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on, you occasionally need to communicate. When commencing the communication process,traditional beer is made and an animal (a goat/chicken/cow) is slaughtered. Some of the blood of the slaughtered animal, together with some beer, is poured on the legandelo (sacrificial platform) as an offering to the spirits. The senior most member of the clan present at the sacrifice calls out the names of the ancestors according to hierarchy, accompanied by the clapping of hands of the other members of the clan. The Mmalo (Coral) tree is usually planted on the sacrificial platform.
41:
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who is being reincarnated by the child's birth. When a baby is sleepless or sickly, he/she is pointed to the moon by his grandmother or aunt. The grandmother will chant out: "mogwera wa go ke yela, gola o reme diphate, o tshware lerumo or lwe dintwa!" (There is your friend/ Your friend is the moon, grow and cut trees (for wood), grow, pick up the spears and fight wars!). In essence, grow and be strong.
328:. The Swazi were annihilated, and the first to meet their death at the top of the mountain was the Swazi king's younger brother Zimase. Boulders were rolled down to ward off the enemy, and numerous attacks on their stronghold were repelled. Skeletons of the Swazi casualties littered the mountain for a long time afterwards. The river below the Mountain was named Motlasedi (
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over a young woman who happened to be their cousin, and the conflict was concealed by the royal family, who told the people that the brothers fought over a grain barn (seshego sa mabele). After realizing that the people were supporting the elder brother, Mashego left with his followers and settled along some
Bakwena in what is present-day
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distinguish a regiment from another based on when the regiment was initiated. The uninitiated cannot "visit" an initiation school when it is in session. The names of
Mephato ya Badika are Matuba, Mangana, Magakwa, Madingwane, Mankwe, Maakwa, Madisha, Makgola, Madikwa, Manala, and Magolopo. As can be expected, women do not have regiments.
411:
Leruo (livestock) and
Mashemo (land under cultivation) used to distinguish a rich man from a poor man. Land belonged to all the residents of an area and the Chief allocated the cultivation space. Grazing land was communal. The land tenure system of Mapulana was that land could not be bought or sold.
384:
The primary
Clanships of the MaPulana are bagaMashego, bagaMalele, bagaMogane, bagaChiloane, bagaNonyane, and bagaMashile . Both Mashego and Malele are chiefs in the Bushbuckridge area, Chiloane is the chief in the Acornhoek and Pilgrem's Rest areas; Mogane and Nonyane in the Graskop and Sabie areas;
402:
When children are born "ba ya relela" (they get the name of their ancestor). When somebody's name is
Thadishe, for instance, he may well be Thadishe the 6th. The paternal grandmothers and aunts know which name to grant a child. This was usually done after consulting with the Ngaka who will tell them
362:
Traditional medicine has been and still is a specialty of
Mapulana. This could be attributed to the rich subtropical climate of Mapulaneng, which allows herbs to grow in abundance. Traditional medicine is dispensed by Dingaka (traditional doctors). To become a traditional doctor, one has to undergo
353:
groups, MaPulana believe in Badimo (ancestors). When they perform their ancestral acknowledgement ceremony (go phasa badimo), they face the direction of
Shakwaneng, which is towards the east. There is no single god, but all the ancestors or spirits are venerated. To acknowledge those who have passed
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tribe) and left the main
Barolong tribe during the reign of Tau. The Mapulana King Malele had two prominent sons: the eldest was Morale, aka Chiloane Jr., and the second was Mashego. The two were better warriors and well respected by their followers. A bitter quarrel erupted between the two brothers
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When plants are ready for harvesting, the elder of a clan will pick a small selection of the harvest. He or she will call out the names of the ancestors and dedicate the harvest to them. Every member of that clan will be made to nibble from the small pickings. This will be the festival of the first
393:
A boy's family used to identify a family from which a boy was supposed to marry. The boy then wooed the girl who meets his fancy in that chosen family. In some cases the boy identified his own girl. For all purposes, the marriage was arranged as the families gave their blessings behind the scenes.
335:
There are legendary tales among the MaPulana about the bravery and cleverness of
Sekakole (who was already an old man) at the Battle of Moholoholo. It is said that he wielded guns that he had traded for and performed many magic spells to best the Swazi soldiers, with one notable tale telling of how
424:
The New Year heralds the start of planting season for crops that yield the staple foods of
Mapulana. Planting used to be done according to the family's seniority, dikgoro tse kgolo starting first and others junior clans follow. Mabele (maize and millet) get planted first, Dintlu (jugobeans) last.
