Julian Raymond Dennis Cobbing (born June 1944, London) is an English historian, and professor of History at Rhodes University (Grahamstown, South Africa), known best for his controversial and groundbreaking research into Zulu culture of the early 19th century.
Cobbing gained a BA from the University of London and a PhD from Lancaster University. He is regarded as the first historian to attempt to discredit conventional historical beliefs about the 'Mfecane' - a period of wars during the 1820s and 1830s that resulted in the emergence of the Zulu Kingdom. In a paper published in the Journal of African History in 1988, Cobbing argued that the Mfecane had been the construct of Apartheid politicians and historians attempting to justify the longstanding oppression of black South Africans by the white minority. Instead of an internally induced process of black-on-black destruction, Cobbing argued that much of the violence had been brought about by European slave traders and settlers, who had contracted local tribal leaders to capture slaves for sale at Delagoa Bay (now Maputo). The rise of the Zulu state, under Cobbing's hypothesis, was thus more of a defensive reaction to the slave-trading activities of other tribes in the region, rather than a process of active internal aggression, as argued by some contemporary scholars.
Cobbing's hypothesis was highly controversial when first published. Several books and articles have been written focused on rebutting Cobbing's arguments – a prominent example being Roger B. Beck's Slavery in South Africa: Captive Labor on the Dutch Frontier, which featured a collection of articles challenging Cobbing's contentions. Often now referred to as the "Cobbing controversy", historians are still very much divided on the issue of the emergence of the Zulu nation and the accuracy of conventional accounts of the Mfecane. Most agree however that Cobbing's analysis offered several key breakthroughs, and offered a robust alternative to accounts of the Mfecane that had been taught in school history curricula during Apartheid.[citation needed]
Cobbing spent two months as a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford in 2002. He currently lives in Grahamstown, South Africa, and recently retired from lecturing in history at Rhodes University, where his course "The Origins of the Modern World Crisis" was very popular. Cobbing's current work focuses on a variety of subjects including the history of Homo sapiens as a species and the modern world crisis.
Julian Raymond Dennis Cobbing (born June 1944, London) is an English historian, and professor of History at Rhodes University (Grahamstown, South Africa)...
of the cobbing involved in Cob Construction is, in fact, by use of the feet A form of spanking using a type of paddle (spanking) known as cob or in full...
to Cobbing, apartheid-era historians had mischaracterised the Mfecane as a period of internally induced Black-on-Black destruction. Instead, Cobbing argued...
Journal and Naval Military Magazine. Part III. London: Henry Colburn. Cobbing, Julian (1988). "The Mfecane as Alibi: Thoughts on Dithakong and Mbolompo"...
Portuguese the Chikunda made their way to Zambia. It is hypothesised by JulianCobbing that the presence of early Europeans slave trading and attempts to control...
the mfecane or difaqane has been disputed by some scholars, notably JulianCobbing. The Mfecane was initiated by Zwide and his Ndwandwes. They attacked...
eventually taken over by rival Shona states. It is hypothesised by JulianCobbing that the presence of early Europeans slave trading and attempts to control...
department André Brink – Writer Andrew Buckland – Performer and playwright JulianCobbing – Professor of African history; wrote an influential and controversial...
Africa's Creation, London: Pimlico 1993, pp.496–7 ISBN 0-7126-5584-0 JulianCobbing, "The Mfecane as Alibi", Journal of African History, 29 March 1988,...
Mfecane/Difaqane has been thoroughly disputed by many scholars, notably by JulianCobbing. The Pedi polity under King Thulare (c. 1780–1820) was made up of land...
of hazelnuts, accounting for 64% of total production in 2021. A hazelnut cob is roughly spherical to oval, about 15–25 millimetres (5⁄8–1 inch) long and...
Mthwakazi, drawing strength and wisdom from King Mzilikazi. Leleti Khumalo Cobbing, Julian (1976). "Introduction". The Ndebele Under the Khumalos, 1820-1896 (Doctoral)...
Omer-Cooper, J. D. (1993). "Has the Mfecane a Future? A Response to the Cobbing Critique". Journal of Southern African Studies. 19 (2): 273–294. doi:10...
painted and exhibited with fellow artist Julian Alden Weir, and spent considerable time at the art colony in Cos Cob. His presence was vital to the colony...
In 2020, he appeared as Francis Marindin in Julian Fellowes' series The English Game for Netflix and as Cob, the embittered husband to Billie Piper's Suzie...
herself to Julian in her hotel room. Later on, Alex and Millie become quite close, and Alex also tries to become close to Julian. When Julian refuses to...
Middle School Elementary Schools (grades K-5) Cos Cob Glenville The International School at Dundee Julian Curtis New Lebanon North Mianus North Street Old...
Frederick Russell (1926). Scouting on Two Continents. Doubleday, Page. Cobbing, Julian (1976). "Introduction". The Ndebele Under the Khumalos, 1820–1896 (Doctoral)...
Prentice-Hall Inc. ISBN 978-0321592576. Pitcher, W. S.; Atherton, M. P.; Cobbing, E. J.; Beckinsale, R. D. (1985). Magmatism at a Plate Edge: The Peruvian...
ISBN 978-0-7538-1906-7. Palacios, Julian (1997). Lost in the Woods: Syd Barrett and the Pink Floyd. Boxtree. ISBN 978-0-7522-2328-5. Palacios, Julian (2010). Syd Barrett...
with Alfred Jones, Bruce Kovner, David Swensen, Jack Nash, James Simons, Julian Roberston, Kenneth Griffin, Leon Levy, Louis Bacon, Michael Steinhardt,...
Frederick Russell (1926). Scouting on Two Continents. Doubleday, Page. Cobbing, Julian (1976). "Introduction". The Ndebele Under the Khumalos, 1820-1896 (Doctoral)...
Restaurant Location Specialty(s) Mom's Pies Etc. Julian, California Homemade apple pies and apple crumble Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery Kimmswick, Missouri...
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