463:
559:
25:
431:
novel, Lekhekhesha, was published in 2018 by Eliya
Monyela. The first Lobedu poetry book, Zwireto zwa KheLobedu, was published and launched in 2020 by Lobedu poet Makgwekgwe Waa-Mampeule. As of October 2021, a translation of the Christian Bible is being undertaken by VALODAGOMA NPC (the BaLobedu think tank) and PANSALB (the Pan South African Languages Board).
364:
479:
uncles of the
Nengwekhulus. All BaLobedu are descended from these three groups: BaKwevho, Nengwekhulu, and Ramabulana. The rest of the people are descendants of East Sotho or BaLaudi refugees and indigenous South Venda groups like BaNgona. As a result, the most common animal totems among BaLobedu are the wild pig (Goloe/Kolobe) and the elephant (Dou/Tlou).
584:
Western world would call ladies-in-waiting), to appease her so that she would bring rain to their regions. The name Lobedu is thought to derive from this practice, referring to the daughters or sisters who were lost to their families. The Rain Queen extends her influence through her wives, because they link her politically to other families or villages.
583:
The Rain Queen was historically known as an extremely powerful magician who was able to bring rain to her friends and drought to her enemies. Visitors to the area always brought her gifts and tribute, including cattle and their daughters as wives (though their role is more akin to what those in the
506:
in SiLozwi (in present-day
Matabeleland, Zimbabwe), and it is therefore accepted that there is an intertwining of their history with the rest of the Lozwi. Lozwi have a history of rainmaking, as does the current Lozwi king, Mike Moyo, who is also gifted with rainmaking. Linguists have listed Lobedu
452:
BaLobedu ba Ga-Mmamaila, which was founded by Prince
Mmamaila, the elder brother of Modjadji I, who objected to being ruled by women, was one of the eldest sons of the last male rulers of BaLobedu, King Mokodo Mohale of the Royal House of Mohale of Bakwebo, as BaLobedu was then known. This tribe is
478:
migrants consisted of the
Mokwebo, who are the ancestors of all wild pig clans (ba ana golove/ba bina kolobe) like Mamabolo Ramafalo and Modjadji, the Nengwekhulu, who are the ancestors of all elephant clans (Ditlou); and the Ramabulana, ancestors of the other elephant clans (Ditlou), who are also
426:
dialects and the Lobedu language is so high that speakers of these Venda dialects can effectively communicate with Lobedu speakers without difficulty. A Tshiguvhu (a Venda dialect) speaker can understand a Lobedu speaker easily, and vice versa. Lobedu could easily have been classified as a Venda
482:
The wild pig clans (Dikolobe) are the
Modjadji, Mohale, Ramalepe ,Modika, Mahasha, Mabulana, Mokwebo, Mampeule, Molokwane, Malepe, Sebela, Thobela, and Ramafalo, all of whom are descendants of the ancient Mokwebo (wild pig) royal house. All Chiefs in Bolobedu are of the wild pig clans, with the
430:
Most Lobedu speakers only learn to speak Pedi at school; as such, Pedi is only a second or third language and is foreign to them like
English and Afrikaans. Lobedu is a written language and its dictionary, Thalusamandzwi Ya Khilovedu, was published in 2018 by Kgothatso Seshayi. The first Lobedu
483:
exception of the chiefs of
Taulome, Malatji, and Rakgoale (Mogoboya), who are Dinoko (porcupines). The elephant clan is Rabothata, Selowa (Khelowa/Tshilowa/Shilowa), Shai, Matlou (Ma₫ou), Mabulana, and Maenetja; these are the descendants of the ancient royal house of Nengwekhulu.
543:
Balobedu do traditional dances called khekhapa for women and dinaka for men.Sekgapa and Dinaka are traditional dances of Bapedi-speaking people covering such areas as GaSekhukhune, GaDikgale, GaMaake, GaSekororo, and
Bolobedu.
