Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province. Landing place and home of the 1820 settlers, the central and eastern part of the province is the traditional home of the Xhosa people. This region is the birthplace of many prominent South African politicians, such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, Chris Hani, Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko and Charles Coghlan.

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Famous quotes containing the words eastern and/or cape:

    The eastern light our spires touch at morning,
    The light that slants upon our western doors at evening,
    The twilight over stagnant pools at batflight,
    Moon light and star light, owl and moth light,
    Glow-worm glowlight on a grassblade.
    O Light Invisible, we worship Thee!
    —T.S. (Thomas Stearns)

    The Great South Beach of Long Island,... though wild and desolate, as it wants the bold bank,... possesses but half the grandeur of Cape Cod in my eyes, nor is the imagination contented with its southern aspect.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)