Date: 25 December, 1819

The Xhosa prophet Makana, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for leading an attack on Grahamstown, drowned at sea. Makana, together with about thirty other prisoners, attempted to escape in three boats. The boats capsized and Makana, marshalling and urging his men to swim to shore from Robben Island, drowned. Only four survived. He became a lasting symbol of resistance. The island sometimes is referred to as Makana Island.

Click here to read more on the Makana saga.

References:

http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/people/makana.html .

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