420:
The calendar of Mapulana works in lunar months, with the dawning of the full moon being the first day of the month. In SePulane the word kgwedi (moon) also means month. The shape and brightness of the moon can be read to determine when rains are going to fall. The year starts when the first rains
380:
Mapulana have a class system, known as Dikgoro (Clans, lit. "kraals"). There are those who come from Kgorong e kgolo (higher clan) or Kgorong ea nyana (lower clan). Those from Kgorong e Kgolo are of royal blood or are born from the senior wife and are expected to be dikata-pele (leaders) during
268:
in the west. In the Pulana language, or Sepulana, Mapulaneng means "Place of the Mapulana people." The tribe derives its name from their founding leader, Lepulana, who later changed his name to Chiloane. Mapulana are descendants of Morolong, and their origins can be traced back to the Kgalagadi
371:
Mapulana initiate their youth into womanhood and manhood. The initiation school (koma) is held in winter. The practices of initiation schools are marked by secrecy. Boys who have undergone initiation together will belong to the same mphato/moroto (regiment). An elaborate system is in place to
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under the leadership of four chiefs, Maripe Mashile, Chiloane, and Mohlala, with Sekakole Maatjie, who was a brave warrior and a magician. The Bapedi under King Sekhukhune refused to help, and the Mapulana defended their stronghold of Moholoholo Mountains against a Swazi invasion sent by King
394:
The boy's family negotiated on dikgomo tsa bogadi which had to be paid to the girl's family. Polygamy was practiced. The first wife and her offspring held a higher status. The inheritance passed through the first wife before being passed to the junior wife and her offspring.
285:
The origin of the MaPulana and the history of how long they have been living in the greater Mapulaneng area are topics of hot debate. Research shows that there are three groups of Mapulana: Mapulana of Mohlomi, who are Bakwena, and the first Mapulana to settle at
573:
where there is a street named after the MaPulana. Other Villages of Mapulana include Lilydale, Cottondale, Dwarsloop, Mariti, Mgandusweni, Manyeleti, Lephong, Ga-Boelang, Moloro, Matibidi, Leroro, Greenvalley, GaJosefa, Jerusalema, Oakley, Rolle, Wales,]
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separating himself from the main Mapulana tribe. Chiloane and Mashego were both recognized as Mapulana kings, with Chiloane being the senior. The Mapulana of Chiloane used to live in Phageng (Empakeni), south-east of
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and their surrounds. This greater area is often referred to as "Mapulaneng" which means "Place of the people of Pulana (Lepulana)". Their ancestral lands historically, however stretched from Klaserie (north of
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Re babina tau dikgoshi maapara nkwe. Ba lekoba, Moletelo le Maripe. Rebagale ba thaba Moholoholo ntwa ga re etshabe. relwa ka matlapa a nkgokolo, ya marumo ya re diegisha. Ra fetsa mapono sello sa kwala
497:
Re mapulana a kgosi kgolo Lepulana Chiloane.Wa Segodi, sa Malekane a mokinane. Ke hlorisha maebane eke mae a Chiloane. Re ba mashila a gatisha. Ya hloka moshidi e shila lehlogwana tsa batho.
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where Masoyi II, grandson of Mashego, was buried). MaPulana historian Moses Mashego tells us, "They had two kings, Mashego and Chiloane; the rest were subjects and chiefs."
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The name Mapulana refers to a common ancestor named Lepulana, his name referring to legendary accounts of his rainmaking abilities. Lepulana was also known as Chiloane.
499:
Retswa Rolong, Phageng Shakwaneng la kgomo le motho. Bare motho lekgomo go phalang? Gophala motho ba sajego. Ge ele kgomo reja rellela teng. Re sa lebelele morago.
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rigorous and lengthy training under a Gobela (Guru). A traditional doctor-in-training is called a letwasane (Sangoma). Rainmaking was also Mapulana's specialty.
504:
Re batau mayila gofenywa. Pula ga re etshabe, re opela koma. Wa re teya ka tladi re e busetsa morago. Re ba molwantwa phaga ya malala moenyane.
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and Shakwaneng (Carolina) in the 1500s. Mapulana of Matshwe got their name from their leader, Pulane. They are offshoots of Amazizi and of
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initiation ceremonies. This system is also used in the go loma maraka (festival of the first harvest) and during the planting season.
224:; it stretches from Crocodile River in the south to the Swazi border (Mapulana of Mashego) in the north, from the Crocodile to
627:
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and BagaMashile in the Matibidi to Lydenburg areas. Mapulana have two senior chiefs, BagaChiloane and Mashego Masoyi.
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group. although it is a northern sotho dialect (Similar to Sepedi-Sesotho Sa Lebowa) it also hugely influenced by
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harvest. It is strongly forbidden to eat any picking unless these processes called go loma (to nibble) was done.
