28th July 1878 The killing of the wives of Sihayo kaXongo

Here is one that you don't see everyday, from The Penny Illustrated... a lurid interpretation of slaying of the wives of Sihayo kaXongo:

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JY

Hi John .
Interesting pic thats for sure , I think their demise was described in rather morbid detail in Ian Knight's ' Zulu Rising ' .
Cheers 90th.  

90th wrote:

Hi John .
Interesting pic thats for sure , I think their demise was described in rather morbid detail in Ian Knight's  ' Zulu Rising ' .
Cheers 90th.  

There are actually a number of variations on a theme. Most seem to include the fact that there were two women. Mehlokazulu seems to have had an acute enough understanding of British sensitivities, or law, to have brought them back across the river before slaying them (for all the good that did him or them.) In some versions they are strangled. In others they are shot. Sometimes together. Some times separately. In some versions he does it personally. In other versions of the story he simply orders it done (by his brothers?)

Another question I have is that one of the women was said to be his father Sihayo's "Great Wife." I'm not sure if that means she was his first wife or simply the most influential, but I think she was actually Mehlokazulu's birth mother. If so, wow!

Also, on the topic of her cheating, this seems not to have been a one time or occasional thing. She seems to have been a repeat offender (or such was the accusation.) I'm wondering if anybody knows whether she was first accused of being a "witch" because to actually be killed for infidelity seems like a pretty rare thing. I'm also wondering if Mehlokazulu was making some sort of political statement because she was carrying on with somebody from across the border in Natal, as opposed to a "proper" Zulu. After all, it was an "honor killing" of sorts i.e. she wasn't cuckholding him, she was cuckholding his father...

Has anybody got any strong sources on this episode? What is considered the most credible? - 6pdr

Great engraving, JB--well done!!!

RB,

I have a spare!

E-mail me!

JY