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The conflict between Sekonyela, son of Mamthatisi and Moshoeshoe I, founder of the Basotho nation, is one of the key riv...
30/06/2025

The conflict between Sekonyela, son of Mamthatisi and Moshoeshoe I, founder of the Basotho nation, is one of the key rivalries that shaped the early history of the Kingdom of Lesotho and the 19th century.

Manthatisi's Batlokwa had raided widely and caused displacement. After her retirement from leadership, her son Sekonyela took over, establishing his power near Jubel's Drift (modern day Harrismith and Butha-Buthe). Sekonyela inherited a militarized chieftancy with reputation for strength.

Moshoeshoe I, a junior member of Bakwena clan, had begun gathering refugees, displaced people, and kin at Thaba Bosiu, a defensible mountain stronghold in Lesotho. He united diverse clans (Kwena, Hlubi, Nguni, etc) into a new Basotho identity. He practiced diplomacy and often absorbing groups peacefully. Moshoeshoe I, emerged as a unifier and strategist, offering and protection and stability.

Sekonyela raids Moshoeshoe repeatedly and captures MmaMohato(Moshoeshoe's mother) at one point. Moshoeshoe built alliances with French missionaries (for literacy and guns) and with other Chiefs, he conducted a carefully planned counterattacks, and occasionally returned stolen cattle to gain moral legitimacy.

By the 1850s, Sekonyela grew isolated, unlike Moshoeshoe. In 1853, Basotho forces defeated Sekonyela decisively, seizing Jubel's Drift and much of his remaining territory. His chieftancy was absorbed, and lost influence in the region. Sekonyela died in 1856, ending Batlokwa political primacy in the Caledon Valley.

Kaditshwene also spelled Gaditshwene, was a large wealthy Bahurutshe capital in what is now North West province of South...
27/06/2025

Kaditshwene also spelled Gaditshwene, was a large wealthy Bahurutshe capital in what is now North West province of South Africa was attacked around 1821. Kaditshwene/Gaditshwene was a sophisticated city, estimated to have a population of 20,000 or more rivaling Great Zimbabwe in density. It was a key center of Bahurutshe culture, featuring stone walled homesteads, iron smelting, cattle wealth, and extensive trade networks.

Manthatisi's Batlokwa massive force descend from the south of what is now Free State Province, pushing through the western highveld. Manthatisi's Batlokwa force launched a shock military raid on Kaditshwene. The city was overwhelmed, and looted. Thousands fled north, west and east joining other Tswana groups, others being absorbed. The Bahurutshe polity splintered, the attack marked the collapse of major Tswana urban centers during this period.

During this time, Mamthatisi was ruling on behalf of her young son, Sekonyela after her husband Chief Mokotjo died. Facing threats from invasion, famine and displacement, she transformed her people into q mobile warrior society. Her following swelled to over 40,000 people including non-Tlokwa refugees absorbed during their migration.

Mokotjo, the 4th chief of Batlokwa and the husband of chieftainess Manthatiksi. Mokotjo was the paramount chief who came...
26/06/2025

Mokotjo, the 4th chief of Batlokwa and the husband of chieftainess Manthatiksi. Mokotjo was the paramount chief who came from the royal Tlokwa lineage, descend from Mantlapeng and Seeka, early founders of Batlokwa chieftancy.

Though less is written about Mokotjo himself, his death set the stage for Manthatisi's historic rise as a regent and military leader during the turbulent 1800s. Mokotjo and Mamthatisi had a son Sekonyela, who would later succeed as chief. When Mokotjo died, Sekonyela was still a child. According to custom, Manthatisi became regent, a rare but unprecedented role for women.

Batlokwa, a southern African ethnic group. They are known from their resilience, mobility, and especially for producing ...
26/06/2025

Batlokwa, a southern African ethnic group. They are known from their resilience, mobility, and especially for producing one of the most powerful female leaders in southern African history.

The founder of Batlokwa people is traditionally recognised as Tlokwa, a legendary ancestor whose name the Batlokwa carries. Like many African clans, Batlokwa trace their origins through a founding ancestor whose name becomes the eponym of the group. The group that emerged from him became known as Batlokwa--meaning "people of Tlokwa".

They originally formed part of the central interior Setswana speaking chiefdoms, likely near present-day North West, Free State provinces of South Africa and Botswana.

