There are many things that you do not know about Tsonga or Shangaan people, here is their history. I saw it fitting to also publish the history of Tsonga people in order to also help in promoting our history and diverse culture as South Africans.
Introduction
The Tsonga are a diverse people, generally including the Shangaan, Thonga, Tonga, and several smaller ethnic groups. Together they numbered about 1.5 million people in South Africa in the mid-1990s, with some 4.5 million individuals in southern Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Historical Background
The first Tsonga-speakers to enter the former Transvaal probably did so during the 18th Century. They were essentially traders who followed rivers inland, where they bartered cloth and beads for ivory, copper and salt.
The Shangaan tribe came into being when King Shaka of the Zulu, sent Soshangane (Manukosi) to conquer the Tsonga people in the area of present-day southern Mozambique, during the Mfecane upheaval of the 19th Century. Soshangane found a fertile place inhabited by scattered communities of peace-loving people, and he decided to make it his home rather than return to Shaka.
The Shangaan were a mixture of Nguni (a language group which includes Swazi, Zulu and Xhosa), and Tsonga speakers (Ronga, Ndzawu, Shona, Chopi tribes), which Soshangane conquered and subjugated.
Soshangane insisted that Nguni customs be adopted, and that the Tsonga learn the Zulu language. Young Tsonga men were assigned to the army as 'mabulandlela' (those who open the road). Soshangane also imposed Shaka's military system of dominion and taught the people the Zulu ways of fighting.
Soshangane’s army overran the Portuguese settlements in Mozambique, at Delagoa Bay, Inhambane and Sena, and during the next few years, he established the Nguni kingdom of Kwa Gaza, which he named after his grandfather, Gaza.
The Gaza Kingdom comprised parts of what are now southeastern Zimbabwe, as well as extending from the Save River down to the southern part of Mozambique, covering parts of the current provinces of Sofala, Manica, Inhambane, Gaza and Maputo, and neighbouring parts of South Africa.
Another army, under the command of Dingane and Mhlangana, was sent by Shaka to deal with Soshangane, but the army suffered great hardship because of hunger and malaria, and Soshangane had no difficulty, towards the end of 1828, in driving them off.
During the whole of this turbulent period, from 1830 onwards, groups of Tsonga speakers moved southwards and defeated smaller groups living in northern Natal; others moved westwards into the Transvaal, where they settled in an arc stretching from the Soutpansberg in the north, to Nelspruit and Barberton areas in the southeast, with isolated groups reaching as far westwards as Rustenburg.
After the death of Soshangane in 1856, his sons fought over the chieftainship. Soshangane had left the throne to Mzila, but Mawewe felt that he should be chief. Mawewe attacked Mzila and his followers, causing them to leave Mozambique and flee to the Soutpansberg Mountains in the Transvaal.
Mzila stayed with João Albasini at Luonde. Albasini, who had been appointed by the Portuguese Vice-Consul to the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) in 1858, employed many of the Tsonga men as 'indhuna' (headman), and defenders of his fort-like home at the foot of the Piesangkop near the modern town of Makhado (formerly known as Louis Trichardt).
Aided by Albasini and traders at Lourenço Marques, Mzila gained the upper hand, returning and defeating Mawewe in 1862. Mawewe fled to Swaziland, where he sought the help of King Mswati I, finally settling in northern Swaziland on the border with Gazaland. Ngungunyane, who succeeded Mzila, was defeated by the Portuguese in 1895, which caused the collapse of the Gaza kingdom.
The Tsonga came to João Albasini for protection and they considered Jiwawa (the Tsonga version of his name) as their chief. Between 1864 and 1867, the Tsonga were involved in the battles between Paul Kruger's commandos and the Venda chief Makhato. For their services they were rewarded some land near the town of Schoemansdal.
This area became known as the 'Knobneusen Location', because of the habit the Tsonga had acquired of tattooing the nose. Later the Shangaan people fled to the Lowveld after the Portuguese conquered them. The descendants of both Tsonga and Shangaan lived together in the area and a great deal of interaction occurred between the two groups.
The Tsonga-Shangaan homeland, Gazankulu, was carved out of northern Transvaal Province during the 1960s and was granted self-governing status in 1973. The homeland economy depended largely on gold and on a small manufacturing sector.
Only an estimated 500,000 people - less than half the Tsonga-Shangaan population of South Africa - ever lived there. Many others joined the throngs of township residents around urban centres, especially Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Traditionally, each Tsonga family had its own "village" composed of a few houses and a kraal, surrounded by the fields and grazing areas. From 1964, the government started resettling the people in rural villages of 200 to 400 families.
These resettlements brought tremendous changes in the life of the people, some for the better (roads, schools, water, etc), some for the worse (scattering of the enlarged family, lack of privacy, problems with cattle, distance form the fields, and so forth).
Source: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_pedi.html
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Monday, October 25, 2010
Pedi People
Here is the Pedi people history as it has been written:
Introduction
Estimated at 7 million, these Sotho speakers are the second largest African language group in South Africa. Three million Sotho and other closely related groups live outside of South Africa, the majority of who are in Lesotho.
