Editing John Colenso (section)

===Advocacy of native African causes===

Colenso devoted the latter years of his life to further labours as a biblical commentator and as an advocate for native Africans in Natal and Zululand who had been unjustly treated by the colonial regime in Natal.  In 1874 he took up the cause of [[Langalibalele]] and the Hlubi and Ngwe tribes in representations to the Colonial Secretary, [[Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon|Lord Carnarvon]].{{sfn|Frere|2000}} Langalibalele had been falsely accused of rebellion in 1873 and, following a charade of a trial, was found guilty and imprisoned on [[Robben Island]].  In taking the side of Langalibalele against the Colonial regime in Natal and [[Theophilus Shepstone]], the Secretary for Native Affairs, Colenso found himself even further estranged from colonial society in Natal.

Colenso's concern about the misleading information that was being provided to the Colonial Secretary in London by Shepstone and the Governor of Natal prompted him to devote much of the final part of his life to championing the cause of the [[Zulu people|Zulus]] against [[Boer]] oppression and [[Anglo-Zulu War|official encroachments]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}  He was a prominent critic of [[Sir Bartle Frere]]'s efforts to depict the Zulu kingdom as a threat to Natal.  Following the conclusion of the Anglo-Zulu War he interceded on behalf of [[Cetshwayo]] with the British government and succeeded in getting him released from Robben Island and returned to Zululand.

He was known as 'Sobantu' (father of the people) to the native Africans in Natal and had a close relationship with members of the Zulu royal family; one of whom, Mkhungo (a son of Mpande), was taught at his school in Bishopstowe. After his death his wife and daughters continued his work supporting the Zulu cause and the organisation<ref name=vanfair /><ref name=sobantu /> that eventually became the [[African National Congress]].