Page "Tlokwa tribe" Paragraph 21

Sekonyela's downfall is commonly attributed to his personal defects-to the love of war by which he alienated his neighbours, and to the rough treatment by which he alienated his own people, Conversely, Moshweshwe's rise to power is commonly attributed to his love of peace and to his benevolence.

Basically Sekonyela was not able to become successful as well as Moshweshwe, because, after 1829, he was poorer than Moshweshwe.

The Tlokwa had to kill and consume many of their cattle during the early years of the difaqane, and it seems that they never fully recovered their former prosperity.

Moreover, they suffered further heavy losses in the war with the Korana and their allies in the early 1840s.

Sekonyela, therefore, was not in a position to attract and blind thousands of followers to himself by sustaining them.

Hence, to a large extent, his raids on his neighbours ' herds, and his unpopularity among his own people.

Moshweshwe, however, retained most of his cattle during the difaqane, and in 1829 conducted two richly rewarding raids against the Thembu.

Thereafter his wealth far surpassed Sekonyela's, and it was mainly because of this that he was able to attract and hold so many followers.

The territorial expansion of the Sotho naturally brought them into conflict with the Tlokwa, and in 1853, after the British had indicated that they were not prepared to interfere in this dispute, Sekonyela was overwhelmed by Moshweshwe's superior forces.