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Other crops like Mjumbula (cassava), Mathape (colocasia), Matlapala etc. being planted at any time of the year.
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and later joined the other Mapulana at Thaba Chueu. The Mapulana of Chiloane, who are Barolong by origin,(A
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provinces. Their language is called Sepulana (SeKutswe and Pai) and is considered a dialect of the
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and along the Lepunama River (Nelspruit), while the Mapulana of Mashego lived at Motsheteng (
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start in September or when plants start to bloom. Therefore, September is the New Year.
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290:, Mapulana of Matshwe I, of Pulane, who are Amazizi, who used to live along the
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Dipholwane (game) was hunted for food, medicinal or ceremonial purposes.
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479:"We are the people of the lion, of the wild cat of Malala of moenyane.
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In December 1864, the MaPulana defeated the Swazis at the battle of
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he turned himself into an anthill to confuse his enemy and escape.
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A human is better since with a cow we cry while we eat the meat.
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before they settled in Thaba Chueu, in what is today eastern
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There are also a significant number of MaPulana living in
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We are people from Phageng, we are people from Shakwaneng.
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Which is more important, the reeds of a cow and a human?
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Batho ba ba boyang Phageng, ba ba boyang Shakwaneng.
628:"The Kindest Cut - Unbundling Mapulana Initiation"
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467:Go phala motho gobane kgomo re lla re djia.
232:in the east, and also includes the towns of
511: KE TSHABA MODITI.
448:. The tribal praise poem goes as follows:
432:
339:
220:The area where the Pulana live is called
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464:Shakwana la kgomo le motho go phalang?
458:Re batau a phaga a Malala a moenyane.
656:Sotho-Tswana peoples in South Africa
521:Most MaPulana live in the area from
32:Regions with significant populations
618:Illustrated History of South Africa
13:
538:(Nelspruit) including present day
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667:
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452:Northern Sotho (MaPulana Dialect)
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444:symbol of the MaPulana is the
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1:
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93:African traditional religion
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561:and Klipgat north west of
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226:Olifants River (Limpopo)
508:PULA-A ENE-PULA--------
433:Etymology and symbolism
238:White River, Mpumalanga
196:Northern Sotho language
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491:
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340:Culture and Traditions
182:ethnic group found in
534:) to as far south as
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100:Related ethnic groups
473:English translation
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583:Nicolette Mashile
230:Lebombo Mountains
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586:Surprise Moriri
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69:Second language
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578:Notable People
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565:as well as in
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228:in the north,
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63:First language
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601:Penny Lebyane
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598:Ronald Lamola
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595:Letago Madibe
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222:Bushbuckridge
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184:Bushbuckridge
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114:Lobedu people
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106:Tswana people
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20:Pulana people
635:. Retrieved
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592:Lebo Mashile
571:Johannesburg
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351:Sotho-Tswana
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292:Tugela River
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219:
175:
171:
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118:Sotho people
89:Christianity
68:
62:
47:South Africa
16:Ethnic group
637:9 September
376:Clan system
288:Thaba Chueu
122:Lozi people
110:Pedi people
52:+/- 800,000
632:News24.com
606:References
559:Winterveld
532:Hoedspruit
523:Hoedspruit
367:Initiation
349:Like most
321:Moholoholo
266:Dullstroom
254:Hoedspruit
188:Mpumalanga
164:Mapulaneng
548:Ohrigstad
517:Territory
407:Livestock
326:Mswati II
314:Barberton
310:Emjindini
306:Nelspruit
262:Lydenburg
258:Barberton
208:Afrikaans
57:Languages
650:Category
569:east of
567:Daveyton
563:Pretoria
555:Mabopane
536:Mbombela
527:Hazyview
502:Swating.
495:Chiloane
416:Calendar
389:Marriage
358:Medicine
345:Religion
330:Klaserie
301:Eswatini
296:setswana
277:origin.
242:Lepunama
234:Hazyview
216:Setswana
200:Xitsonga
180:low-veld
178:, are a
176:Mapulana
156:Sepulana
153:Language
148:Mapulana
140:Mopulana
83:Religion
66:Sepulana
26:Mapulana
540:Graskop
281:History
271:Lesotho
250:Graskop
212:English
192:Limpopo
172:Pulana,
161:Country
73:English
398:Naming
214:, and
145:People
137:Person
132:Pulana
120:, and
77:Sepedi
44:
544:Sabie
442:totem
275:Nguni
246:Sabie
204:Swati
186:near
639:2018
546:and
446:lion
440:The
264:and
190:and
170:The
525:to
244:),
174:or
652::
630:.
557:,
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332:)
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240:(
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