Jacob Ludwig Döhne
Encyclopedia
Jacob Ludwig Döhne , was a lexicographer and philologist from the Berlin Missionary Society
, who was responsible for compiling A Zulu-Kafir Dictionary (Cape Town, 1857) after spending twenty years documenting the language and dialects, also translating the New Testament
into Xhosa
and Zulu
.
Döhne joined a mission seminary in 1832 and landed in Cape Town in 1836 with the second mission of the Berlin Missionary Society to South Africa. After first visiting Franschhoek, Döhne left for Kaffraria
in response to a request from fellow missionary Kayser. He arrived by boat in Port Elizabeth after a three week voyage and made his way to Knappeshope to meet up with Kayser. Here he set about mastering Xhosa, showing a quick grasp of the language. He started meticulously compiling lists of words and their meanings, laying the groundwork of a comprehensive dictionary.
Döhne started his missionary work under a local chief, Gasela. The missionary's poor eating habits soon led to malnutrition, aggravated by the tribe's decision to move. Arriving at the site of the new kraal
, Döhne found the piece of ground granted him by the Chief, already occupied. A new site was found and the mission station Bethel near Stutterheim
, was started on 15 February 1837.
Döhne's prospective wife, Bertha Göhler, arrived from Germany and they were married on 6 February 1838. The missionaries Posselt, Lisreidt and Schmidt arrived to aid him in his work, while the wives started a school to train the young Xhosa women in home industry. A short while later Döhne’s wife died in childbirth, the baby son surviving only four months.
Chief Gasela felt he was losing control of his tribe and blamed Döhne's God. Problems flared up at the mission and the chief became openly hostile. The loss of respect for Döhne adversely affected his work.
The death of chief Gasela marked a turning point in the fortunes of Bethel. Many potential converts had been intimidated by the chief, and there was now a flood of people to be baptised. A new church was constructed and consecrated on 10 October 1841.
In 1843 Döhne published "Das Kafferland Und seine Bewohner" and then started on the translation of the Bible into Xhosa. The British Bible Society
contributed some paper and the translation of the Psalms
soon appeared in print. Döhne collaborated with Karl Wilhelm Posselt
(1815-1885) and translated the books of Moses
.
Döhne’s second wife, Auguste Kembly, arrived from Berlin and eventually had two children.
Theophilus Shepstone
was posted in Natal as an agent for the Bantu tribes just before war broke out in 1846. He reported that he came across some 100 000 refugee Bantu fleeing the Zulu chiefs Chaka
, Dingane
and Mpanda
. He entreated the missions in Kaffraria
to afford the refugees sanctuary. The Frontier War of 1846-47 between the Xhosa and the Whites put an end to all plans and the missionaries joined the fleeing masses, with Döhne, Guldenpfennig and Posselt finding safety at Bethany in the Orange Free State
. Here Döhne lost his second wife on 23 September 1846. War and the unrest made it impossible for the missionaries to return to the Xhosa people, and instead set off for Natal. On their arrival in Pietermaritzburg
conditions were tense. Döhne responded to an appeal from the European community without permission from the Berlin Mission Society, leading to the suspension of his services. With the closing of the Eastern Cape missions, the focus of the Berlin Missionary Society shifted to Natal and the Transvaal. Christianenberg, Emmaus and other mission stations were established there, and Döhne became a well-known figure among the Voortrekkers
.
Döhne's third wife was Caroline Elizabeth Wilhelmine Watermeyer (2 November 1817 - 13 March 1888 Paddock, Natal) whom he married on 23 June 1847. The couple produced nine children. During this period he founded the Table Mountain Mission station near Pietermaritzburg
.
Döhne had his Zulu-English dictionary published in 1858 at the request of the Government. The Berlin Missionary Society, having a change of heart, persuaded Döhne to rejoin them, and he immediately set about translating the Bible into Zulu. He worked on this project for four years at his home, Wartburg, finishing the first four books of the New Testament
. Disputes with a committee appointed by the Society to supposedly assist him, finally led to his resignation.