The Sotho can be subdivided into three groups. The first group is the Northern Sotho also called Pedi and Bapedi.
The Pedi society arose out of a confederation of small chiefdoms that had been established sometime before the 17th century in what later became the Northern Transvaal (Northern Province). Defeated early in the 19th century by the armies of Mzilikazi, they revived under the leadership of Sekwati. Thereafter, they repeatedly clashed with the Voortrekkers during the later half of the 19th century.
Historical Background
It appears that the Sotho people migrated southward from the Great Lakes in Central Africa about 5 centuries ago in successive waves and the last group, namely, the Hurutse, settled in the Western Transvaal towards the beginning of the 16th century.
It is from this group that the Pedi eventually originated through the Bakgatla offshoot that takes its name from the chief Mokgatla. Very little is known of the history of the Bakgatla people for the first few generations after their founder Mokgatla had withdrawn from the originating group, but it is known that, arising from a further split at a later date, a chief by the name of Tabane left with his followers and settled at what is now known as Schilpadfontein in the vicinity of Pretoria.
It is not known how long they lived there, but Tabane appears to have been succeeded by his son Motsha, whose son and heir Diale (or Liale) had a number of wives, the youngest of whom was his favourite, Mathobele. The other wives were jealous of her favoured position and when she was expecting her first child they would tease and mock her; saying that her child cried whilst still in her womb.
Mathobele gave birth to a healthy boy, and named him 'Lellelateng' meaning 'it cries inside', but the unusual event was attributed to witchcraft and the Kgatla council, wanted to kill the mother and child. Diale interceded for them and they were both saved.
However, as the baby grew older it became apparent that he would not be accepted by the tribe, and it seems that he and his family, together with a large following, broke away or were driven away and trekked to the east with their flocks and herds to start the Pedi nation.
They crossed the Olifants River below its junction with the Elands River and passed through the country north of Middelburg. They crossed the Lulu Mountains and eventually settled near Steelpoort in approximately 1650. From there, they gained control of trade routes running from the interior to the Mozambique coast, and started their reign over other Sotho speakers in the area.
By 1800 Thulare was the leader of the Pedi Empire in the northeastern Transvaal. His capital Manganeng lay on the Tubatse / Steelpoort River. The Pedi consisted of several tribes, who enjoyed great wealth under Thulare’s rule and he is still honoured as a great chief and leader to this day.
His death in 1824 – during a solar eclipse was followed by 2 years of disputes over his successor. There is some uncertainty as to Thulare's successor as about 1826, about 2 years after his death, the whole Pedi Empire was crushed and disrupted by Mzilikazi’s reign of terror throughout the Transvaal.
However, in the chaos that followed Sekwati, the senior living son of Thulare, gathered what he could of the Pedi and fled to the north where he took refuge with Ramapulana to whom the Pedi were related some 5 generations before.
He left behind him a country devastated by the Matabele who had completely stripped the land of all stock and grain. The remaining people of the old Pedi Empire had fled into the mountains and caves from where they would venture into the night to find whatever food they could.
Many of the people became cannibals and eventually, after an absence of about 4 years, Sekwati returned and reconstructed the dominance of the Pedi and rid their land of the cannibals. He established himself at Phiring near Pokwani on a rocky hill, which is known today as Magali's Location.
Although the Pedi originated from the Bakgatla and were of Sotho origin, their inter-marriage with other tribes by defeating them, ended up in the application of many other words in the Pedi language and customs which are not of Sotho origin, but which are akin to the Venda and Lovedu and the Karanga from Zimbabwe.
Sekwati's successor, Sekhukhune, initially consolidated the power of the Pedi, but years of drought and a series of attacks from the South African Republic and the Swazi chiefdom weakened the Pedi during the 1870s.
However, in 1845, the Voortrekkers, under Hendrik Potgieter, established a settlement at Ohrigstad in terms of a treaty with the Pedi. But this did not stop the Pedi from stealing their cattle, and soon there were problems with grazing rights and labour.
This situation deteriorated for many years until in 1876 the Voortrekkers waged war on the Pedi, under Sekhukhune. The Voortrekkers main objective was to capture the assets of the Pedi, however, their plans were thwarted by what could only be described as a 'trench system'. Thus the Voortrekkers had to lay siege and try to starve the Pedi into submission.
They harassed the Pedi in every way possible and impeded their crop cultivation and the grazing of their cattle. The Voortrekkers demanded 2 000 head of cattle as repayment, but Sekhukhune refused to pay. They had hoped for a quick peace, but this situation continued until the British annexed the Transvaal in April 1877.
In early 1878 the war was resumed - this time by the British under Theophilus Shepstone, who saw Sekhukhune as a hindrance to British Imperialist amitions in southern Africa. The war was divided into 3 phases.
The first phase was initiated by an attack on Sekhukhune's sister, Lekgolane, who, after leaving, rejoined her brother fearing he would attack her. But the British underestimated the Pedi resistance, which ended up in a standoff.
