Ngqushwa

In Peddie, two historic landmarks can be distinguished: the UmQwashu Memorial Site and the old watchtower. The memorial is associated with an oath from 1835; the tower was built in 1841. The chronology organizes the topics, while their different focuses offer two distinct ways to explore history.

The UmQwashu Memorial Site

The UmQwashu Memorial Site consists of a milkwood tree (umqwashu), an outdoor interpretation of the Makanda Heritage Route, and an old corrugated-iron shed. The site’s name draws on the name of the tree: “umqwashu” refers to the milkwood tree and also appears in the memorial’s name. The outdoor interpretation focuses on the Makanda Heritage Route; the old shed adds a built element to the ensemble. The memorial therefore includes both a specific historical reference and several distinct components that shape its description.

The oath associated with the memorial was taken by a group of amaMfengu on 14 May 1835. Before that, the group had migrated from Butterworth to Peddie. The story can therefore be read as a sequence: first the migration, then the oath. The precise date places the event in time, while Butterworth and Peddie identify the stated migration route. These details belong together in understanding the commemoration.

The old watchtower and its historical context

Peddie’s old watchtower was built on a hill in 1841, in time to withstand an attack by 4,000 Xhosa. Unlike the memorial, whose reference point is an oath taken after a migration, the focus here is on a structure and the threat it was intended to withstand. The hill is part of the tower’s specific description; the year it was built and the attack provide its historical context. The tower’s story can thus be considered as a distinct focus alongside the commemoration of the oath.

The dates also establish a clear chronology: the oath of 14 May 1835 was followed by the construction of the tower in 1841. Six years separate the dates. The comparison keeps distinct questions separate: in 1835, the focus is the oath taken after the amaMfengu migration; in 1841, it is the construction of the tower in connection with an attack. As you explore Peddie’s past, you can distinguish between a story of migration and an oath, and one of a structure and a threat.

The amaMfengu in the wider regional context

The wider regional context broadens the perspective to the amaMfengu. They were among the first African converts; they were also the first to use a plough and grow wheat. Alongside the specific landmarks in Peddie, religious conversion and agriculture thus emerge as further historical topics. “Converts” refers to people who adopt a different religion. The regional perspective broadens the scope: rather than a single date and place, the focus is on the group’s history and two distinct subject areas. When comparing the historical themes, you can consider the commemoration of the oath, the story of the tower, and the broader amaMfengu context separately.

Discover more destinations: Lady Grey, Aliwal North, Rhodes, Mount Fletcher, Maclear

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