Döhne was not yet ready for retirement and started an independent Mission at Utrecht
and another at Glencoe
. He once again became a refugee, fleeing the Anglo-Zulu War
of 1879.
The agricultural research station of Döhne
near Stutterheim
was named in his honour.
Berlin Missionary Society
The Berlin Missionary Society or Society for the Advancement of evangelistic Missions amongst the Heathen was a German Protestant Christian missionary society that was constituted on 29 February 1824 by a group of pious laymen from the...
, who was responsible for compiling A Zulu-Kafir Dictionary (Cape Town, 1857) after spending twenty years documenting the language and dialects, also translating the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
into Xhosa
Xhosa language
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
and Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
.
Döhne joined a mission seminary in 1832 and landed in Cape Town in 1836 with the second mission of the Berlin Missionary Society to South Africa. After first visiting Franschhoek, Döhne left for Kaffraria
Kaffraria
Kaffraria was the descriptive name given to the southeast part of what is today the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Kaffraria, i.e. the land of the Kaffirs, is no longer an official designation...
in response to a request from fellow missionary Kayser. He arrived by boat in Port Elizabeth after a three week voyage and made his way to Knappeshope to meet up with Kayser. Here he set about mastering Xhosa, showing a quick grasp of the language. He started meticulously compiling lists of words and their meanings, laying the groundwork of a comprehensive dictionary.
Döhne started his missionary work under a local chief, Gasela. The missionary's poor eating habits soon led to malnutrition, aggravated by the tribe's decision to move. Arriving at the site of the new kraal
Kraal
Kraal is an Afrikaans and Dutch word for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock, located within an African settlement or village surrounded by a palisade, mud wall, or other fencing, roughly circular in form.In the Dutch language a kraal is a term derived from the Portuguese word , cognate...
, Döhne found the piece of ground granted him by the Chief, already occupied. A new site was found and the mission station Bethel near Stutterheim
Stutterheim
Stutterheim is a town with a population of 46,730 in South Africa, situated in the Border region of the Eastern Cape province.Stutterheim has a rich history that makes for fascinating reading...
, was started on 15 February 1837.
Döhne's prospective wife, Bertha Göhler, arrived from Germany and they were married on 6 February 1838. The missionaries Posselt, Lisreidt and Schmidt arrived to aid him in his work, while the wives started a school to train the young Xhosa women in home industry. A short while later Döhne’s wife died in childbirth, the baby son surviving only four months.
Chief Gasela felt he was losing control of his tribe and blamed Döhne's God. Problems flared up at the mission and the chief became openly hostile. The loss of respect for Döhne adversely affected his work.
The death of chief Gasela marked a turning point in the fortunes of Bethel. Many potential converts had been intimidated by the chief, and there was now a flood of people to be baptised. A new church was constructed and consecrated on 10 October 1841.
In 1843 Döhne published "Das Kafferland Und seine Bewohner" and then started on the translation of the Bible into Xhosa. The British Bible Society
British and Foreign Bible Society
The British and Foreign Bible Society, often known in England and Wales as simply as Bible Society, is a non-denominational Christian Bible society with charity status whose purpose is to make the Bible available throughout the world....
contributed some paper and the translation of the Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
soon appeared in print. Döhne collaborated with Karl Wilhelm Posselt
Karl Wilhelm Posselt
Karl/Carl Wilhelm Posselt , was a German missionary from the Berlin Missionary Society and was active in South Africa where he became known as "the missionary with the violin".Posselt initially trained as a teacher at Neuzelle, but became inspired by mission work during his training...
(1815-1885) and translated the books of Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
.
Döhne’s second wife, Auguste Kembly, arrived from Berlin and eventually had two children.