The second phase took place in August 1879 after the end of the Anglo-Zulu War when the British attacked Sekhukhune with a force of 139 infantry and 338 mounted men - all regular army. The Pedi ambushed them and, using the rugged mountainous terrain to their advantage, frustrated the British advance so much that they were forced to retreat to Fort Burgers.
The third and final phase took place after the Zulu War in November 1879 when 3 500 British regular troops and 3 000 Transvaal levies combined forces with 8 000 Swazi warriors to remove Sekhukhune from his kraal. While the British and the Transvalers made a frontal attack, the Swazi made a rear attack by swarming over the Pedi’s entrenched positions on the mountain.
In a battle lasting over 5 hours the Pedi were defeated. However, a number of them were able to escape and hide in the holes of a small, honeycombed hill, the Ntswaneng, from where they had to be smoked out.
When night fell, the few survivors escaped under a cover of mist and darkness. Sekhukhune was captured and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, but when the British withdrew from the Transvaal after the first Anglo-Boer War, he was released.
In that same year, the Transvaal government seized much of the Pedi land and forced many to work as labourers on white-owned farms.
Social and Cultural Life
The Pedi lived in huts, which were round in shape and known as rondawels. Rondawels were made out of clay mixed with “boloko” (cow dung) in order to strengthen it. The roofing of the rondawels was made from a particular grass called “loala” which was strong and long, and they would pack the grass in bangles and roof the houses.
Traditional Pedi food consisted of; thophi (a meal which is made from maize mixed with a fruit called lerotse), morogo wa dikgopana (spinach cooked and given a round shape and left to dry up in the sun). Bogobe ba mabele, samp and maswi (milk), masonja (mopane worms) is also eaten as well as vegetables and fruits like milo and machilo.
In Pedi culture the chief would wear clothes made out of wild animal skin such as Leopard and Lion to show leadership and he was from the ruling house (moshate).
Ordinary people wore clothes made out of domestic animal skin such as goats, sheep and cows. However, the Pedi have changed their mode of dressing because of the present trends in fashion.
There are many spoken dialects of Sepedi but only one written language. The Pedi are known for storytelling. The stories are usually told in the evenings but nowadays radio and TV have replaced them.
War Tactics:
It could hardly be said that the Pedi were a warlike tribe, and it is difficult to determine whether they ever had the courage to fight a battle with a rival tribe. Pedi custom was to send men to the opposing tribe, for doctoring or of selling bead work but, in truth, they were spies who reported upon an opportunity for waging attack on the kraal.
The chief would then summon all the men of his tribe to assemble with their weapons, which mainly consisted of assegais and battle-axes. The men were aware of the need to bring food supplies for the duration of the journey.
It did not take long to for the men to assemble, and the whole of the Pedi army would set off in the opposite direction to their destination which was kept secret from the main following until the second night, when suddenly the course would be changed and they would rush on to the targeted kraal.
The attack was made stealthily and no prisoners were taken, except the women and children. In most cases the attacks were effective and a great deal of bloodshed resulted. Unlike the Zulus and the Matabele, to whom the art of war and military strategy was a science and military discipline was a way of life; the military organization of the Pedi was very primitive.
Each man in a Pedi tribe provided for himself and followed his own ideas as to what he should do. Tactics were formulated by the chief in council, and the execution of the tactics was assigned to the chief's brother, who took on the task of active command over the tribesmen.
All the cattle looted were handed to the man in command, who made sure that a third was slaughtered, a third was sent to the chief's kraal and the remaining third to be handed back to the men who had looted the opposing tribe. Women and children were regarded as loot and divided among the followers of the chief.
Belief System
The Pedi believe in ancestors and gods, they believe that through ancestors they can talk to gods about their needs. They also believe that when the time is right young men and women should go to initiation school.
They also reckoned that anyone who violates how things are done concerning culture and their tradition is to be taken away from the village.
Pedi Rituals:
When it comes to marriage the elders would choose the spouse for their son or daughter. If the parents knew their child liked someone in the village they would go to that family and introduce themselves, to discuss the future nuptials. And thereafter arrangements would be made on how the two people would meet.
A decision would then be made by the girl’s parents as to how many cows or money will be paid as Bogadi, then the 2 may be together. If a man died, an unmarried younger brother would marry the widow, in order to support the family and take care of the children.
The mother usually gave birth at her family home and after she returned to her husband’s home, her family would contribute meat and beer for the subsequent feast. As a tribute to the status of the new mother, her husband would build her a homestead. When a baby was born to the chief the villagers have to go to the royal house (moshate), give presents to the child, and wish the baby well.
After a few days there would be an announcement from the chief’s servants that a ceremonial party would be held whereby the villagers would sing and rejoice for the newborn baby with food and drink that is traditionally prepared.
When a person dies they bury him / her after 7 days so that they could have enough time to arrange everything including informing the friends, relatives and all the people who need to know about the death of that particular person. This was in order to give them time to be able to attend to the funeral.
The day before the person is going to be buried they will cover him / her with cow skin. Everybody will then get a chance to see that person for the last time (go tlhoboga), and the following day he / she will be buried.
Music and Dance:
Songs were also part of Pedi culture. During hard labour the Pedi would sing together to finish the job quickly. One particular song was about killing a Lion to become a man.