Oral genealogies suggest the following ancestral lineage:
1. Tlokwa-Founding ancestor
2. Seeka-His descendant
3. Matlapeng-Known chief during the 1700s
4. Mokotjo-Son of Matlapeng
5. Sekonyela-Son Mokotjo and Manthatisi

Today Batlokwa communities are found in:
South Africa (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and Mpumalanga)
Botswana (Tlokweng)
Lesotho (near Berea, Butha-Buthe)

There are several branches of Batlokwa depending on region:
Batlokwa ba Mota (South Africa - Tlokwe/Potchefstroom)

Batlokwa ba Chokwe (South Africa - Limpopo and Mpumalanga)

Batlokwa ba Mokgalong (Botswana - Tlokweng)

Batlokwa ba Mokgalong wa Malekutu (Lesotho - border with Free State)

Archaeological studies (e.g. in Pilanesberg and Magaliesberg regions of North West province of South Africa) document large, aggregated stone walled villages occupied by Setswana speaking groups including Batlokwa, Bakwena and Bahurutshe. Batlokwa, as part of this milieu, were integral to those complex settlements.

Tlokwe ruins, remains of Tswana settlements active for about 300 years, although not tied directly to Batlokwa royal lines, these ruins reflect the broader Batlokwa world in which they were flourishing.

The Makololo invasion and rule over Barotseland 1830s--1860s had a deep and lasting influence on the Lozi people's langu...
25/06/2025

The Makololo invasion and rule over Barotseland 1830s--1860s had a deep and lasting influence on the Lozi people's language, shaping what is today know ln as Silozi, a unique language that stands apart from most Zambian languages due to its Southern Sotho base and local linguistic blending.

The Makololo were a southern Sotho speaking group, originally part of Bafokeng clans, who fled Mfecane upheavals caused by Zulu kingdom expansion in South Africa. Led by Sebetwane, they migrated northward, conquering Barotseland (then ruled by the Luyi people) around 1835-1840. For about 30 years, the Makololo established a military aristocracy and imposed their language and administration on the local population.

After the Makololo conquest, Sesotho became the language of administration, military, and aristocracy. Even after the Luyi people overthrew Makololo rulers in the 1869s, the language stayed-and evolves into what is now Silozi. Silozi is closer to Sesotho thah other Zambian languages, even though it has absorbed Luyi, Mbunda and Nkoya influences.

Large portions of Silozi vocabulary come directly from Sesotho including:

Sesotho. Silozi. English
Morena. Mulena. King/Chief
Ntate. Ndate. Father/Sir
Ngoana. Mwana. Child
Ntlo. Ndu. House
Thaba. Taba. Mountain

Silozi even maintains grammatical structures and noun class systems from Sesotho.

The relationship between Bapedi and Bakgalaka/Bagalaka is rooted in shared ethno-linguistic origins, historical alliance...
25/06/2025

The relationship between Bapedi and Bakgalaka/Bagalaka is rooted in shared ethno-linguistic origins, historical alliances and conflicts, dynastic connections, and the broader dynamics of power, migration, and assimilation in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga regions of South Africa.

Bakgalaka, a cluster of Northern Sotho chiefdoms (some with Venda and Kalanga connections) historically spread accross eastern Limpopo, especially in areas like Ga-Matlala, Ga-Mphahlele, Bochum and Blouberg. They were once a powerful formation, before the rise of the Maroteng Bapedi dynasty. In some traditions, Bakgalaka/Bagalaka are seen as older inhabitants of the region.

Bapedi (Maroteng Dynasty) emerged in the 17th century, expanding from the Highveld into what is now Sekhukhuneland. Under kings Thulare, Sekwati, and Sekhukhune, Bapedi built a powerful kingdom by subduing or assimilating neighbouring groups including Bakgalaka.

Some oral traditions suggest Bapedi Maroteng had ancestral connections with Bakgalaka lineages, or at least they intermarried during early stage formation. The two groups share clan names (diboko), totems, and initiation rites, suggesting deep cultural links.

The rise of Bapedi kingdom brought them into direct conflict with Bakgalaka chieftaincies especially in areas Ga-Matlala, Ga-Mphahlele, and Ga-Maake. Some Bakgalaka chiefdoms were conquered or subordinated by Bapedi kings, while others maintained autonomy through diplomacy or geographical distance. Ga-Mphahlele for example, resisted Bapedi domination at times, while also aligning when necessary.

Intermarriages between royal houses helped legitimize Bapedi rule over Bakgalaka subjects and blur ethnic lines. Many present day Bapedi Chiefs trace some ancestry to Bakgalaka.

During colonial and apartheid ethnographic mapping, both groups were lumped into "Northern Sotho" category, often obscuring their separate historical identities.

There is a question that has sparked scholarly debate in southern African history;"Is the ancient Bakalanga/Bakaranga th...
25/06/2025

There is a question that has sparked scholarly debate in southern African history;

"Is the ancient Bakalanga/Bakaranga the same people as Bakgalaka/Bagalaka?"

