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29-639: (Redirected from Lovedu ) Lobedu or Lovedu may refer to: the Lobedu people the Lobedu dialect Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Lobedu . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lobedu&oldid=961710234 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

58-515: A Queen with his daughter Dzugundini 2.Mamabolo history . https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/76077/letsoala_399_mamabolo_history_tribal_transcript_ns.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y Lozi people The Lozi people , also known as Balozi , are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group native to Southern Africa . They have significant populations in Angola , Botswana , Namibia , Zambia , and Zimbabwe . The Lozi language, Silozi ,

87-535: A fermented milk " mabisi " dish. This cuisine reflects the Lozi's connection to their environment and traditional agricultural practices. Music and dance are integral to Lozi social life. Sipelu is a traditional Lozi dance performed by young men and women at various social events throughout the year. It is a vibrant expression of cultural identity, showcased during performances for the king at his palace, his visits to communities, weddings, and other celebrations, though it

116-485: A male initiation ceremony called Moroto. The female initiation ceremony is called Dikhopa. 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. 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

145-567: A number of small groups tied together by their queen. On 12 June 2005, Queen Makobo Modjadji 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. The area of Balobedu consists of around 150 villages, and every village has a male or female ruler who represents Modjadji, the Rain Queen. The Rain Queen was historically known as an extremely powerful magician who

174-760: A translation of the Christian Bible is being undertaken by VALODAGOMA NPC (the BaLobedu think tank) and PANSALB (the Pan South African Languages Board). There are sub-groups of the Lobedu: The Balobedu originally migrated south from present day Zimbabwe to their present location in South Africa. The central Queendom village is Khethakoni, in the district of Balobedu. These BakaLanga migrants consisted of

203-535: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Lobedu people It is estimated that there are around 1 million BaLobedu in South Africa. Their population is found in Greater Letaba Local Municipality (171 011 or 80.4% based on the 2011 census), Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality (200 000 or 46% based on the 2011 census), Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality (70 000 or 47% based on

232-736: Is grammatically similar to other Sotho–Tswana languages . Mutual intelligibility between certain Venda 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 dialect or an independent language. For example, Northern Sotho has higher mutual intelligibility with Southern Sotho and Tswana than it does with Lobedu. Most Lobedu speakers only learn to speak Pedi at school; as such, Pedi

261-523: Is not performed at funerals. Lozi society is highly stratified, with a monarch at the top and those of recent royal descent occupying high positions in society. The monarch, or Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE), is known as Mulonga, and Lozi society tolerates little criticism, even of an unpopular Litunga. Criticisms of a Litunga by a foreigner are treated as criticisms of the Lozi nation as a whole. The Lozi are not separated into clans, unlike most African ethnic groups. The Lozi people are closely related to

290-432: 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 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,

319-491: Is used as the formal language in official, educational, and media contexts. The Lozi people number approximately 1,562,000. The Lozi comprise several tribes, including the Bamakoma, Kwanda, Lukolwe, Bafwe , Batotela , Bayeyi , Mbowe (Mamboe), Bambukushu , Mishulundu, Muenyi (Mwenyi), Mwanga, Ndundulu, Nygengo, Shanjo, Simaa, Basubia , and Batonga . These tribes share common customs and traditions, with Silozi serving as

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348-433: Is usually made from satin and is often paired with a matching shawl called a cali . Additionally, women wear a wrapper to cover themselves, particularly from the waist down, and always cover their hair with a headscarf. This attire is valued for its modesty, respect, and dignity. The staple food of the Lozi is a maize meal porridge called buhobe . It is often served with Zambezi bream fish and vegetables, or eaten with

377-692: The Barotse Floodplain of the Zambezi River , on and around which most Lozi live. It may also be spelled Lotse or Rotse, the spelling Lozi having originated with German missionaries in what is now Namibia . Mu- and Ba- are corresponding singular and plural prefixes for certain nouns in the Silozi language , so Murotse means "person of the plain" while Barotse means "people of the plain". Lozi tradition states that they have always inhabited Barotseland. In about 1830, an army that originated in

406-647: The 2011 census), Greater Giyani Local Municipality (20 000 or 6.4% based on the 2011 census), and smaller villages in Limpopo. Some are found in Gauteng province as labor migrants, especially in Tembisa and Alexandra townships. Their language is known as Lobedu (used here but Khelobedu , KhiLovedu , or Lovedu are equally valid) and is sometimes considered a dialect of the Northern Sotho language and

