Worms,  frogs,  crabs,  and the Eye of God: Mpondo and Hlubi perceptions of white malevolence and surveillence

Blackbeard, Susan I

Worms, frogs, crabs, and the Eye of God: Mpondo and Hlubi perceptions of white malevolence and surveillence

Journal Article

2011

Journal Title

South African Historical Journal

Link to Journal

http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rshj20/current

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Historical Studies

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

This paper extends the debate on black-perceived white supernatural powers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Eastern Cape, South Africa – a conversation initiated by Sean Redding, and developed further by Clifton Crais, whose main contention has been rebutted by Jeff Peires. Having briefly considered their claims, this paper examines, first, Western Mpondo perceptions of missionaries' extraordinary or supernatural powers by focusing on a dream/vision of herdboys, and second, a claim that the amaHlubi in the Matatiele district ceased resistance to dipping owing to fear of white supernatural powers. Finally, I show how, in different ways from those described by Redding and Crais, these powers were perceived by various groups, and counteracted or exploited.