Who are Bakgalaka/Bagalaka?
Bakgalaka refers to a cluster of Northern Sotho chiefdoms, mainly in South Africa's Limpopo province, such as Ga-Matlala, Bochum, and Blouberg. They are generally classified linguistically under Northern Sotho (Sepedi sa Leboa). Some Bakgalaka totems include Tau(lion), Tlou(elephant), Nare(buffalo)

Who are Bakalanga/Bakaranga?
The Bakalanga are a western Shona speaking people, found mostly in western Zimbabwe (Matebeleland), and northeastern Botswana (Francistown region). They speak Ikalanga, a language closely related to Karanga (a Shona dialect). Bakalanga are linked to the builders of Mapungubwe, Great Zimbabwe, and Khami--ancient states famous for stone-wall architecture, gold working, and centralised kingship.

Point of comparison
Bakgalaka (South Africa)
-Totems: Common with Sotho clans
(Tau, Tlou, Nare)

Bakalanga/Bakaranga (Zimbabwe/Botswana)
Totems: Shoko, Hungwe

Evidence of connection
Oral traditions: Some Bakgalaka groups claim to descent from a powerful ancient kingdom to the north, sometimes called Kgalaka or Karanga--matching how Shona speakers refer to Great Zimbabwe ancestors.
Certain Sepedi dialects and cultural practices (e.g rainmaking, iron smelting, and ancestors veneration) show traces of Kalanga roots.

What Historians say
Nehemiah Maphophe, T.N Huffman, David Beach all argue that:
-Bakgalaka are partly descended from Bakalanga/Bakaranga speaking migrants.
-Over time, these groups adopted Sepedi language and identity through intermarriage and territorial absorption.

Is Bakgalaka and Bakalanga the same people based on historical evidence?

The relationship between Bapedi (Marota Dynasty) and ancient BaKoni is a deeply intertwined one. Bakoni were early agric...
24/06/2025

The relationship between Bapedi (Marota Dynasty) and ancient BaKoni is a deeply intertwined one. Bakoni were early agriculturalists whose settlements predate the rise of the Bapedi Kingdom, and evidence suggests that Bapedi emerged partly through incorporating or displacing BaKoni communities.

Bapedi Kingdom of Maroteng Dynasty was founded in the mid 17th century, mainly by the Marota lineage who migrated from areas near present day Botswana, migrating eastward overtime and settled in the Steelpoort river area expanding into Sekhukhuneland. Overtime, they created a kingdom by conquering, marrying into, or absorbing many diverse clans. The Marota lineage is the royal clan of the Bapedi Kingdom, and forms the core ancestral and ruling family of the Bapedi people in South Africa. They are founders of the Bapedi monarch, and nearly all Bapedi kings, including the famous Thulare, Sekwati, and Sekhukhune, come from this lineage. Marota clan descend from Bahurutshe and Bakgatla people, both Setswana speaking groups.

Bakoni/Bakone lived in Mpumalanga escarpment region, known for they terraced hillside, circular stone walled homesteads, and sophisticated dry stone architecture, they built vast agricultural landscape before the 1700s.

The rise of Bapedi kingdom under Maroteng brought them into direct contact with BaKoni chiefdoms. Many Bakoni people were absorbed into the growing Bapedi kingdom. Some BaKoni lineages were assimilated, their names and clan structures intergrated into Bapedi society often retaining totemic identities.

The Bapedi Kingdom is a fusion of lineages with core ruling lineages (Maroteng) Batswana origin (Bahurutshe/Bakgatla). Many incorporated clans are of non-Tswana origins including Khalaka, Venda, Ndebele, and Sotho communities. Bapedi identity is thus multi-ethnic and composite, shapes by migration, diplomacy, warfare and absorption.

Vhangona, before the consolidation of the modern Venda identity under the Kalanga-Rozvi prince Dimbanyika in the 17th ce...
24/06/2025

Vhangona, before the consolidation of the modern Venda identity under the Kalanga-Rozvi prince Dimbanyika in the 17th century.

TshiGuvhu and TshiHumbila are two near extinct dialects of the Tshivenda language cluster, historical spoken by Vhangona people.

TshiGuvhu spoken by Vhaguvhu people, one of the major Vhangona clans, associated with Guvhu hills near modern day Nzhelele river valley. Considered one of the oldest dialects in the region, predating Dimbanyika's arrival, likely influenced by early Kalanga elements.

TshiHumbila spoken by the Vhahumbila, another Vhangona clan believed to have occupied areas west of the Soutpansberg. Known for ritualistic and rainmaking traditions, suggesting the dialect included specialist religious vocabulary.

These dialects are not just linguistic variants, but also cultural markers of the first inhabitants of the region before Venda nationhood. The loss of these dialects parallels the absorption or marginalization of Vhangona identity under dominant Venda speaking clans like Tshivhase, Mphephu and Ramabulana.

Researchers like E.E Makgopa, N.A Milubi and H.A Stayt have made references to these dialects when studying Venda oral history and clan structures.

Manyeleti settlements, located in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa near kruger national park, was a strategic out...
24/06/2025

Manyeleti settlements, located in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa near kruger national park, was a strategic outpost connecting Bakoni Settlements in the highveld with Vhangona and Kalanga societies in the North.

