Nongqawuse's prophecy of 18 February 1857

Nongqawuse predicted that on 18 February 1857 the sun would turn red and the ancestors' promise would be fulfilled. The day passed as an ordinary one, and tens of thousands of Xhosa died in the famine that followed.

South African History Online says the resurrection was first scheduled for 11 August 1856. When the morning brought no change, other dates were set, among them 18 February 1857. Wikipedia says Nongqawuse foretold that the ancestors would keep their promise on that day, when the sun would turn red.

Gemma Pitcher, writing for Siyabona Africa, and Wikipedia both describe how Sarili visited the mouth of the Gxarha river and spoke at length with Nongqawuse and Mhlakaza. On coming back, he declared a New World, to begin in eight days. A blood-red sunrise was promised, a great storm would come, and after it the dead would rise. The Cattle-Killing peaked while that wait ran its course. Of the eighth day, the Xhosa historian Gqoba wrote: the sun came up as on any other morning.

According to Wikipedia, Nongqawuse's followers first blamed those who had disobeyed her instructions, and later turned against her. South African History Online reports that Sarili gave up all faith in the prophecy at about the fifteen-month mark. By then tens of thousands had died, and about 30,000 had crossed the border seeking food and work.