Where do Lobedu people come from?
The Balobedu originally migrated south from present day Zimbabwe to their present location in South Africa. The central tribal village is Khethakoni in the district of Balobedu.
What is bolobedu?
The name “bolobedu” means place of tribute, go loba/lobela. Hence Balobedu are people who receive tribute from others. They have their own kingdom, the Balobedu Kingdom, within the Limpopo Province of South Africa with a female ruler, the Rain Queen Modjadji. The population of Balobedu numbers around two million.
Who is Queen of rain?
Masalanabo Modjadji
This is the country’s only queendom– ruled by the Rain Queen, who is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control the clouds and rainfall. The queen-to-be is 16-year-old Masalanabo Modjadji, who will officially be crowned Queen Modjadji VII, the “Rain Queen”, when she turns 18 in 2023.
Who was the first king of Balobedu?
Makgapele
The name of the tribe is Balobedu. The first king was Makgapele, who was known as Phetole II. He was succeeded by King Mohale III. Mohale was succeeded by King Seale IV.
Is Balobedu a pedi?
The BaLobedu or BaLobedu ba GaModjadji are a small tribe that form part of the South Venda branch of the larger group of Northern Sotho language speakers in Limpopo. Their language is Silobedu or Khilobedu, a non-Pedi dialect of Northern Sotho with similarities to Venda.
When did the Venda arrive in South Africa?
1836
The first contact between the Venda and the whites occurred when the Voortrekker leader, Louis Trichardt came to the area in 1836. In 1848, the whites established a settlement named Schoemansdal.
Who is Lekukela Modjadji?
In May last year the royal council announced Prince Lekukela Modjadji as heir to the throne following a lengthy squabble. Princess Masalanabo Modjadji was widely expected to be Balobedu’s next rain queen when she turned 18 in a year’s time.
Who is mujaji?
The mythology of the Lovedu people of South Africa includes a series of deities known as Mujaji. They are rain queens who send drought to their enemies but cause rain to fall on their people. According to the Lovedu, Mujaji IV continues to oversee the supply of rainfall and the cycle of seasons in their land.
Who is Letkukela Modjadji?
Prince Lekukela Modjadji, the son of the late Rain Queen Makobo Modjadji, has been appointed king of the Balobedu nation, 16 years after her death. The government recognised the Balobedu queenship in 2016, paving the way for his 16-year-old sister, Masalanabo, to become Rain Queen VII.
Who is the Prince of Limpopo?
His appointment has shocked many in the Limpopo tribe. Prince Lekukela Modjadji, the son of the late Rain Queen Makobo Modjadji, has been appointed king of the Balobedu nation, 16 years after her death.
Where is Mapulana from?
Mapulana are descendants of Morolong and their origin can be traced back to the Kgalagadi before they settled in Thaba Chueu, in what is today eastern Lesotho and Shakwaneng (Carolina) in the 1500s.
Are Venda from Congo?
Venda is also known as Luvenda or Tshivenda, and originated from the Bantu language. Interestingly, it is also related to Niger and Congo languages. It is one of the 11 official South African languages. Well over 650 000 of Tshivenda speakers live in the northern parts of South Africa’s Limpopo Province.