Manyeleti lies between the Drakensberg encampment and Lowveld, part of an area that was very rich in stone wall agricultural engineering, iron working, and interconnected terracing. The settlement was part of the Bokoni cultural complex, a system of societies linked to stone walled farming homesteads, sophisticated cattle management, and regional trade routes.

Manyeleti served as a trade corridor, especially between stone wall societies, lowveld hunter-gatherer and agro pastoralists communities. It connected BaKoni highland centers, the Venda royal settlements such as Dzata, and even Kalanga linked sites like Mapungubwe via trade networks.

Remnants in the Manyeleti area include: stone walled enclosures, hilltop settlement patterns typical of Bokoni outposts, iron slag and mining activity, indicating metalworking and tool production. Like other Bakoni sites, Manyeleti was built with planned spacing, terraces for agriculture, and paths connecting homesteads.

Timeline of Bakoni and Vhangona cultural divergence and overlap.C.700--900 CEEarly highland stone building societies. Pr...
23/06/2025

Timeline of Bakoni and Vhangona cultural divergence and overlap.

C.700--900 CE
Early highland stone building societies. Pre-Bakoni and pre-Vhangona people, part of a broader network of agro-pastoral stone builders accross Southern Zimbabwe, North eastern Botswana Northern South Africa. With settlements built on hills, with stone enclosures, cattle kraals, and terraced farming. This is likely the shared ancestral phase, before cultural divergence into BaKoni and Vhangona.

900--1300 CE
Mapungubwe emerges as the first indigenous Kingdom which flourished as a centralised state with prosperous society that engaged in long distance trade, particularly in gold and ivory.

1200--1450 CE
Rise of Great Zimbabwe and Khami State. Vhangona and Kalanga participate in this cultural sphere. Dzata emerged later as a key Vhangona settlements. Southern groups (Bakoni) diverge, focusing on agricultural intensification using stone terracing in Mpumalanga Highveld.

1400--1800 CE
Bakoni settlements, characterized by their extensive stone walled structures emerge.

1450--1600 CE
Vhangona identity begins to crystallize around sacred leadership, ritual rainmaking, and hilltop settlements like Dzata. Bakoni societies expand their stone-walled settlements accross Mpumalanga Highlands showing sings in local governance and economic planning. Trade routes connect Bakoni and Vhangona directly.

1600--1700 CE
Arrival of Kalanga-proto Venda royal houses (Dimbanyika era). Dimbanyika a prince from the Kalanga-Rozvi elite, invades Soutpansberg region and subdues the Vhangona. Vhangona become absorbed under the new Venda royal house. Bakoni remain autonomous, though linked by stone culture and possible refugee movements from the North.

1700--1800 CE
Large Bakoni settlements near Badfontein flourish. Complex systems of stone terraces and road networks developed. Vhangona are now fully absorbed into Venda nation but retain distinctive ritual and clan identities under Venda overlords.

The possibility that BaKoni/Bakone and Vhangona may have shared ancestry is a compelling theory rooted in oral tradition...
23/06/2025

The possibility that BaKoni/Bakone and Vhangona may have shared ancestry is a compelling theory rooted in oral traditions, stone building architecture, and certain cultural parallels. While definitive written records do not exist to confirm a direct genealogical link, there is enough archaeological, linguistic, and ethnographic evidence to suggest that these two groups may descend from a common ancestry, stone building civilization that once spanned large parts of Southern Africa.

The case for shared ancestry: Vhangona--BaKoni
-Bakoni are renowned for their stone walled terraces, enclosures and settlements in the Mpumalanga Highveld
-Vhangona (pre-Venda inhabitants) are linked to Dzata, a stone walled capital in the Soutpansberg mountains of Northern Limpopo.
-Both groups are associated with hilltop settlements, strategic layout, and dry stone walling, suggesting shared or parallel building knowledge.

The Soutpansberg mountains and Mpumalanga escarpment act as a natural corridor between the two groups traditional territories.

Vhangona are considered the first people of Venda, long before the arrival of Dimbanyika. Similarly, Bakoni are seen as part of the older farming cultures that predates Ndebele and Bapedi migrations. This suggests that both Vhangona and Bakoni represent remnants of earlier civilizations that were later incorporated into larger identity groups.

Linguistically Vhangona spoke an older form of TshiGuvhu or TshiHumbila, with Kalanga influence. BaKoni are associated with early Tswana dialects, but the highland communities like Pai and Kutswe may have spoken transitional languages.

The Vhangona and BaKoni likely do not descend directly from one another, but the evidence suggests they may both descend from an older shared ancestral lineage of stone building, cattle keeping societies. Their architecture styles, oral traditions, and historical roles as "First people" in their respective regions support the theory of singular ancestry.

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