Masopha

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Masopha
House of Moshoeshoe
FatherMoshoeshoe I
Mother’MaMohato

Masopha (c. 1820 – July 1898) was a chief of the

Basuto people. He was the third son of Basuto paramount chief Moshoeshoe I. During his youth he fought in numerous conflicts against neighboring tribes and European colonists, distinguishing himself for his bravery. Following the incorporation of Basutoland into the Cape Colony, Masopha resisted the imposition of colonial rule and emerged as one of the most powerful Basuto chiefs. In 1880, he became one of the leaders of Basuto resistance to the Cape in the Basuto Gun War. Following the end of the war he came into conflict with his nephew and heir apparent Lerotholi
. The two clashed in a brief civil war in January 1898. Masopha was defeated and died in obscurity in July 1898.

Early life

Masopha Moshoeshoe (also spelled Masuphag or Masopa) was born either in 1820 or 1822.

Batlokoa. Throughout his life he maintained good relations with the missionaries,[3] but continued to practice several Basuto customs that they disapproved of.[1][2] After the death of his younger brother Majara in 1859, he took his wives into leviratic marriage.[6] By the 1870s Masopha had approximately 50 wives, akin to other major chiefs of the period.[7]

Rise to prominence

Masopha went on to distinguish himself as a warrior and was considered the most courageous of Moshoeshoe's sons.[2] Since the 1820s, the Basuto frequently engaged in warfare with neighboring tribes and European settlements. Which took the form of cattle raids and the occasional burning of villages. To that end Moshoeshoe had accumulated more horses and guns than any other chieftain in South Africa.[8] In the 1852, Masopha took part in the Battle of Berea where the Basuto fought against a British punitive expedition. Masopha also participated in raids against white settlers in Bloemfontein. In 1853, Masopha participated in a campaign against Batlakoa chief Kgosi Sekonyela, successfully storming his stronghold Marabeng.[1][2] In 1855, he established a village known as Masopha's Mile located a 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Thupa Kubu stream on the Berea plateau. There he amassed a considerable following.[9] In 1858, war broke out between the Basuto and the Boer Orange Free State.[10] On 12 April 1858, Masopha and other chiefs held the Boers at bay on the Caledon.[11] Masopha led part of the Basuto army and participated in the peace negotiations that followed. In 1865, hostilities between the two sides resumed, Masopha captured numerous heads of cattle from the Boers and their allies. His regiments raided the Griqua village of Platberg, killing all the men and enslaving all the women.[12] Masopha's troops were heavily defeated by the Boers while trying to defend his village, forcing him to abandon it.[13] He later joined the defense of the Thaba Bosiu stronghold, acting as Moshoeshoe's main military advisor.[14] By 1866, the tide of war had turned against the Basuto. Fearing that Basuto were facing annihilation, Moshoeshoe, his sons and local missionaries began appealing to British High Commissioner for Southern Africa Sir Philip Wodehouse and the Colony of Natal for protection. Judging the expansion of the Free State to be contrary to British geopolitical interests, Wodehouse proclaimed Basutoland to be a royal dominion on 12 March 1868.[15]

Following Moshoeshoe's death in 1870, he was succeeded by Letsie I.[16] It is believed that Masopha was planning to establish an independent kingdom upon his father's death but was prevented from doing so due to the British annexation. Masopha remained insubordinate to colonial rule, by failing to enforce colonial legislation and resisting taxation.[2] The Basuto gradually became more apprehensive towards the colonial authorities due to the erosion of traditional chiefly authority.[17] In 1879, the Cape Colony prime minister Sir Gordon Sprigg decided to extend the Peace Preservation Act to Basutoland. Under its terms the colony would confiscate the firearms of Basutoland's African population in exchange for monetary compensation. The majority of the Basuto saw the law as unacceptable due to the gun's high symbolic and monetary value in local society.[18][19] The Cape authorities struggled to enforce the disarmament law. During a pitso (formal assembly) convened on 3 July 1879, Masopha and his nephew chief Joel Molapo called for armed resistance against the law's implementation. Masopha began to fortify Thaba Bosiu, while the supporters of the rebel chiefs began ignoring orders from the local magistrates. Anarchy broke out, as rebels began attacking loyalists who had surrendered their weapons and seized their property.[20][21] Sprigg pressured Letsie I into arresting Masopha. Letsie I believed that most of his nation had rallied behind Masopha and this was therefore unfeasible. In response to Letsie's calls for deescalation, Masopha and the heir apparent Lerotholi began to prepare for war.[22]

