Barry Conway

This month sees the 140th anniversary of the Battle at Isandlwana. This, the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War and a decisive win for the Zulu, will be commemorated and celebrated across KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. Isandlwana brought the name “Zulu” to the attention of the world and established them as the paramount native force on the African continent.

Over at the privileged cloisters of Oxford University there’s a bit of bother over the statue of Cecil Rhodes. On one side are those who want it removed as an icon of racism and oppression, and on the other there are those who are horrified at the suggestion, arguing that its removal will suppress serious and impartial debate on the rights and wrongs of imperialism.

Wallace dabbled in phrenology and mesmerist experiments as part of his own evolution towards naturalism, but discarded these in favour of spiritualism as a means of trying to develop a theory of human evolution distinct from the evolution of other animals. (He had dumped religion long before his travels in the Spice Islands.) I think much of his error emanated from his particular brand of Owenite socialism and its emphasis on political evolution towards a moral state, free of religion and oppression.