Lobedu people facts for kids

The Balobedu (say: Bah-loh-BEH-doo) are a special group of people in South Africa. They are also called the Lobedu. Their name "Balobedu" means "the mineral miners." This is because their ancestors were skilled at mining. They were part of the ancient Mapungubwe civilization.

The Balobedu have their own kingdom, called the Balobedu Kingdom. It is located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. What makes their kingdom very unique is that it is led by a female ruler, known as the Rain Queen Modjadji.

About 1 million Balobedu people live in South Africa. Most of them live in the Limpopo Province. You can find many Balobedu in places like Greater Letaba, Greater Tzaneen, and Ba-Phalaborwa. Some also live in Gauteng province, especially in cities like Tembisa and Alexandra.

Language of the Balobedu

The language spoken by the Balobedu is called Khelobedu (say: Keh-loh-BEH-doo) or KhiLovedu. It is similar in its grammar to other Sotho–Tswana languages.

Khelobedu is very similar to some dialects of the TshiVenda language. Speakers of these Venda dialects can easily understand Khelobedu speakers. This means they can talk to each other without much trouble. For example, a TshiGuvhu speaker can understand Khelobedu easily.

Most Khelobedu speakers learn Sepedi at school. This means Sepedi is often their second or third language. It is like learning English or Afrikaans for them. Khelobedu is also a written language. The first Khelobedu dictionary was published in 2018. The first novel in Khelobedu, called LEKHEKHESHA, also came out in 2018. A book of Khelobedu poems was published in 2020. As of 2021, a translation of the Christian Bible into Khelobedu is being made.

Groups of Balobedu People

There are three main groups of the Lobedu people. Each group has its own history:

• Balobedu ba Ga-Modjadji: This is the main group of Balobedu. They are led by the Royal House of Modjadji. This royal house is the most important for all the Lobedu groups.
• Balobedu ba Ga-Sekgopo: This group lives in Ga-Sekgopo Village. They separated from the main Balobedu group in the late 1700s. This happened when the first female ruler of the Balobedu was crowned.
• Balobedu ba Ga-Mamaila: This group was started by Prince Mmamaila. He was an older brother of Modjadji I. He did not want to be ruled by a woman. He was one of the oldest sons of the last male ruler of the Balobedu. This group lives around Ga-Mamaila and Sekhosese township. This area is known as Boroka, which means "north" in Khelobedu.

Where the Balobedu Came From

The Balobedu people originally moved south from what is now Zimbabwe. They settled in their current home in South Africa. Their main tribal village is Khethakoni.

The first people to migrate were the Mokwebo, Nengwekhulu, and Ramabulana groups. All Balobedu people today are descended from these three groups. Other people joined them later, including refugees and local groups.

Many Balobedu people have animal totems. These are special animals that represent their family or clan. The most common totems are the wild pig (Goloe/Kolobe) and the elephant (Dou/Tlou).

The wild pig clans include the Modjadji, Mohale, and Ramafalo families. Most chiefs in Bolobedu belong to the wild pig clans. The elephant clans include the Rabothata and Matlou families.

The Balobedu are closely connected to the Lozwi Kingdom. This kingdom was started by Dlembeu. As the Balobedu moved south, another group went southeast. These Northern Lozi people settled near the Zambezi River in Zambia.

The Rain Queen Modjadji's power to make rain is similar to traditions at the Njelele Shrine in Zimbabwe. This shows how their histories are linked. Linguists have also found that Lobedu is related to languages like Kalanga and Venda. These connections further link the Balobedu to the history of the Lozwi people.

Balobedu Traditions

The Balobedu have many rich traditions. They enjoy traditional dances.

• Women perform a dance called khekhapa.
• Men perform a dance called dinaka.

These dances are also common among some Bapedi-speaking people in nearby areas.

The Balobedu also have special ceremonies for young people.

• Boys go through a male initiation ceremony called Moroto.
• Girls go through a female initiation ceremony called Dikhopa.

They also have a unique way of praising and speaking to their God. This is done through a practice called Dithugula. During Dithugula, they sit near a special circle in their homes. They then call out the names of their ancestors.

Traditional Rulers: The Rain Queens

Queen Makobo Modjadji VI

The Lobedu people are famous for having female rulers. These rulers are known as the "Rain Queens." People believe the queen has special powers to make rain. The Balobedu Kingdom is made up of many small groups. All these groups are connected by their loyalty to the Rain Queen.

On June 12, 2005, Queen Makobo Modjadji passed away. After her death, it was not clear who would become the next queen. The late queen's brother served as a temporary ruler for some time.

The Balobedu area has about 150 villages. Each village has a male or female leader. These leaders represent the Rain Queen.

Historically, the Rain Queen was known as a very powerful magician. People believed she could bring rain to her friends and drought to her enemies. Visitors to the area would always bring her gifts. These gifts included cattle and even their daughters. The daughters would become wives to the queen. However, their role was more like ladies-in-waiting. This was done to please the queen so she would bring rain to their regions.

The name Lobedu might come from this practice. It refers to the daughters or sisters who were given to the queen. The Rain Queen made her influence stronger through her wives. This is because her wives created political links to other families or villages.

The Rain Queen was even mentioned in books. She was the inspiration for H. Rider Haggard's famous novel She.

List of Balobedu Rulers

Here is a list of the Rain Queens and other rulers of the Balobedu:

• Queen Maselekwane Modjadji I (1800-1854)
• Queen Masalanabo Modjadji II (1854-1894)
• Queen Khesethoane Modjadji III (1895-1959)
• Queen Makoma Modjadji IV (1959-1980)
• Queen Mokope Modjadji V (1981-2001)
• Queen Makobo Modjadji VI (2003-2005)
• Prince Regent Mpapada Modjadji (2007-2021)
• King in waiting Lekukela Modjadji (2021)

Notable Balobedu People

Many talented people come from the Balobedu community. Here are a few:

• Stanley Kgatla: A former football defender for Platinum Stars. He was born in GaRamotshinyadi Village.
• Candy Tsa Mandebele: A well-known musician.
• Lebogang Manyama: A midfielder for Cape Town City FC.
• Andrew Rabutla: A former defender for the Bafana Bafana team and Jomo Cosmos. He was born in GaRamotshinyadi Village.
• Tebogo Monyai: A former football defender for teams like Black Aces and Moroka Swallows. He was born in Ga-Abel village.
• Makoma Makhuruptja: From Ga-Ramotshinyadi Village.
• Peta Teanet: A XiTsonga Disco musician. He was born and grew up in Thapane Village in Bolobedu.
• Forster Teanet: Another XiTsonga Disco musician. He was also born and raised in Thapane Village in Bolobedu.