Which of the following best describes the main cause of the Mfecane?

Source: JAMB · 2024

Which of the following best describes the main cause of the Mfecane?

  1. European colonization
  2. Competition over scarce resources ✓
  3. The spread of Christianity
  4. Internal trade disputes
Explanation

The Mfecane was caused by competition for land, cattle, and water. Overpopulation and drought made resources scarce. Nguni groups fought each other for survival in southern Africa.

European colonization happened but came after the Mfecane started. Christianity spread later in the 19th century. Trade disputes weren’t the primary cause of this upheaval.

The Mfecane period (1810s-1830s) caused massive displacement and warfare. It reshaped southern African societies before major European conquest.

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