First Chimurenga

Quick Facts: Who was First Chimurenga?

Subject:

First Chimurenga

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British-Matebele conflict (1896–1897) that expanded into a wider war across Southern Rhodesia.

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Origins & Early Life

The First Chimurenga, also known as the Second Matabele War, was fought between 1896 and 1897 in the region that later became Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The conflict was initially between the British South Africa Company (BSAC) and the Matabele people, later expanding to include the Shona people in the rest of Southern Rhodesia. In March 1896, the Matabele revolted against the authority of the BSAC. The Mlimo (or M'limo, or Umlimo) the Matabele spiritual leader, was credited with fomenting much of the anger that led to this confrontation. He convinced the Matabele and the Shona that the settlers (almost 4,000 strong by then) were responsible for the drought, locust plagues and the cattle disease rinderpest ravaging the country at the time.

Career & Major Achievements

The Mlimo's call to battle was well-timed. Only a few months earlier, the British South Africa Company's Administrator General for Matabeleland, Leander Starr Jameson, had sent most of his troops and armaments to fight the Transvaal Republic in the ill-fated Jameson Raid. This left the country nearly defenceless. The BSAC immediately sent troops to suppress the uprising, but it cost the lives of many on both sides. Months passed before the BSAC's forces were strong enough to break the sieges and defend the major settlements, and war raged on until October of the following year.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Mlimo planned to wait until the night of 29 March, the first full moon, to take Bulawayo by surprise immediately after a ceremony called the Big Dance. He promised, through his priests, that if the Matabele went to war, the bullets of the settlers would change to water and their cannon shells would become eggs. His plan was to kill all of the settlers in Bulawayo first, but not to destroy the town itself as it would serve again as the royal kraal for the newly reincarnated King Lobengula. The Mlimo decreed that the settlers should be attacked and driven from the country through the Mangwe Pass on the Western edge of the Matobo Hills, which was to be left open and unguarded for this reason. Once the settlers were purged from Bulawayo, the Matabele and Shona warriors would head out into the countryside and continue the slaughter until all the settlers were either killed or had fled.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1896: 1896 Milestone — The First Chimurenga, also known as the Second Matabele War, was fought between 1896 and 1897 in the region that later became Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: First Chimurenga

True or False: “The primary cause of the First Chimurenga was solely the British South Africa Company's desire for mineral wealth in the region.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While economic interests were present, the immediate catalyst cited was the Mlimo's belief that settlers were responsible for ecological disasters like drought and rinderpest.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Historical peer (Born in 1896) (1896): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
• Alfonso Caso — Historical peer (Born in 1896) (1896): Pioneering Mexican archaeologist renowned for pre-Columbian studies.
• Alphonse Daudet — Historical peer (Died in 1897) (1897): French novelist celebrated for his evocative short stories and novels.
• Amelia Earhart — Historical peer (Born in 1897) (1897): Iconic American aviator whose pioneering flights shaped early 20th-century aviation.

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