572:
The Lobedu have female rulers known as "Rain Queens". The queen is believed to have the power to make rain. The
Balobedu Kingdom consists of a number of small groups tied together by their queen. On 12 June 2005, Queen
449:
BaLobedu ba Ga-Sekgopo (Balobedu Ba Ha Sekhopo), which are located at Ga-Sekgopo Village. They separated from the main group of Balobedu in the late 1700s, when the first female ruler of Balobedu was crowned.
502:. They have the praise lines Sai/Shai and Dewa, and call themselves the people of Thobela, which is the same as the Lozwi/Kalanga. The rainmaking powers of Queen Modjadji are also synonymous with the
825:
550:
Balobedu have their own way of praising and talking to their God through Dithugula. They sit next to a traditionally designed circle in their homes and start calling the names of their ancestors.
462:
811:
498:
are found in the present-day Western Province of Zambia. They settled alongside the Zambezi River Banks and established it as Musi-oa-tunya (storms that thunder), present day
527:
as a language of the Lozwi, which consequently connects them to their history. Their rainmaking history is tied to that of the Banyai in northern Matabeleland and
819:
876:
446:
BaLobedu ba Ga-Modjadji, which is the main group of BaLobedu and is led by the Royal House of Modjadji, which is the main royal house for the other groups,
427:
dialect or an independent language. For example, Northern Sotho has higher mutual intelligibility with Southern Sotho and Tswana than it does with Lobedu.
303:
dialect. Their area is called Bolobedu. The name "balobedu" means "the mineral miners," lobela or go loba, - to mine. Their ancestors were part of
762:
Krige, E. Jensen, and J. D. Krige The Realm of a Rain-Queen: A Study of the Pattern of Lovedu Society London: Oxford University Press, 1943.
577:
died, leaving no clear successor acceptable to all members of the Queen's Council. The late queen's brother has served as regent since then.
580:
The area of Balobedu consists of around 150 villages, and every village has a male or female ruler who represents Modjadji, the Rain Queen.
886:
327:
335:
323:
108:
331:
854:
46:
42:
89:
474:
to their present location in South Africa. The central Queendom village is Khethakoni, in the district of Balobedu. These
61:
192:
419:
68:
705:
681:
749:
35:
75:
558:
453:
located around Ga-Mamaila and Sekhosese townships, in an area known as Boroka, which means north in Khelovedu.
881:
415:
172:
547:
Balobedu have a male initiation ceremony called Moroto. The female initiation ceremony is called Dikhopa.
57:
304:
322:
It is estimated that there are around 1 million BaLobedu in South Africa. Their population is found in
607:
204:
775:
671:
614:
487:
378:
347:
528:
475:
850:
721:
718:, born Teanet Peta XiTsonga, is a disco musician born and raised in Thapane Village, Bolobedu.
621:
338:(20 000 or 6.4% based on the 2011 census), and smaller villages in Limpopo. Some are found in
730:, South African politician and leader of the Communist Party, is an ally of the ruling party.
494:. As they were migrating southward, another splinter went South-East. The Northern Lozwi, or
491:
466:
Clay vessels in a Lobedu village, 1975, by which time they were only used for ritual purposes
779:
677:
588:
512:
508:
308:
168:
142:
82:
709:
642:
635:
628:
574:
296:
176:
377:
Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the
687:
665:
661:
524:
516:
503:
499:
423:
300:
870:
727:
701:
691:
224:
532:
520:
312:
307:
early civilization. They have their own kingdom, the Balobedu Kingdom, within the
220:
212:
188:
783:
804:
743:
715:
695:
593:
495:
216:
208:
24:
737:
567:
316:
733:
363:
471:
343:
339:
146:
531:
in southern Matabeleland, and there are two areas called Njelele in
752:, a township business advocate and founder of Tzaneen Fashion Week.
724:, South African politician and former premier of Gauteng province,
461:
414:
are equally valid) and is sometimes considered a dialect of the
778:. South African Journal of African Languages. p. 179-189.
712:
and University of Pretoria FC defender; born in Ga-Abel village
357:
18:
587:
The Rain Queen was referenced in literature as the basis for
470:
The Balobedu originally migrated south from present day
263:
255:
247:
239:
234:
198:
182:
152:
136:
129:
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
486:The BaLobedu are more closely related to the
326:(171 011 or 80.4% based on the 2011 census),
8:
124:
330:(200 000 or 46% based on the 2011 census),
422:. Mutual intelligibility between certain
342:province as labor migrants, especially in
334:(70 000 or 47% based on the 2011 census),
123:
849:. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan UK.