Theophilus Shepstone
Theophilus Shepstone
thumb|Theophilus ShepstoneSir Theophilus Shepstone was a British South African statesman who was responsible for the annexation of the Transvaal to Britain in 1877.-Early life:...
was posted in Natal as an agent for the Bantu tribes just before war broke out in 1846. He reported that he came across some 100 000 refugee Bantu fleeing the Zulu chiefs Chaka
Chaka
Chaka may refer to:* Shaka , Zulu chieftain* Chaka , a Turkic tribe* Chaka , a yogurt-based cheese popular in Afghanistan and Tajikistan* Chaka of Smyrna 11th Century emir...
, Dingane
Dingane
Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu —commonly referred to as Dingane or Dingaan—was a Zulu chief who became king of the Zulu Kingdom in 1828...
and Mpanda
Mpanda
Mpanda is one of the 4 districts of the Rukwa Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the Northwest by the Kigoma Region, to the Northeast by the Tabora Region, to the East by the Mbeya Region, to the Southeast by the Sumbawanga Urban District, to the Southwest by the Nkansi District and to the West...
. He entreated the missions in Kaffraria
Kaffraria
Kaffraria was the descriptive name given to the southeast part of what is today the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Kaffraria, i.e. the land of the Kaffirs, is no longer an official designation...
to afford the refugees sanctuary. The Frontier War of 1846-47 between the Xhosa and the Whites put an end to all plans and the missionaries joined the fleeing masses, with Döhne, Guldenpfennig and Posselt finding safety at Bethany in the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
. Here Döhne lost his second wife on 23 September 1846. War and the unrest made it impossible for the missionaries to return to the Xhosa people, and instead set off for Natal. On their arrival in Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
conditions were tense. Döhne responded to an appeal from the European community without permission from the Berlin Mission Society, leading to the suspension of his services. With the closing of the Eastern Cape missions, the focus of the Berlin Missionary Society shifted to Natal and the Transvaal. Christianenberg, Emmaus and other mission stations were established there, and Döhne became a well-known figure among the Voortrekkers
Voortrekkers
The Voortrekkers were emigrants during the 1830s and 1840s who left the Cape Colony moving into the interior of what is now South Africa...
.
Döhne's third wife was Caroline Elizabeth Wilhelmine Watermeyer (2 November 1817 - 13 March 1888 Paddock, Natal) whom he married on 23 June 1847. The couple produced nine children. During this period he founded the Table Mountain Mission station near Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
.
Döhne had his Zulu-English dictionary published in 1858 at the request of the Government. The Berlin Missionary Society, having a change of heart, persuaded Döhne to rejoin them, and he immediately set about translating the Bible into Zulu. He worked on this project for four years at his home, Wartburg, finishing the first four books of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Disputes with a committee appointed by the Society to supposedly assist him, finally led to his resignation.
Döhne was not yet ready for retirement and started an independent Mission at Utrecht
Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal
Utrecht is a town in the foothills of the Balele Mountains, in the northwestern corner of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Newcastle, Kwazulu-Natal's third-largest urban center, is 50 km from Utrecht...
and another at Glencoe
Glencoe, KwaZulu-Natal
Glencoe is situated in the Umzinyathi District District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The main economic activity in the area is coal mining while sheep and cattle ranching are also practiced.-History:...
. He once again became a refugee, fleeing the Anglo-Zulu War
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.Following the imperialist scheme by which Lord Carnarvon had successfully brought about federation in Canada, it was thought that a similar plan might succeed with the various African kingdoms, tribal areas and...
of 1879.
The agricultural research station of Döhne
Döhne
Döhne is a South African agricultural research station 6 kilometers north of Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape. It is noted for having developed the Döhne Merino from Peppin Merino ewes and German mutton merino sires in 1939. The program bred for high fertility, rapid lamb growth and fine wool...
near Stutterheim
Stutterheim
Stutterheim is a town with a population of 46,730 in South Africa, situated in the Border region of the Eastern Cape province.Stutterheim has a rich history that makes for fascinating reading...
was named in his honour.