Ciskei was one of 10 homelands set up by the South African government under the former policy of enforced racial segregation known as apartheid. Ciskei, like the other homelands, was reserved for Black Africans. It was self-governing in name but had no real power. Ciskei was set aside for the southern Xhosa people and lay in what is now the province of Eastern Cape. Bisho was the capital and seat of government.
Farmers with a culture like that of the southern Xhosa people have lived in the area since the A.D. 1400’s. The southern Xhosa chiefs date back to the 1600’s.
The South African government recognized Ciskei as an independent republic in 1981. A new constitution in 1994 abolished the homelands. That year, Ciskei became part of the new province of Eastern Cape.