The act of killing a Lion is very unusual and no longer practised. Actually it was so unusual that if a boy managed, he would get high status and the ultimate prize – to marry the chief’s daughter.
The Pedi today
In the 1950s a Pedi migrant workers' organisation (Sebatakgomo) tried to cast out chiefs, headmen and others who accepted Bantu authorities and rural betterment programmes. In 1958 a major protest took place in Sekhukhuneland in which those who sought to defend the chieftainship were challenged by the new forces.
The Northern Sotho homeland of Lebowa was proclaimed a 'self-governing' territory in 1972, with a population of almost 2 million. Economic problems plagued the poverty-stricken homeland, however, and the people were not unified.
Lebowa's chief minister, Cedric Phatudi, struggled to maintain control over the increasingly disgruntled homeland population during the early 1980s, his death in 1985 opened new factional splits and occasioned calls for a new homeland government.
Homeland politics were complicated by the demands of several ethnic minorities within Lebowa to have their land transferred to the jurisdiction of another homeland. At the same time, government efforts to consolidate homeland territory forced the transfer of several small regions of land into Lebowa. Conflict broke out again in 1986 in what had by then become the Bantustan of Lebowa.
Source: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_pedi.html
If you have something to say, Clik comment button to add you view.
Introduction
Estimated at 7 million, these Sotho speakers are the second largest African language group in South Africa. Three million Sotho and other closely related groups live outside of South Africa, the majority of who are in Lesotho.
The Sotho can be subdivided into three groups. The first group is the Northern Sotho also called Pedi and Bapedi.
The Pedi society arose out of a confederation of small chiefdoms that had been established sometime before the 17th century in what later became the Northern Transvaal (Northern Province). Defeated early in the 19th century by the armies of Mzilikazi, they revived under the leadership of Sekwati. Thereafter, they repeatedly clashed with the Voortrekkers during the later half of the 19th century.
Historical Background
It appears that the Sotho people migrated southward from the Great Lakes in Central Africa about 5 centuries ago in successive waves and the last group, namely, the Hurutse, settled in the Western Transvaal towards the beginning of the 16th century.
It is from this group that the Pedi eventually originated through the Bakgatla offshoot that takes its name from the chief Mokgatla. Very little is known of the history of the Bakgatla people for the first few generations after their founder Mokgatla had withdrawn from the originating group, but it is known that, arising from a further split at a later date, a chief by the name of Tabane left with his followers and settled at what is now known as Schilpadfontein in the vicinity of Pretoria.
It is not known how long they lived there, but Tabane appears to have been succeeded by his son Motsha, whose son and heir Diale (or Liale) had a number of wives, the youngest of whom was his favourite, Mathobele. The other wives were jealous of her favoured position and when she was expecting her first child they would tease and mock her; saying that her child cried whilst still in her womb.
Mathobele gave birth to a healthy boy, and named him 'Lellelateng' meaning 'it cries inside', but the unusual event was attributed to witchcraft and the Kgatla council, wanted to kill the mother and child. Diale interceded for them and they were both saved.
However, as the baby grew older it became apparent that he would not be accepted by the tribe, and it seems that he and his family, together with a large following, broke away or were driven away and trekked to the east with their flocks and herds to start the Pedi nation.
They crossed the Olifants River below its junction with the Elands River and passed through the country north of Middelburg. They crossed the Lulu Mountains and eventually settled near Steelpoort in approximately 1650. From there, they gained control of trade routes running from the interior to the Mozambique coast, and started their reign over other Sotho speakers in the area.
By 1800 Thulare was the leader of the Pedi Empire in the northeastern Transvaal. His capital Manganeng lay on the Tubatse / Steelpoort River. The Pedi consisted of several tribes, who enjoyed great wealth under Thulare’s rule and he is still honoured as a great chief and leader to this day.
His death in 1824 – during a solar eclipse was followed by 2 years of disputes over his successor. There is some uncertainty as to Thulare's successor as about 1826, about 2 years after his death, the whole Pedi Empire was crushed and disrupted by Mzilikazi’s reign of terror throughout the Transvaal.
However, in the chaos that followed Sekwati, the senior living son of Thulare, gathered what he could of the Pedi and fled to the north where he took refuge with Ramapulana to whom the Pedi were related some 5 generations before.
He left behind him a country devastated by the Matabele who had completely stripped the land of all stock and grain. The remaining people of the old Pedi Empire had fled into the mountains and caves from where they would venture into the night to find whatever food they could.
Many of the people became cannibals and eventually, after an absence of about 4 years, Sekwati returned and reconstructed the dominance of the Pedi and rid their land of the cannibals. He established himself at Phiring near Pokwani on a rocky hill, which is known today as Magali's Location.
Although the Pedi originated from the Bakgatla and were of Sotho origin, their inter-marriage with other tribes by defeating them, ended up in the application of many other words in the Pedi language and customs which are not of Sotho origin, but which are akin to the Venda and Lovedu and the Karanga from Zimbabwe.
