Makhanda

Makhanda (died 1820) (also known as "Nxele" in Xhosa or "Links" in Afrikaans, both words meaning "left-handed") was a Xhosa warrior-prophet. He renounced his Christian upbringing and became a strong advocate for returning to Xhosa tradition among the Ndlambe clan of the Xhosa.cite book | last = Deacon | first = Harriet | title = The Island: A History of Robben Island, 1488-1990 | publisher = New Africa Books | date = 1995 | location = | pages = 42-43 | url = http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=z8k4sN5GSpYC&pg=PA42&dq=Makhanda&client=firefox-a&sig=zFISfZDTQ1Q-pU_B09OaE34saB4 | isbn = 0864862997]

During the frontier war of 1818 - 1819, he led an unsuccessful attack by Xhosa forces on Grahamstown. This gave the colonial government their long-desired excuse to drive the Xhosa across the Keiskamma River. Makhanda surrendered in 1819, accepting accountability for the high loss of life , and was banished to Robben Island. The island soon entered Xhosa mythology as the "Isle of Makhanda".

Governor Lord Charles Somerset made it clear that no other punishment than "loss of liberty" was to be meted out to him; consequently, he was given a separate room in the garden of John Murray, a local whaler and fisherman. These privileges did not entice him to stay on the island and he joined a mass jailbreak in 1820. However, Makhanda's boat capsized during the escape attempt and he drowned. According to legend he clung to a rock for a time, shouting encouragement to others, before finally being overpowered by the sea.

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