Gun War and downfall

In September 1880, the Basuto rose in rebellion against the

British Cape Colony in what came to be known as the Basuto Gun War.[23] According to Basuto oral tradition, paramount chief Letsie I appointed Lerotholi and Masopha as the leaders of the rebellion. While simultaneously ordering other chiefs to conform to the regulations of the Cape, so as to maintain power in Basuto hands in case the rebellion failed.[24] Lerotholi and Masopha collaborated closely and managed to create a stalemate, isolating the Cape's army in the Hlotse, Maseru and Mafeteng Districts.[25] Masopha blockaded the garrison of Maseru which consisted of 200 Cape Mounted Riflemen.[26] He burned Maseru's major buildings in his first assault on the town, but further attacks proved less successful.[27] The high cost of conducting the war and the lack of tangible success in the field made the war increasingly unpopular among Cape politicians.[28] On 29 April 1881, High Commissioner for Southern Africa, Sir Hercules Robinson announced the peaceful settlement of the war known as Award. Under its terms the Basuto were allowed to retain their guns and the contested Quthing District, while the rebels were provided amnesty. The Basuto on the other hand were to pay a collective fine of 5,000 cattle and compensate Basuto loyalists and white traders. The Award marked the end of the conflict.[29]

Hostilities had ended and most Basuto chiefs including Lerotholi welcomed the Award, 3,000 heads of cattle were paid almost immediately as a gesture of goodwill.[29] Masopha emerged as the leader of Basuto opposition to the Award. Demanding to be granted almost arbitrary power, refusing to pay his share of the hut tax and forbidding the return of the local magistrate. His stance prevented the restitution of property to Basuto loyalists residing in his district.[30] In January 1882, Letsie I assembled an army in order to enforce the Award on Masopha, yet the expedition was cancelled as it was judged that Masopha retained considerable popular support.[31] Major General Charles George Gordon was invited to Basutoland in an effort to negotiate a settlement with the Basuto after the Award was cancelled in April 1882.[32] During his stay in the Cape, Gordon grew increasingly disillusioned with his colleagues' vision of Basutoland's future. Gordon sought an audience with Masopha, believing that he would be able to negotiate a satisfactory settlement to the conflict. In September 1882, Gordon and Jacobus Wilhelmus Sauer traveled to Basutoland in person. On 16 September, Sauer held a private meeting with Letsie I and Lerotholi, consenting to the Basuto chiefs' proposal to assemble a force against Masopha.[33] On 25 September, Gordon departed for a meeting with Masopha at his stronghold in Thaba Bosiu. At the same time Lerotholi finished preparations for an impending attack on his uncle.[34] Masopha feigned interest in Gordon's proposals, intentionally prolonging the negotiations for an extra day. A storm then caused severe rainfall in the adjacent area, thwarting Lerotholi's plans of an assault. Both Gordon and Lerotholi departed Thaba Bosiu without having achieved their respective objectives. Lerotholi felt humiliated by the incident, giving birth to a long lasting rivalry between him and his uncle.[35]

On 18 March 1884, Basutoland was transformed High Commission

Territory of Basutoland under the Disannexation Act. Masopha, chief Ramanella and their allies continued to demand complete independence from colonial rule. Refusing to welcome the newly appointed High Commissioner Marshal Clarke at a pitso held at Maseru. Masopha's supporters continued to harass former Basuto loyalists, in an effort to retain property once seized from them.[36] In 1886, Masopha's eldest son Lepogo died from alcoholism. Like most other Basuto chiefs, Masopha was also reported to drink heavily.[37]
Masopha eventually re-invited his district's magistrate and sought arbitration from a colonial court, after clashes broke out between his supporters and those of his erstwhile companion Ramanella. A short period of peace ensued. In 1891, Lerotholi succeeded his father as Basuto paramount chief after the latter's death. [38] In the mid 1890s Basutoland was affected by a large scale rindepest epidemic which devastated southern Africa's cattle population. A severe drought that happened in parallel brought many Basuto to the edge of starvation. The inability to pay the hut tax gave rise to clashes over land. Lerotholi found himself unable to enforce order in Basutoland's central districts where his uncle Masopha held considerable influence. Lerotholi feared that Masopha's insubordination could lead the British to abandon Basutoland and allow it to be absorbed by the neighboring Orange Free State, where the native African population held significantly fewer rights. To that end, Lerotholi attempted to persuade Clarke's successor Godfrey Lagden to authorize a military expedition; which would pacify the chiefs engaged in land disputes by force.[39]