Sekwati's successor, Sekhukhune, initially consolidated the power of the Pedi, but years of drought and a series of attacks from the South African Republic and the Swazi chiefdom weakened the Pedi during the 1870s.
However, in 1845, the Voortrekkers, under Hendrik Potgieter, established a settlement at Ohrigstad in terms of a treaty with the Pedi. But this did not stop the Pedi from stealing their cattle, and soon there were problems with grazing rights and labour.
This situation deteriorated for many years until in 1876 the Voortrekkers waged war on the Pedi, under Sekhukhune. The Voortrekkers main objective was to capture the assets of the Pedi, however, their plans were thwarted by what could only be described as a 'trench system'. Thus the Voortrekkers had to lay siege and try to starve the Pedi into submission.
They harassed the Pedi in every way possible and impeded their crop cultivation and the grazing of their cattle. The Voortrekkers demanded 2 000 head of cattle as repayment, but Sekhukhune refused to pay. They had hoped for a quick peace, but this situation continued until the British annexed the Transvaal in April 1877.
In early 1878 the war was resumed - this time by the British under Theophilus Shepstone, who saw Sekhukhune as a hindrance to British Imperialist amitions in southern Africa. The war was divided into 3 phases.
The first phase was initiated by an attack on Sekhukhune's sister, Lekgolane, who, after leaving, rejoined her brother fearing he would attack her. But the British underestimated the Pedi resistance, which ended up in a standoff.
The second phase took place in August 1879 after the end of the Anglo-Zulu War when the British attacked Sekhukhune with a force of 139 infantry and 338 mounted men - all regular army. The Pedi ambushed them and, using the rugged mountainous terrain to their advantage, frustrated the British advance so much that they were forced to retreat to Fort Burgers.
The third and final phase took place after the Zulu War in November 1879 when 3 500 British regular troops and 3 000 Transvaal levies combined forces with 8 000 Swazi warriors to remove Sekhukhune from his kraal. While the British and the Transvalers made a frontal attack, the Swazi made a rear attack by swarming over the Pedi’s entrenched positions on the mountain.
In a battle lasting over 5 hours the Pedi were defeated. However, a number of them were able to escape and hide in the holes of a small, honeycombed hill, the Ntswaneng, from where they had to be smoked out.
When night fell, the few survivors escaped under a cover of mist and darkness. Sekhukhune was captured and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, but when the British withdrew from the Transvaal after the first Anglo-Boer War, he was released.
In that same year, the Transvaal government seized much of the Pedi land and forced many to work as labourers on white-owned farms.
Social and Cultural Life
The Pedi lived in huts, which were round in shape and known as rondawels. Rondawels were made out of clay mixed with “boloko” (cow dung) in order to strengthen it. The roofing of the rondawels was made from a particular grass called “loala” which was strong and long, and they would pack the grass in bangles and roof the houses.
Traditional Pedi food consisted of; thophi (a meal which is made from maize mixed with a fruit called lerotse), morogo wa dikgopana (spinach cooked and given a round shape and left to dry up in the sun). Bogobe ba mabele, samp and maswi (milk), masonja (mopane worms) is also eaten as well as vegetables and fruits like milo and machilo.
In Pedi culture the chief would wear clothes made out of wild animal skin such as Leopard and Lion to show leadership and he was from the ruling house (moshate).
Ordinary people wore clothes made out of domestic animal skin such as goats, sheep and cows. However, the Pedi have changed their mode of dressing because of the present trends in fashion.
There are many spoken dialects of Sepedi but only one written language. The Pedi are known for storytelling. The stories are usually told in the evenings but nowadays radio and TV have replaced them.
War Tactics:
It could hardly be said that the Pedi were a warlike tribe, and it is difficult to determine whether they ever had the courage to fight a battle with a rival tribe. Pedi custom was to send men to the opposing tribe, for doctoring or of selling bead work but, in truth, they were spies who reported upon an opportunity for waging attack on the kraal.
The chief would then summon all the men of his tribe to assemble with their weapons, which mainly consisted of assegais and battle-axes. The men were aware of the need to bring food supplies for the duration of the journey.
It did not take long to for the men to assemble, and the whole of the Pedi army would set off in the opposite direction to their destination which was kept secret from the main following until the second night, when suddenly the course would be changed and they would rush on to the targeted kraal.
The attack was made stealthily and no prisoners were taken, except the women and children. In most cases the attacks were effective and a great deal of bloodshed resulted. Unlike the Zulus and the Matabele, to whom the art of war and military strategy was a science and military discipline was a way of life; the military organization of the Pedi was very primitive.
Each man in a Pedi tribe provided for himself and followed his own ideas as to what he should do. Tactics were formulated by the chief in council, and the execution of the tactics was assigned to the chief's brother, who took on the task of active command over the tribesmen.
All the cattle looted were handed to the man in command, who made sure that a third was slaughtered, a third was sent to the chief's kraal and the remaining third to be handed back to the men who had looted the opposing tribe. Women and children were regarded as loot and divided among the followers of the chief.
Belief System
The Pedi believe in ancestors and gods, they believe that through ancestors they can talk to gods about their needs. They also believe that when the time is right young men and women should go to initiation school.
