Review of Legacy of the British Empire's Imperialism in Natal Colony

[Saint Bruno]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Legacy of the British Empire's Imperialism in Natal Colony" by Dr BA Mabaso.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Legacy of the British Empire in Natal Colony: Massacre of Mabaso Tribe in Msinga by Dr. B. A. Mabaso is a non-fiction book that gives a detailed account of the aftermath of British colonization in Natal, South Africa.

In 2014, the author started a journey of documenting the history of his family. He discovered, to his astonishment, how much the British colonization of his homeland, KwaZulu-Natal, shaped his destiny. Divided into two parts, the first part of the book features the perspective of the British colonizer, while the second gives the account of events from the Zulu natives' points of view. The author also provides insights into the sale of the land of Zulu natives, forced labor and military service, and conflicts among natives as a fallout from the British colonization.

The amount of research put in by the author to write this book is evident. And I like that he provides references at the end of the book to authenticate his analysis. I also enjoyed how he gave specific dates for notable events in the history of Natal. I think Zulu natives would appreciate the discussions in the book, and other African states who suffered the same fate can understand the root of their problems and perhaps seek solutions with that in mind. Most importantly, the author also exposes the damages colonialism caused in Africa, as seen especially in the massacre of the Mabaso tribe in 1922.

What I like most about this book is how it mostly follows a linear progression of events. The author took his time to give readers a detailed account of how it all started, from when the English arrived in Natal to the current situation of things in the region. I loved how it helped me understand that the happenings in Natal today stem from what the English did during Natal's colonization. I understood how the people of Natal were also at fault in failing to realize that having a united front was better than trying to destroy each other.

I have learned a lot from this author, and I like the organization of his points. However, I am not a fan of the writing style with minimal commas because I had to reread many sentences to understand them. I believe readers who don't mind such wouldn't hold the same grudge, but I am sure they won't appreciate the errors in this publication. I doubt its editing was done by a professional since I found up to ten errors in the book. That being so, I am rating the book three out of four stars.

This 75-page book is detailed, insightful, and thought-provoking, and it deserves a perfect rating if the author can rectify its editing issues. But even in this state, I still highly recommend it to readers interested in the effects of colonialism in Africa, especially Natal. The British left a legacy indeed, but was it a beautiful one? You can read the book to find out.

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Legacy of the British Empire's Imperialism in Natal Colony
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[Rwill0988]

I am a fan of non-fiction that explores the effects of colonialism. From the sounds of it, this is a short and informative read that can give me and other insights into Natal. I don't think the lack of commas would bug me too much. Thank you for writing an informative review.

[zainherb]

I am very interested in the Zulu tribe and their history with colonialism. I don't know why as I am not from South Africa. Perhaps because of stories we heard about as children.

I believe I will love this book since I don't mind minimal commas.

Thanks for a lovely review.

[Jasy95]

This book sounds fascinating! I definitely don't know enough about the colonization of Africa and I love the way that different perspectives are incorporated.

[Josephe-Anne]

I am so used to seeing colonization from the perspective of the Americas and the Caribbean, but I hardly ever find books discussing an African perspective. I'm glad that the author was able to find out so much of his family and regional history.

Thank you for an excellent review.

[peter-turo]

This book brings to light the proggresion of events that took place among the zulu of S. Africa. It aslo encompasses the grievances, setback and struggle they had to put up with their masters. Thanks for a thorough review