698:defender; born in GaRamotshinyadi Village
668:defender; born in GaRamotshinyadi Village
439:There are four sub-groups of the Lobedu:
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
557:
837:
776:"Is Khelobedu a language or a dialect?"
443:BaLobedu ba Ga-Thobela, ba Ga-Ramalepe
418:and is grammatically similar to other
231:
651:Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII (2024–)
7:
877:Sotho-Tswana peoples in South Africa
137:Regions with significant populations
47:adding citations to reliable sources
648:Prince Regent Mpapatla (2005-2022)
328:Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality
14:
847:Rider Haggard: His life and works
336:Greater Giyani Local Municipality
324:Greater Letaba Local Municipality
362:
332:Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality
23:
826:The Lobedu: A North Sotho Tribe
34:needs additional citations for
816:, South African History Online
1:
784:10.1080/02572117.2022.2094049
16:Southern African ethnic group
193:African traditional religion
398:Their language is known as
903:
887:Monarchies of South Africa
820:"The Balobedu of Modjadji"
746:, Ska Bora Moreki Hitmaker
706:Mpumalanga Black Aces F.C.
601:List of rulers of Balobedu
565:
299:ethnic group that speak a
175:, and other South African
315:with a female ruler, the
203:
187:
157:
141:
622:Khesethoane Modjadji III
562:Queen Makobo Modjadji VI
511:, Nambya (a dialect of
416:Northern Sotho language
375:about language infobox.
615:Masalanabo Modjadji II
608:Maselekwane Modjadji I
563:
523:, Shankwe, Nyubi, and
467:
420:Sotho–Tswana languages
373:is missing information
561:
465:
199:Related ethnic groups
750:Thabang 'Lij' Mabale
305:the great Mapungubwe
205:Sotho-Tswana peoples
43:improve this article
672:Candy Tsa Mandebele
317:Rain Queen Modjadji
126:
643:Makobo Modjadji VI
629:Makoma Modjadji IV
564:
554:Traditional rulers
468:
284:also known as the
845:Cohen, C (1968).
722:Mathole Motshekga
682:Cape Town City FC
636:Mokope Modjadji V
396:
395:
271:
270:
230:
229:
119:
118:
111:
93:
894:
861:
860:
842:
807:, GovernPub.com.
794:
792:
790:
678:Lebogang Manyama
589:H. Rider Haggard
391:
388:
382:
366:
358:
309:Limpopo Province
297:southern African
232:
127:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
902:
901:
897:
896:
895:
893:
892:
891:
867:
866:
865:
864:
857:
844:
843:
839:
834:
810:Seleti, Yonah.
801:
788:
786:
774:(16 Jul 2022).