They also reckoned that anyone who violates how things are done concerning culture and their tradition is to be taken away from the village.
Pedi Rituals:
When it comes to marriage the elders would choose the spouse for their son or daughter. If the parents knew their child liked someone in the village they would go to that family and introduce themselves, to discuss the future nuptials. And thereafter arrangements would be made on how the two people would meet.
A decision would then be made by the girl’s parents as to how many cows or money will be paid as Bogadi, then the 2 may be together. If a man died, an unmarried younger brother would marry the widow, in order to support the family and take care of the children.
The mother usually gave birth at her family home and after she returned to her husband’s home, her family would contribute meat and beer for the subsequent feast. As a tribute to the status of the new mother, her husband would build her a homestead. When a baby was born to the chief the villagers have to go to the royal house (moshate), give presents to the child, and wish the baby well.
After a few days there would be an announcement from the chief’s servants that a ceremonial party would be held whereby the villagers would sing and rejoice for the newborn baby with food and drink that is traditionally prepared.
When a person dies they bury him / her after 7 days so that they could have enough time to arrange everything including informing the friends, relatives and all the people who need to know about the death of that particular person. This was in order to give them time to be able to attend to the funeral.
The day before the person is going to be buried they will cover him / her with cow skin. Everybody will then get a chance to see that person for the last time (go tlhoboga), and the following day he / she will be buried.
Music and Dance:
Songs were also part of Pedi culture. During hard labour the Pedi would sing together to finish the job quickly. One particular song was about killing a Lion to become a man.
The act of killing a Lion is very unusual and no longer practised. Actually it was so unusual that if a boy managed, he would get high status and the ultimate prize – to marry the chief’s daughter.
The Pedi today
In the 1950s a Pedi migrant workers' organisation (Sebatakgomo) tried to cast out chiefs, headmen and others who accepted Bantu authorities and rural betterment programmes. In 1958 a major protest took place in Sekhukhuneland in which those who sought to defend the chieftainship were challenged by the new forces.
The Northern Sotho homeland of Lebowa was proclaimed a 'self-governing' territory in 1972, with a population of almost 2 million. Economic problems plagued the poverty-stricken homeland, however, and the people were not unified.
Lebowa's chief minister, Cedric Phatudi, struggled to maintain control over the increasingly disgruntled homeland population during the early 1980s, his death in 1985 opened new factional splits and occasioned calls for a new homeland government.
Homeland politics were complicated by the demands of several ethnic minorities within Lebowa to have their land transferred to the jurisdiction of another homeland. At the same time, government efforts to consolidate homeland territory forced the transfer of several small regions of land into Lebowa. Conflict broke out again in 1986 in what had by then become the Bantustan of Lebowa.
Source: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_pedi.html
If you have something to say, Clik comment button to add you view.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Obama is not Christ
There is only one person in this planet who embraces responsibilities of what happens to human kind. That person is the savior of the masses and he delivers people from shambles irrespective of which part of the country. He is the father of every human kind and he died on the cross for our sins. That person is Jesus Christ, under no circumstances can Obama takes his place.
I remember during and a short while after the election of the United State of America 44th president, the Africans and the rest of the world expectations were sky high. It was an inspiration for many people around the world for various reasons.
I find it iniquitous for Africans to put so much expectation to Obama while he has his own country to run. Perhaps Africans are forgeting that it is the survival of the fittest, the war in the jungle. Obama is just an African by blood but most importantly he is a US president. He may not under any circumstances prioritise African issues over American problems otherwise he might experience a revolt from his own people. Recall, Thabo Mbeki, our second South African democratic president was once accused of putting more focus on Africa's problems rather South Africans.
In the same vein, I'm convinced that Obama will formulate and maintain policies that benefit his country. Africa will not suddenly become the most important foreign topic for the U S. Many Africans still believe that a new and more equal relationship with the US is possible under Obama leadership. Can Africans really expect a major reversal of policy under Barrack Obama? Humm! We will just have to wait and see.
Obama first trip to Africa took him to Ghana. It was understandable although other African countries were surprised by Obama choice to visit Ghana over other African countries. Ghana is a stable, functioning democracy, and has a relatively good human rights record, it's an aberration among many African nations.
Many Africans also thought Obama would obviously attend the first African World Cup as he understand what it meant for Africa to be hosting such a gigantic event in the world. Once again their expectations were not contented. I think we are always on tenterbook for something that is far beyond us. Time is ripe for Africans to start solving their critical problems by themselves, Africa rise from the ashes. It's up to us to stop HIV/AIDS, Poverty and many other challanges.
I would like to see my self as a president one day, but I hate to be one day in Obama's shoes. Every one from every corner of the world expecting you to save them? That's a lot of pressure one could bear.
Obama is only human, lets give him time!!
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I remember during and a short while after the election of the United State of America 44th president, the Africans and the rest of the world expectations were sky high. It was an inspiration for many people around the world for various reasons.