In October 1897, Lerotholi harrowed four fields in Madisanyane which Masopha continued to claim despite a court order against him. Masopha responded by giving one of the fields to two of his supporters, warning that he was prepared to fight over the fields if their boundaries were to be violated. In the meantime, Masopha's son Moeketsi had illegally crossed into the Free State to punish a man who had run away with another man's wife. Upon catching the man, Moeketsi's retinue assaulted and allegedly castrated him. Moeketsi was subsequently arrested and jailed by the Free State, he successfully escaped from jail and fled to Basutoland soon afterwards. The Free State demanded Moeketsi's extradition, however Masopha refused to comply after facing pressure from his wife. Lagden requested Lerotholi to apprehend Moeketsi. Despite the clash of personalities between Lerotholi and Masopha, Lerotholi was deeply aware of the popular support Masopha enjoyed. Lerotholi therefore insisted on receiving a direct order, so as to shift responsibility for his actions on the colonial government.[40]

In January 1898, Lerotholi ordered his men to take key position around Thaba Bosiu. Several people were killed in the ensuing clashes between Lerotholi's and Masopha's supporters. Lerotholi had issued a call to arms to minor chiefs across the region, amassing approximately 10,000 warriors. Masopha could rely on the support of a comparable number of his tribesmen. Chief Jonathan Molapo withdrew his support for Masopha after the beginning on the siege of Thaba Bosiu, while chief Maama opted to remain neutral. After the exchange of numerous messages between Lagden and Lerotholi, the former finally issued an official order authorizing an attack on Thaba Bosiu. Three weeks into the siege Maama (who had married two of Masopha's daughters) attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the conflict with Lagden, but was rebuked.[41][42] On 26 January, Lerotholi commenced an assault on Thaba Bosiu, defeating the defenders, a total of 55 people were killed in the fighting. Masopha was forced to pay a heavy fine and abandon his ancestral village, while also being stripped of the privileges he once enjoyed as district chief. His son was arrested and forwarded for trial. Following his defeat, a big portion of Masopha's supporters left the Berea region. He died in July 1898. His funeral was described as "unceremonious" and no major chief attended it.[43]

During Masopha's lifetime his bravery was commemorated through numerous lithoko praise-poems.

initiation rituals.[46]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d Irvine.
  2. ^ a b c d e Rosenberg, Weisfelder & Frisbie-Fulton 2004, p. 232.
  3. ^ a b Thompson 1975, p. 179.
  4. ^ Rosenberg, Weisfelder & Frisbie-Fulton 2004, pp. 12–13.
  5. ^ Maliehe 2014, p. 29.
  6. ^ Thompson 1975, p. 178.
  7. ^ Morelli 2022, p. 299.
  8. ^ Atmore & Sanders 1971, pp. 536–537.
  9. ^ Sanders 1975, p. 205.
  10. ^ Atmore & Sanders 1971, p. 540.
  11. ^ Sanders 1975, p. 231.
  12. ^ Morelli 2019, p. 59.
  13. ^ Sanders 1975, p. 286.
  14. ^ Sanders 1975, p. 289.
  15. ^ Burman 1981, pp. 15–16.
  16. ^ Machobane & Karschay 1990, pp. 43–44.
  17. ^ Burman 1981, pp. 91–92.
  18. ^ Burman 1981, p. 133.
  19. ^ Eldredge 2007, p. 71.
  20. ^ Burman 1981, pp. 139–142.
  21. ^ Machobane & Karschay 1990, pp. 53–54.
  22. ^ Burman 1981, pp. 142–145.
  23. ^ Atmore & Sanders 1971, pp. 543–544.
  24. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 82–86.
  25. ^ Kotze 2012, p. 54.
  26. ^ Burman 1981, p. 148.
  27. ^ Eldredge 2007, p. 106.
  28. ^ Burman 1981, pp. 150–151.
  29. ^ a b Eldredge 2007, pp. 107–108.
  30. ^ Bradlow 1970, p. 224.
  31. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 109–110.
  32. ^ Bradlow 1970, pp. 224–226.
  33. ^ Bradlow 1970, pp. 230–233.
  34. ^ Burman 1981, pp. 167–168.
  35. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 111–112.
  36. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 116–119.
  37. ^ Machobane & Karschay 1990, p. 90.
  38. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 121–122.
  39. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 124–126.
  40. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 127–131.
  41. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 133–136.
  42. ^ Machobane & Karschay 1990, p. 73.
  43. ^ Eldredge 2007, pp. 137, 140–141.
  44. ^ Morelli 2022, p. 306.
  45. ^ Mohome 1972, p. 172.
  46. ^ Guma 2001, p. 268.

References

External links
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