The History of the Ba Sotho/ Pedi / Babirwa people of Zimbabwe

 

 

The Pedi used to occupy parts of present day Mpumalanga and the Northern provinces of South Africa. In recent times, they have been renamed – Northern Sothos (Zimbabwe) to distinguish it from Southern Sothos (Lesotho), Western Sothos (Botswana), and North Western Sothos (Barotse, Zambia). 

 

The Pedi have also been referred to as the Highveld Sothos who live on the plateau around Polokoane in South Africa. According to oral tradition collected by Peter Magubane, ‘ the Pedi can be traced back to Maroteng, an offshoot of the Kgatla – today an important constituent of the Tswana’.

 

 

 

 

Tabane ruled the Maroteng, followed by Motsha; his grandson. Motsha’s son Thobele succeeded his father. However, the most powerful chief of the Pedi was Thulare (1790 - 1824), founder of an empire in the Northern parts of modern South Africa. Thulare was succeeded by his son, Malekutu, who was poisoned by one of his eight brothers, leaving the Pedi in disarray.

 

Soon after, Nguni raiders from the South invaded the Pedi and speculation is around either the Matabele under Mzilikazi or the Ndwandwe under Zwangendaba. The Ngunis conquered the Pedi and all of Thulare’s sons, were killed except for Sekwati who fled to establish a new territory at Phiring across the Oliphants river. Sekwati established Maroteng dominance in the area by building his new capital at Tsate on the eastern slope of Leolo Mountain.

 

 

 

 

After Sekwati’s death, his sons Sekhukhune and Mampuru vied for leadership. Sekhukhune emerged victor and his influence is felt today in the area he ruled being referred to as Sekhukhuneland. Hus reign soon came under threat from Boers who had come to the area in 1845 under Hendrik Potgieter but was successfully routed.

 

Shortly, Theophilus Shepstone annexed Transvaal republic which included Sekhulhuneland on behalf of Britain. After the end of the Zulu wars in 1879, British High Commissioner for South East Africa Garnet Wolseley,fined Sekhukhune 2 500 head of cattle which he refused to honour.

 

Garnet Wolseley then mobilized about 12 000 men including 8 000 Swazi warriors who defeated Sekhukhune after killinh over 1 000 Pedi warriors. Sekhukhune was captured in a cave and jailed in Pretoria, signalling the end of the Pedi Empire.

 

 

 

Other Pedi groups that had scattered in various directions fleeing Nguni invasions had survived. Some across Limpopo to settle in South West Zimbabwe along the banks of the Tuli and Shashe rivers. The small group who trekked north was led by a commoner named Makhura, who became their chief. Makhura was the second son of Guru Nsuma Ne Dzabamwe (The big man who reports on things that belong to other people).

 

Guru’s eldest son was Dauyatsoala (the lion has given birth). His third son was named Makhurane. Dauyatsoala remained behind as his second born son led one group into South western Zimbabwe and south east of Botswana.

 

After leaving the Highveld, Makhura and Makhurane adopted Nare/ Nyathi as their totem and became known as Babirwa. They settled in the west of Shashi river near Bobonong in Botswana, gradually moving east across Shashi/Tuli rivers into Gwanda south district. Makhura’s descendants divided the area into several chieftains. 

 

Silalabyanyeng (The one who sleeps on the grass) ruled over Bobirwa in Botswana and was succeeded by his son Malema Mora’pula, grandfather of current chief Mirwa of Bobonong. Silalabyanying’s daughter, Nkhwana ruled over a small area east of the Tuliriver between Garanyemba and Guyu. She was succeeded by her son – Mare/ Mathe.

 

 

 

Mare’s father was unknown, so his grandfather, Silalabyanyeng spat on the ground, proclaiming,’ke mare a khosi’ (This is the chief’s saliva). Another descendant of Makhura who became a chief was Khwatalala, Mmalane’s son who was the son of Ngomane. Khwatalala ruled over territory stretching from Kezi southwards between the Shashi and Tuli rivers down to their confluence.

 

Another descendant of Makhura who became chief was Magaya, but known to the Ndebele people as Mbuzimbili (Pulipeli). His area lies east of Tuli river, including Silonga and Buvuma. His younger brother became chief Magaya when the elder brother adopted the well-known name, Pulipeli (two goats).

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone in Botswana and Zimbabwe using the Nare/ Nyathi totem is a Mbirwa. Those who migrated to Mashonaland and Manicaland and now identify as Makoni, Chipunza and Mapaso are also said to be descendants of Makhura and hence are Babirwa.

There are two prominent groups of Babirwa – Ba ga Serumula and Ba ga Legong. Asthey trekked north with Makhura and Makhurane, Serumula’s job was to ensure there was always a fire burning while Legong was to ensure there was always firewood.

 

Makhura never reached Zimbabwe but his young brother crossed over with his nephews Silalabyanyeng, Khwatalala, Magaya and others. Makhurane settled at Garanyemba hills which was strategic for defence against enemy attacks. He mixed with a Kalanga group nicknamed Jawunda (eat as you go) who had migrated from Bukalanga in Plumtree. Makhurane;s first three children had Kalanga names – Zhobane, Nkombe and Makumbile. The last four had Birwa names – Manoka, Mbulawa, Marumo, Phiyaga.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makhurane remained in the Garanyemba area with the Jawunda until his death at Balomokwa hill. Today, only three Babirwa chiefs exist. Chief Mmirwa who oversees the Babirwa in Botswana fron his headquarters in Bobonong. Chief Pulipeli reigns over the eastern side of Tuli river that originally belonged to Mare, Pulipeli and his young brother Magaya’s headquarters are at Buvuma.

 

Chief Mare has taken over all land between Shashe and Tuli river which was formerly under Khwatalala. This area is now called Bolamba, a Kalanga word for ‘refusal’ which referes to the land being taken away from Khwatala after he refused to move his headquarters Shashani to Gungwe as demanded by the colonial government then.

 

Sources:

 

Phinias – Mogorosi Makhurane: an Autobiography, 2010, Booklove Publishers, Bulawayo, p.4

 

Peter Magubane, Vanishing Cultures of South Africa, Struik Publishers, 1998, p.124. (Quoted in Professor Phinias Makhurane’s biography )