Mafikeng
Mafikeng is the capital city of the North-West Province. Mafikeng is a Tswana word, translated as the “place of stones. “Fika” means “stones,” “mafika” is the plural and the “eng” means “the place of.” The land was inhabited for thousands of years by the Khoisan, a people who are known for their nomadic lifestyle and ability to survive harsh conditions, such as the dry and arid desert regions. All of the stone engravings and paintings found on the rocky hills and outcrops of Mafikeng are testament to the time that the Khoisan lived there.
The land was then settled upon by the Tswana. Some of the tribes of Tswana, namely the baKwena and baGatla, developed the town further by erecting stone constructions and creating a town. The town was formally founded by the British in the 1880s. The British acquired land from the warring Barolong chiefs in return for war service.
The town was thrust into the world political stage due to the great siege that happened there during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899. Colonel Baden-Powell led the defence of the town and quickly realised he had to formulate a plan if the town was to survive. He came up with the ingenious plan to use local boys as scouts. The scouts were used to take messages and assist in the running of the town. The town siege was broken after a whopping 217 days. Colonel Baden-Powell’s efforts made him famous, leading him to start the Scout Movement we know today. After the siege, Mafikeng was lauded and talked about for many months to come, with the shrewd Baden-Powell at its epicentre.
During Apartheid, Mafikeng became part of Mmabatho- “mother of the people”- the capital of the homeland of Bophuthatswana. In 1994, Apartheid ended, Mmabatho was renamed Mafikeng and was rightfully absorbed into South Africa.
Notable places to visit in Mafikeng include the museum in the town hall, which details the story of the great siege and the fort situated on Cannon Koppie. While Mafikeng is no longer as politically relevant as it was, a reminder of its past importance can be found outside the station; here the fine statue of Rhodes faces the north with the map of Africa in his hands. This historical town is one of the stops along the luxury Rovos Air
Images sourced from:
http://aquahlekkergarla.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/mafikeng.jpg
