, he was eloquent in speech and keen in thought, and talked with a Scottish accent, as strong as i f he had been born on the banks o f the C lyde, instead o f those o f the Chum ie. H e took a deep interest in everything calculated to advance the civilisation o f his countrymen, and did so with a

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breadth o f v iew and warmth o f sympathy, in w h ich m ere sec­tarianism had no part. A m o n g his accomplished works w e may m ention his translation o f the Pilgrim '$ Progress into Kaffir, w h ich so high an authority as M r . Charles Brownlee pronounces to be a. p er fect masterpiece o f easy idiom atic w riting . H is services as on e o f the Board o f Revisers o f the translation o f the B ible in to Kaffir have been invaluable, and will n ow be seriously missed. In general conversation and discussion on ordinary topics he was one o f the most intelligent and best in fo rm e d m en we ever kn ew ; and m any an hour have w e spent w ith him , in w h ich one utterly fo r g o t his nationality or his colour.” ■----T h e C a f e Argus.

“ T h e Kaffir youth w h o six years b e fore le f t the shores o f South A fr ica , little rem oved above his Christianised countrym en, having just as m uch knowledge as fitted him w ith efficiency to conduct x station school, and just as m uch pow er over the English language as enabled him to be a tolerable interpreter to the preacher yet ignorant o f the Kaffir language, now returns to his native shores and people, thoroughly educated ; an ordained minister o f the G ospel, an accredited missionary o f the Cross, and w ith a knowledge o f and mastery over the English language w hich has o ften surprised those best capable o f ju d g in g . A w on derfu l transformation has been w rought during these f e w years. In h im there comes a new pow er into the C o lon y and Kaffirland, i f the C o lon y and Kaffirland on ly recognise and receive it. T h e mental grasp and the moral capability o f the Kaffir race are demonstrated in him . M e n cannot despise the Kaffir race as they contemplate him . W ith ou t race-pattern or precedent, the first o f his people, o ften strangely alone, surrounded and pressed upon by peculiar difficulties, he has m anfu lly and success­fu lly wrought his way up to the comparatively high level o f educated English Christian l i fe ---- the conquered has becom e the conqueror.

“ A n d h ow was the Rev. T i y o Soga received w hen he returned to his native shores and peop lef Perhaps it was to be expected that in the C o lon y there should be m anifested a great amount o f caution and reserve, and that not a little suspicion should be entertained regarding him. Perhaps, too, it was only natural that, w ith some, special enm ity should be aroused, and words o f strong indignation used. W e can excuse those m en and w om en n ow w h o said we had made him specially to order in Scotland, and that he was the finest specimen ever im ported o f hom e educational cram m ing. T h i s was a new thing under the South A fr ican sun. T h e thieving Kaffir,, the marauding Kaffir, the irreclaimable Kaffir, a U niversity-educated missionary o f the Cross. T h is was too good to be true. At least m en w ould wait and see. It was a mere experim ent, and tim e

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alone could tell h ow it w ould succeed. F ew w ent to the length o f Foretelling the time, near at hand, w hen he w ou ld have reverted to th e red clay and blanket and all the heathen ways o f his people.

“ But while there was m uch o f this reserve and caution every­w h ere , and not a little such doubt and suspicion, he was received b y all missionaries and by all ministers o f the G ospel— with one o r tw o painfu l exceptions— with open arms and with most joyous hearts. From one end o f the Eastern Province to the other therew ere on ly a f e w so-called professing Christians----miserable specimenspurely o f the disciples o f the N azarenc----w ho d id what thev could ,b y indignant w ord and threat, to keep him out o f the pulpits o f the churches to w hich they belonged, and w h o absented themselves f r o m divine service, because, despite them , he should conduct it.

“ T o the fine sensitive disposition o f T i y o Soga, to his generous m anly nature, all such manifestations w ere very galling, and very difficult to bear. H e had strength o f m in d and he had charity and forebearance enough to rise above them, and wisdom to make o f them n e w incentives to his l i fe -w ork .

“ T h e colonists, generally, soon came to know him . H e was w atched with lynx-eyes everywhere on the frontier . W h en ever he preached or lectured, or addressed, such criticising crow ds flocked to hear him as was the experience o f n o other South A fr ican mis­sionary o f his day. N o b ly he stood this public test. H e came out o f the fire, in public estimation, purer and stronger than ever

M r . W . D . S O G A was born and edu ­cated in the Cape Province. H e was related to the great T i v o Soga. M r . Soga took a keen interest in the pro-

/ gressive l i f e o f his people. H e was a politician and leader. Was a fou n d er and director o f the a weeklynewspaper printed and published in East L on d on , Cape Province.

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M r. A B R A M S O W A Z I was born at Tarkastad, Cape Province. Served the Wesleyan M ethodist C hurch as Preacher and Circuit Steward f o r 36 years. In 1912 , through some misunderstanding, he seceded, and with over tw o thousand followers, he jo in ed the A fr ican M ethodist Church, a purely A fr ican organisation. Was c h ie f councillor o f Zazela, C h ie f o f the Am azizi T r ib e . D ied on the 29th O ctober, 1913, at the age o f 73 years, after g iv ing all his ch ildren a sound education.

