Misunderstanding between clans in Natal triggered the Mfekane war. How did the confrontation start in Natal?

The confrontation in Natal began with a misunderstanding between two powerful Zulu clans, the Zulu and the Ndwandwe. In the early 19th century, the Zulu king, Shaka, had established a powerful and centralized Zulu kingdom through military conquests and reorganization of the Zulu military forces. However, tensions arose between the Zulu and the Ndwandwe clan, led by Zwide, as both sought to expand their territories and influence.

The misunderstanding that triggered the conflict occurred when a Zulu raiding party, led by Shaka's half-brother, Dingane, mistakenly attacked a Ndwandwe group, believing them to be enemies. This incident led to a retaliatory attack by the Ndwandwe, escalating the conflict between the two clans.

As the conflict intensified, neighboring clans and groups were drawn into the war, either aligning themselves with the Zulu or the Ndwandwe. The Mfekane, meaning "the crushing" or "the scattering," was a period of widespread warfare, displacement, and social upheaval that resulted from this conflict.

It is important to note that while the initial misunderstanding between the Zulu and Ndwandwe clans in Natal triggered the conflict, the Mfekane war was also influenced by various other factors, including population pressures, competition for resources, and the destabilizing effects of European colonialism in the region.

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