765:
759:
757:Further reading
710:Moroka Swallows
658:
603:
575:Makobo Modjadji
570:
556:
541:
460:
437:
402:(used here but
392:
386:
383:
376:
367:
356:
177:Bantu Languages
167:
165:Second language
163:
161:
132:
125:BaLobedu people
122:
115:
104:
98:
95:
58:"Lobedu people"
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
900:
898:
890:
889:
884:
882:Northern Sotho
879:
869:
868:
863:
862:
855:
836:
835:
833:
830:
829:
828:
823:
817:
813:Turning Points
808:
800:
799:External links
797:
796:
795:
763:
758:
755:
754:
753:
747:
741:
731:
725:
719:
713:
699:
688:Andrew Rabutla
685:
675:
669:
666:Platinum Stars
662:Stanley Kgatla
657:
656:Notable people
654:
653:
652:
649:
646:
639:
632:
625:
618:
611:
602:
599:
566:Main article:
555:
552:
540:
537:
507:together with
504:Njelele Shrine
500:Victoria falls
459:
456:
455:
454:
450:
447:
444:
436:
433:
394:
393:
370:
368:
361:
355:
352:
301:Northern Sotho
269:
268:
265:
261:
260:
257:
253:
252:
249:
245:
244:
241:
237:
236:
228:
227:
201:
200:
196:
195:
185:
184:
180:
179:
159:First language
155:
154:
150:
149:
139:
138:
134:
133:
130:
120:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
899:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
874:
872:
858:
852:
848:
841:
838:
831:
827:
824:
821:
818:
815:
814:
809:
806:
803:
802:
798:
785:
781:
777:
773:
769:
766:Tebogo Jacob
764:
761:
760:
756:
751:
748:
745:
742:
739:
735:
732:
729:
728:Solly Mapaila
726:
723:
720:
717:
714:
711:
707:
703:
702:Tebogo Monyai
700:
697:
693:
692:Bafana Bafana
689:
686:
683:
679:
676:
673:
670:
667:
663:
660:
659:
655:
650:
647:
644:
640:
637:
633:
630:
626:
623:
619:
616:
612:
609:
605:
604:
600:
598:
596:
595:
590:
585:
581:
578:
576:
569:
560:
553:
551:
548:
545:
538:
536:
534:
530:
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
488:Lozwi Kingdom
484:
480:
477:
473:
464:
457:
451:
448:
445:
442:
441:
440:
434:
432:
428:
425:
421:
417:
413:
409:
405:
401:
390:
387:December 2022
380:
374:
371:This article
369:
365:
360:
359:
353:
351:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
320:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
291:
287:
283:
280:
276:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
233:
226:
225:Tswana people
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
197:
194:
190:
186:
181:
178:
174:
170:
166:
160:
156:
151:
148:
144:
140:
135:
128:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
846:
840:
812:
787:. Retrieved
771:
767:
592:
586:
582:
579:
571:
549:
546:
542:
533:Matabeleland
485:
481:
469:
438:
429:
411:
407:
403:
399:
397:
384:
372:
321:
313:South Africa
292:
289:
285:
281:
278:
274:
272:
221:Venda people
213:Sotho people
189:Christianity
164:
158:
121:Ethnic group
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
789:27 February
744:King Monada
740:song artist
716:Peta Teanet
696:Jomo Cosmos
645:(2003-2005)
638:(1981-2001)
631:(1959–1988)
624:(1895–1959)
617:(1854–1894)
610:(1800–1854)
490:started by
350:townships.
217:Pedi people
209:Lozi people
871:Categories
856:1349006025
832:References
738:Jerusalema
684:midfielder
674:, musician
568:Rain Queen
539:Traditions
69:newspapers
734:Master KG
704:, former
690:, former
664:, former
591:'s novel
529:BakaLanga
476:BakaLanga
435:Subgroups
408:KhiLovedu
404:Khelobedu
379:talk page
348:Alexandra
290:Bathobolo
259:Khelobedu
162:Khelobedu
153:Languages
772:Mandende
770:, Peter
472:Zimbabwe
354:Language
279:Balobedu
267:Bolobedu
256:Language
251:Balobedu
243:Molobedu
183:Religion
131:Balobedu
99:May 2024
805:"Bantu"
768:Rakgogo
525:Karanga
513:Kalanga
509:Kalanga
492:Dlembeu
458:Origins
344:Tembisa
340:Gauteng
286:BaLozwi
264:Country
169:English
147:Tzaneen
143:Limpopo
83:scholar
853:
736:, the
641:Queen
634:Queen
627:Queen
620:Queen
613:Queen
606:Queen
412:Lovedu
400:Lobedu
295:are a
275:Lobedu
248:People
240:Person
235:Lobedu
173:Sepedi
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
521:Lemba
517:Venda
424:Venda
410:, or
90:JSTOR
76:books
851:ISBN
791:2024
694:and
496:Lozi
346:and
273:The
62:news
780:doi
594:She
515:),
311:of
288:or
277:or
45:by
873::
708:,
680:,
597:.
535:.
519:,
406:,
319:.
223:•
219:•
215:•
211:•
207:•
191:,
171:,
145:,
859:.
822:.
793:.
782::
389:)
385:(
381:.
293:)
282:(
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