M rs. A . 1 'E M BA is a Mokhatla bv birth. She was born, edu­cated and married in the Transvaal. She was a woman o f character and did much to help her people. T o o k a keen interest in the political and social l i fe o f the Africans. She was one o f the wom en wrho were elected by the A fr ican National Congress to be arrested by the police during the W o m e n ’s Pass T est Case. Later she was appointed president o f the W o m e n ’s Section o f the A fr ican National Congress. Airs. T em b a died in Johannesburg in 1928.

Rev. N E H E A I I A H T I L E , o f the T cm b u T r ib e , was born in T em b u la n d and educated at Boloto. W en t to work at Queenstown. Became a m em ber o f the Wesleyan Church and was baptized by Rev. D u gm ore , a missionary o f the Wesleyan M ethodist C hurch. H e soon became a lay preacher and ultimately an evangelist. W as sent to Pondoland in the year 1870. H e succeeded in build ing up con ­gregations and soon became a personal fr ien d o f the Paramount C h ie f M h lon tlo and C h ie f Lehane o f the Basutos. H is congre­gations increased. In 1873 he built a church at C w ecw e, P on do­land. Was partly responsible for the establishing o f the U m gw ali School, now an important educational institution in the Cape. O n the recom m endation o f some ministers, N ch cm iah T i le Was sent to H ea ldtow n Institution where he took the T heolog ica l C o urse. A fte r com pleting his studies he was licensed as a minister ■and sent to Q okolw eni. As a minister N ehem iah T i le was a success. A pow erfu l preacher, a devoted servant o f the Church, a fr iend o f his people. H is work prospered and his people had great

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admiration f o r h im . T h e fuss his people made over him d id not fa il to increase his enemies. Soon Rev. Chubbs, a brother minister o f the same church, accused Rev. T i l e o f (a ) taking part in political matters, ( b ) o f stirring up a fee l in g o f hostility against magistrates in T em b u la n d , ( c ) o f addressing a public m eeting on a Sabbath day, ( d ) o f refusing to in fo rm him (R e v . C hubbs) o f his activities, ( e ) o f donating an ox at the circum cision o f D alinyebo, heir to

the Paramount C h ie fta in cy (this is a national cu stom ). Rev. T i l e was tried by the W esleyan M eth odist C hurch ministers at a m eeting sum m oned for that purpose. Letters were produ ced , but the name or names o f the writers were concealed. Rev. N ch em ia h T i le insisted that he be g iven the names o f the writers. A m isunder­standing arose, Rev. N chem iah T i le tendered his resignation, and le f t the m eeting. T h is was in 1884. A fte r a consultation w ith Paramount C h ie f N gangelizw e and his c h ie f councillors, it was decid ed that a National C hurch be established with N eh em iah T i le as head. T h e w hole T e m b u T r ib e was soon sum m oned and in fo rm e d o f the T e m b u C hurch that was to be established. It was not long b e fo re a C hurch was erected at the Roval Kraal, and thereafter the work progressed. C h ie f N gangelizw e h im self became a regular attendant at the new church, later he was converted by N ehem iah T i le to the Christian Faith. Strange as it may seem, yet it is a fact that N ehem iah T i l e and all his follow ers were looked d ow n upon by all or most o f their kith and kin w h o were still members o f the F.uropean-controlled C hurch . In deed they wrere even refused admis­sion to churches at C w ecw e . Even this behaviour fa iled to daunt the spirits o f T i l e and his band o f followers.

It was N ehem iah T i l e ’ s wish that his ministers should be trained in accordance w ith the C hu rch o f England priesthood. B efore he d ied , how ever, he ordained J. G qam ani, C . Kula, and M k ize as m iniste—,. O n his death-bed he appointed Rev. J. G qam ani as his ■successor. Prior to his death he was visited by tw o European mission­aries w h o tried to persuade him to advise his. fo llow ers to jo in their C hurch . Needless to say this was re jected . N eh em iah T i l e had established the T e m b u C h u rch ; he was near the end o f his l i f e w'hich he had dedicated to the salvation o f his people. H e n ow exhorted them not to turn back, but to look forward and upward, l i f t in g ever h igher the Banner o f the T e m b u C hu rch w h ich knew no d ifference between m en, but believed that they w'ere the same in the fa ce o f G o d , w ith equal rights and privileges. N ehem iah

T i l e d ied in 1 8 8 5 . Present at his death-bed were the Paramount C h ie f and natural ruler o f the T e m b u T r ib e , D alindyebo, son o f N gan gelizw e, C oun cillor M qw etyan e , his w i fe and ch ildren , and his successor, Rev. G qam ani. A great man had fallen asleep. H e was m ourned by the w hole T e m b u T r ib e , and indeed other tribes am ong w h om he had laboured during his li fe tim e .

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Collection Number: A1618

Collection Name: T.D. Mweli SKOTA Papers, 1930-1974

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