I find it iniquitous for Africans to put so much expectation to Obama while he has his own country to run. Perhaps Africans are forgeting that it is the survival of the fittest, the war in the jungle. Obama is just an African by blood but most importantly he is a US president. He may not under any circumstances prioritise African issues over American problems otherwise he might experience a revolt from his own people. Recall, Thabo Mbeki, our second South African democratic president was once accused of putting more focus on Africa's problems rather South Africans.
In the same vein, I'm convinced that Obama will formulate and maintain policies that benefit his country. Africa will not suddenly become the most important foreign topic for the U S. Many Africans still believe that a new and more equal relationship with the US is possible under Obama leadership. Can Africans really expect a major reversal of policy under Barrack Obama? Humm! We will just have to wait and see.
Obama first trip to Africa took him to Ghana. It was understandable although other African countries were surprised by Obama choice to visit Ghana over other African countries. Ghana is a stable, functioning democracy, and has a relatively good human rights record, it's an aberration among many African nations.
Many Africans also thought Obama would obviously attend the first African World Cup as he understand what it meant for Africa to be hosting such a gigantic event in the world. Once again their expectations were not contented. I think we are always on tenterbook for something that is far beyond us. Time is ripe for Africans to start solving their critical problems by themselves, Africa rise from the ashes. It's up to us to stop HIV/AIDS, Poverty and many other challanges.
I would like to see my self as a president one day, but I hate to be one day in Obama's shoes. Every one from every corner of the world expecting you to save them? That's a lot of pressure one could bear.
Obama is only human, lets give him time!!
If you have something to say, Clik comment button to add you view.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Shame On You
The society is rapidly loosing moral ground. Teachers are regarded as leaders for the youth; they impart knowledge and contribute vastly to the development of society. Hence, I find it unacceptable that teachers would rob teenagers their youth by engaging in sexual activities. Parents place children in the care of teachers because they are supposed to be trusted species and only advancing agenda to develop potentials for the young stars in the society.
I’m saying this because On the 15th October 2010 I read a shocking story from Sowetan online, written by Hendrick Mphande where by a 38 year old teacher was arrested after allegedly caught red-handed having sex with a 13 year old pupil. Can you imagine a 38 year old engaging in sexual activities with a 13 year old? It makes one to agree with the saying that says “Growing up is a compulsory, but maturity is a choice”
Education or (School) is one of the major institutions of society that determine kinship. Schools should be grooming children to become tomorrow’s better leaders. When school as a social institution is weaker it produces disorganised members of society and destruction in our country. Schools are one of the first places where kids’ behaviour and future educational success is shaped; children spend a lot of time with their teachers. Teachers are carriers of either positive or negative behaviour towards students. So we can not let this very institution that contribute so much in our lives be corrupted by the antisocial, the South African justice system must callously deal with paedophile teachers.
I also read a study published in the British Medical Journal (The Lancet) with a great dismay. The study reveals that a high proportion of rape in schools one-third of rapes of young girls in South Africa are carried out by school teachers. According to the survey, 85% of children who were raped were between 10 and 14 years old. That’s betrayal at its peak by teachers if you may ask me. I think DOGS are even better than THEM (Teachers) by far; because they do not have sex with their young ones at the tender age.
Rape or Sexual abuse is a big crime that can actually take the victims life away. Well, according to my observation, sexually abused children can resort to many things. It does not need an eagled eye to notice that children resort to prostitution, drugs, alcoholic etc. I perceived such things happening and I said to myself, we need tough laws for the paedophiles. Perhaps we can even go the Saudi Arabian way. Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam that demands the death penalty for murder, rape, drug trafficking and armed robbery. Why not if it can help us? Perhaps the perpetrators would think twice before committing a crime.
As a prospect parent, I’m tremulous in terror, I can not conceive the pain I would suffer if it was my daughter who was abused by people whom I thought were the one to save her from harm. Judging by the look of things, this world is coming to an end. We do not know who to trust anymore. It’s either your child is raped by a RELATIVE (the person who should always be there for you), a NEIGHBOUR (A person who can help when you require immediate help or emergency), PRIEST (a person who should give you counselling when such horrible things happens) and a TEACHER (a person who should look after your kids at school)
If you have something to say, Clik comment button to add you view.
I’m saying this because On the 15th October 2010 I read a shocking story from Sowetan online, written by Hendrick Mphande where by a 38 year old teacher was arrested after allegedly caught red-handed having sex with a 13 year old pupil. Can you imagine a 38 year old engaging in sexual activities with a 13 year old? It makes one to agree with the saying that says “Growing up is a compulsory, but maturity is a choice”
Education or (School) is one of the major institutions of society that determine kinship. Schools should be grooming children to become tomorrow’s better leaders. When school as a social institution is weaker it produces disorganised members of society and destruction in our country. Schools are one of the first places where kids’ behaviour and future educational success is shaped; children spend a lot of time with their teachers. Teachers are carriers of either positive or negative behaviour towards students. So we can not let this very institution that contribute so much in our lives be corrupted by the antisocial, the South African justice system must callously deal with paedophile teachers.
