JOHANNESBURG - In the mid-1800s, a prophecy revealed by a Xhosa prophet, named Nongqawuse ultimately led to the slaughter of hundred of thousands of cattle.
The story told was that the people believed this would restore the Xhosa nation.
The miracle never came, and by 1858, 400,000 cattle were slaughtered and 40,000 people starved. Colonial historians have long framed the Xhosa Cattle Killing as mass delusion or suicide.
Historian Dr JJ Klaas argues that it was not driven solely by mystical prophecy.
He believes it was to halt a European cattle sickness spreading across the Cape colonies and Xhosa Chiefdoms.
Dr Klaas discussed his research with eNCA.