Bhaca, noun

/ˈbɑːka//ˈbaǀa/
Forms:
Baca, BaccaShow more Also Baca, Bacca, Baxa.
Plurals:
amaBhaca, Bhacas, or unchanged; rarely abaBhaca.
Origin:
IsiXhosa, isiZuluShow more IsiXhosa (originally isiZulu) iBhaca a member of the Bhaca people (plural amaBhaca), from verb bhaca hide. For an explanation of varying plural forms, see ama-.
A member of an isiXhosa-speaking people of the Nguni group, having their traditional home on the mountainous plateau of Griqualand East. Also attributive. See also gumboot dance.
Note:
The Bhaca people was formed from refugee groups fleeing south along the eastern coast during the nineteenth century (see Mfecane).
c1847 H.H. Dugmore in J. Maclean Compendium of Kafir Laws (1906) 8In consequence of the repeated formidable inroads of the Amampondo and the Amabaca (the tribes of Faku and Ncapai), nearly the whole tribe has migrated to the country watered by the upper branches of the Kei.
1866 W.C. Holden Past & Future 144The Amabaca are the latest great division, and are formed out of the remnants of several tribes after the wars of Utshaka.
1872 Wesleyan Missionary Reports 81We have been surrounded with war and rumours of war. At one time we thought the Amabaca tribe would be scattered.
1912 Ayliff & Whiteside Hist. of Abambo 4The Amabele were attacked by the Bacas, but the Abasa-kunene looked on at the defeat of their neighbours and rendered no help.
1941 C.W. De Kiewiet Hist. of S. Afr. 73Kafirland, where dwelt the Ama-Xosa, the Tembu, the Pondo, the Xesibe, and the Ama-Baca.
1954 W.D. Hammond-Tooke in A.M. Duggan-Cronin Bantu Tribes III. v. 13The name Baca is derived from the verb ukubhaca (to flee) and refers to the flight from Natal from Tshaka’s displeasure.
1962 W.D. Hammond-Tooke Bhaca Soc. p.viiThe Bhaca are of particular interest to ethnographers and linguists concerned with South Africa because they provide a link between northern and southern Nguni types.
1971 P. Mayer Townsmen or Tribesmen 3For practical purposes the three million Xhosa-speakers..— the Xhosa proper, Mfengu, Thembu, Mpondo, Mpondomise, Bhaca, Bomvana — can be regarded as one group divided into tribes or sub-tribes.
1982 M. Mzamane Children of Soweto 86Their more peace-loving cousins, the Bacas,..had made the gumboot dance famous and were employed by the City Council as nightsoil men.
1990 Weekend Post 24 Mar. 5The removal of nightsoil and refuse is handled almost exclusively by members of the Baca tribe, who originate from Lusikisiki in Transkei...[He] could not say how the amaBaca came to be nightsoil removers.
A member of an isiXhosa-speaking people of the Nguni group, having their traditional home on the mountainous plateau of Griqualand East. Also attributive.
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bezitrecht, nounn.bhajia, nounn.
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