Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. In 1961 it became a separate administrative region and in 1972 was declared "self-governing" under the rule of Lennox Sebe. It was designated as a homeland for Xhosa speaking people and in the 1970s Xhosa speakers were resettled there.

In 1981 it was declared independent by the South African government and its residents lost their South African citizenship. In common with other Bantustans its independence was not recognised by the international community.

South Africa took control of Ciskei in 1994 and it was reincorporated in South Africa on 27 April 1994, after the first post-apartheid elections.

Ciskei had a veritable cornucopia of capitals during its brief existence. Originally, Zwelitsha served as the capital with the view that Alice would become the long term national capital. However, it was Bisho that became the capital until Ciskei's reintegration into South Africa.