435-643: 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 uncles of the Nengwekhulus. All BaLobedu are descended from these three groups: BaKwevho, Nengwekhulu, and Ramabulana. The rest of

464-655: The Sotho-speaking Bafokeng region of South Africa , known as the Makololo , led by a warrior called Sebetwane , invaded Barotseland and conquered the Lozi. They ruled until 1864, when the Sotho clique was overthrown following a Lozi revolt. The political organisation of the Lozi has long centred on a monarchy , whose reigning head, the Paramount King, is known as ' Litunga ', which means 'keeper of

493-472: The ancient Mokwebo (wild pig) royal house. All Chiefs in Bolobedu are of the wild pig clans, with the exception of the chiefs of Taulome, Malatji, and Rakgoale (Mogoboya), who are Dinoko (porcupines) after running to Bolobedu after difagane wars their traditonal dance they brought is Dinaka. The elephant clan is Rabothata, Selowa (Khelowa/Tshilowa/Shilowa), Shai, Matlou (Ma₫ou), Mabulana, and Maenetja; these are

522-581: The company to acquire Barotseland under the guise of the British government. Although under protectorate status, Lewanika eventually realized that he had been tricked and petitioned for the protectorate status to be corrected. Yet the land remained under Rhodes's control, and when the territory failed to produce gold, copper, or other exports, the "British South Africa Company defaulted on every commitment it had made to Lewanika," and few developments in infrastructure and education were made. Although Barotseland

551-874: The current Lozwi king, Mike Moyo, who is also gifted with rainmaking. Linguists have listed Lobedu together with Kalanga , Nambya (a dialect of Kalanga ), Venda , Lemba , Shankwe, Nyubi, and Karanga 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 BakaLanga in southern Matabeleland, and there are two areas called Njelele in Matabeleland . 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. Balobedu have

580-414: 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. The Rain Queen was referenced in literature as the basis for H. Rider Haggard 's novel She . Before Balobedu was ruled by Queens. They had 6 male Kings. The last being King Mokoto. The King was ordered by Ancestors to conceive

609-577: The descendants of the ancient royal house of Nengwekhulu. The BaLobedu are more closely related to the Lozwi Kingdom started by Dlembeu . As they were migrating southward, another splinter went South-East. The Northern Lozwi, or Lozi 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 Victoria falls . They have

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638-591: The earth.' The renowned Litunga Lewanika , whose latter name was a nickname from the Mbunda meaning "unifier" following the Lozi revolt, reigned from 1878 to 1916, with a short insurrectionist break in 1884–85. He requested that Queen Victoria bring Barotseland under protectorate status. Great Britain, however, was uninterested in acquiring the territory. The granting of a royal charter to the British South Africa Company by Cecil Rhodes allowed

667-415: The family is traditionally led by the eldest male, often the grandfather. Family relationships are formed through marriage, birth, or adoption. Marriage holds significant importance, serving as a crucial means of solidifying and extending family connections. A man who has reached adulthood is expected to have employment, establish his own homestead known as a lapa , and find a wife mufumahali . Upon marriage,

696-410: The formal language for official, educational, and media purposes. Intermarriage among the tribes further strengthens their cultural bonds. The Lozi people are also known by various names such as Malozi, Nyambe, Makololo, Barotse, Rotse, Rozi, Rutse, Balozi, Balobedu, and Tozvi. They refer to their land as Bulozi or Barotseland . The word "Lozi" means "plain" in the Makololo language, referring to

725-478: 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). 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

754-585: 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 Njelele Shrine 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

783-413: The wife typically moves to her husband's homestead, integrating into his family and adopting their surname. The way a couple manages their lapa influences their social status. Although declining in modern times, polygamy remains common among the Lozi. Traditional attire is an important aspect of Lozi culture, particularly for women. Lozi women wear the musisi , which means "skirt" in Silozi . This garment

812-456: 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 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

841-583: Was incorporated into Northern Rhodesia , it retained a large degree of autonomy, which was carried over when Northern Rhodesia became Zambia on its independence in 1964. In the run-up to independence, the Litunga, the Ngambela (Prime Minister), and about a dozen senior indunas went to London for talks with the Colonial Office, in an attempt to have Barotseland remain a Protectorate. In Lozi society,

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