I also read a study published in the British Medical Journal (The Lancet) with a great dismay. The study reveals that a high proportion of rape in schools one-third of rapes of young girls in South Africa are carried out by school teachers. According to the survey, 85% of children who were raped were between 10 and 14 years old. That’s betrayal at its peak by teachers if you may ask me. I think DOGS are even better than THEM (Teachers) by far; because they do not have sex with their young ones at the tender age.
Rape or Sexual abuse is a big crime that can actually take the victims life away. Well, according to my observation, sexually abused children can resort to many things. It does not need an eagled eye to notice that children resort to prostitution, drugs, alcoholic etc. I perceived such things happening and I said to myself, we need tough laws for the paedophiles. Perhaps we can even go the Saudi Arabian way. Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam that demands the death penalty for murder, rape, drug trafficking and armed robbery. Why not if it can help us? Perhaps the perpetrators would think twice before committing a crime.
As a prospect parent, I’m tremulous in terror, I can not conceive the pain I would suffer if it was my daughter who was abused by people whom I thought were the one to save her from harm. Judging by the look of things, this world is coming to an end. We do not know who to trust anymore. It’s either your child is raped by a RELATIVE (the person who should always be there for you), a NEIGHBOUR (A person who can help when you require immediate help or emergency), PRIEST (a person who should give you counselling when such horrible things happens) and a TEACHER (a person who should look after your kids at school)
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Thursday, October 14, 2010
How lucky the chilians miners were
I saw the vedio footage on morning live SABC 2 on the 13th october 2010 as they winched one of the trapped miners to the surface through a narrow ascape shaft. It was very emotional. We are luck to have wittness this kind miracles in our lifetime. It is a testimony that God is Great and Powerful than all things. Who would have thought that those 33 miners would have made it thus far? More than two months 622 meters (2,041 feet) blow the surface and still alive and looking healthy? Its a miracle.
Thanx to South African Construction Company Murray&Roberts and other rescures. Also thank the Chile Government for being able to deal with such quandary, I wish other government could learn a thing or two from you. Thank you God for sparing those traped miners lifes.
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Thanx to South African Construction Company Murray&Roberts and other rescures. Also thank the Chile Government for being able to deal with such quandary, I wish other government could learn a thing or two from you. Thank you God for sparing those traped miners lifes.
If you have something to say or add, Clik comment
I also believe that Information is power
As I was sitting at home under a nice and shaddy tree wondering how i could make magic to change my life around. I stared at a nearby cracked window pane thinking "Here I am at Mpheni Village needing information on how I could get to the University, Who can help me? Where can I get money to finance my studies?"
when I was growing up I was hopeless, I didn't even dream of what i would like to be after completing grade 12 (matric). I just wanted to pass my matric and be like the few in the family. The financial dropping out of one of my relative after his first year from University deepen the fear. I didnt want to attempt the University, I never want to end up like him, that made me to not even want to ask him anything concerning Universities because it would have made the matter worse.
Yes, information is power. After passing my Grade 12 with an examption I saw my self as a young South African on the way up the ladder of success. But I did not have a clue of where to get help. Things eventually worked out, like they say "when the going gets tough, the tough get going". I visited one of the teachers in the neighborhood who happened to be a family friend. She gave me a booklet containing information about South African Universities and also explicitly explained how people like me could access University.
It made me believe in Metthew Lesko's words that "those who have information are the most powerful people on the planet". Today I am what I am because of that piece of information. Yes, that information liberated me from my misery.
I also full concur with one artist the of Venda Tshingondo music called Zozo who say that " u sa divha zwi fana na ufa" meaning "if u lack information, you are as good as dead". Because this also reminds me of someone I know who passed his grade 12 with distinctions but because he lacked information, he was compelled to sit around doing nothing. These are people who should be enjoying fruits of their hard work.
Yes, I believe it, information is power, dont be discouraged by your background as Darvyl Campbell says " winners are too busy to be sad, too positive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated".
when I was growing up I was hopeless, I didn't even dream of what i would like to be after completing grade 12 (matric). I just wanted to pass my matric and be like the few in the family. The financial dropping out of one of my relative after his first year from University deepen the fear. I didnt want to attempt the University, I never want to end up like him, that made me to not even want to ask him anything concerning Universities because it would have made the matter worse.
Yes, information is power. After passing my Grade 12 with an examption I saw my self as a young South African on the way up the ladder of success. But I did not have a clue of where to get help. Things eventually worked out, like they say "when the going gets tough, the tough get going". I visited one of the teachers in the neighborhood who happened to be a family friend. She gave me a booklet containing information about South African Universities and also explicitly explained how people like me could access University.
It made me believe in Metthew Lesko's words that "those who have information are the most powerful people on the planet". Today I am what I am because of that piece of information. Yes, that information liberated me from my misery.
I also full concur with one artist the of Venda Tshingondo music called Zozo who say that " u sa divha zwi fana na ufa" meaning "if u lack information, you are as good as dead". Because this also reminds me of someone I know who passed his grade 12 with distinctions but because he lacked information, he was compelled to sit around doing nothing. These are people who should be enjoying fruits of their hard work.
Yes, I believe it, information is power, dont be discouraged by your background as Darvyl Campbell says " winners are too busy to be sad, too positive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated".
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