What Was the Mfecane?

The word mfecane is derived from Xhosa terms: ukufaca 'to become thin from hunger' and fetcani 'starving intruders'. Mfecane refers to a period of political disruption and population migration in Southern Africa which occurred during the 1820s and 1830s. It is also known by the Sotho name difaqane.

Find out why this is a controversial subject...