The Modjadji is believed to be the only traditional ruling queen in Southern Africa ruling over the Balobedu (aka Lovedu/Lobedu ) tribe.

"The Modjadji did not depend on an army to maintain peace, stability and political integrity in her territory. She accomplished this through her ritual position as rainmaker and through marriage ties. Her enemies were afraid of attacking her as rain is a necessary element for human survival, fearing the consequences - drought and famine"

Origins

According to legend, the rain queen of the Lovedu descends from the royal house of Monomotapa who reigned in the 1400s and 1500s over the territory now known as Zimbabwe. In the 1580s the royal house experienced a scandal when one of the princes had a relationship with his sister, Dzugundini. The relationship produced a son (Makhaphele) and Dzugundini fled south with some supporters where they settled peacefully among the Sotho.

Makhaphele had 3 sons Mohale, Ragolane and Kgada. Mohale succeeded his father and led the people to the Thlohlokwe mountain range where there was a hostile takeover from the existing inhabitants, after the victory Mohale took over the whole valley and named it Bolobedu.

Between 1729 and 1849 there was a leadership crisis under Chief Mugodo as sons and councilmen wanted to takeover, the chief solved the crisis after being told by his ancestors that he would be succeeded a woman in whose veins would run the blood of Monomotapa/Mwanamotapa which the people accepted.

Maselekwane (Chief Mugodo daughter) was the first rain queen to be crowned and took the name Modjadji I. That’s how a new dynasty arising from a woman was founded and so restoring the tribe’s matrilateral tradition. For the past six generations they have had female rulers, all bearing the dynastic title ‘Modjadji’, the legendary ‘Rain Queen'.

The Queen

The Queen Modjadji has always been surrounded by an atmosphere of mystery. Strangers were not allowed to see the real Queen, but only a substitute. According to custom, the Queen had to abstain from public functions, thus creating mysticism fuelled by isolation. The Modjadji did not leave her kraal and very few people outside her royal village would have seen her. She communicated with her people via her male councilors and village headman and chiefs. She did attend the annual rain making ceremonies which took/take place at her royal compound. The Queen was/is believed to possess the magic of rain-making was believed to be so powerful that she received gifts and rain making requests from many renowned leaders. She was also gifted wives by neighbouring Chiefs in the region. It should be noted that the Queen could marry as many wives as she wished. It is also believed the Modjadji I's reputation as a rainmaker was so respected that even Chaka/ Shaka, the king of the Zulus, turned to her for help to relieve Zululand from a prolonged drought.

The Queen also possess sacred rainmaking objects such as rain beads, rain horns containing rain medicine, and rain pots filled with sacred water all which are kept in secrecy in a rain hut that is in close proximity to the queen’s residence. These are believed to be from the royal house of Monomotapa. It is believed that the Balobedu use the body dirt and skin of deceased queens as part of the rainmaking medicine.

Because of their diplomacy, reputation as rainmakers, and strategic position in the mountains, the Lobedu were the most influential tribe between the Levubu and the Olifants rivers in their well-protected sanctuary in the mountains. Unlike other chiefs, The Modjadji did not depend on an army to maintain peace, stability and political integrity in her territory. She accomplished this through her ritual position as rainmaker and through marriage ties. Her enemies were afraid of attacking her as rain is a necessary element for human survival, fearing the consequences - drought and famine.

Rainmaking

The Queen is not only regarded as the ‘transformer of the clouds’, but also as the modifier of the seasons and the guarantor of their cyclic regularity. The queen is in possession of rain horns (dinaga ja bula) filled with medicine (dithugula). According to researchers - the medicine is burnt to produce smoke which rises up in the air to draw and produce the required clouds for rain to fall. Rain is supposed to fall as long as the horns are placed on the ground, but when they are hung up, the weather clears and the sky becomes dry. The Queen’s rainmaking ability takes continuous care of her people in times of severe drought as well as in good seasons. According to Lobedu interlocutors, the Queen’s emotional state affects her rainmaking powers. When she feels upset, sad, dissatisfied or angry, her powers are reduced and her work is less successful.

The Rain Queen does/did not work alone. Although the queen assumes total responsibility for rain and fertility however she always has a rain-doctor (moroka wa pula) who co-operates with her. For example a rain-doctor will reveal to the queen the forces that were preventing her powers from working properly and remove them.

Approaching Queen Modjadji for rain was no easy task. Councillors whom she held in high esteem or important relatives could approach her in person; district heads had to pay tribute to her (ho lova) in the form of money, cattle or gifts; dancing groups of her people could visit her ‘to evoke her pity at the sorrowful sight of people dancing in summer when they ought to be ploughing’.

The Kingdom

The kingdom of the Balobedu covers a small area which is situated in the northern part of the Limpopo Province in South Africa, the Bolobedu central place is Khehlakong.

This area also contains the Modjadji cycad sacred forest which was used for traditional ceremonies. This is the only pure stand of these ancient plants in the southern part of Africa. One of the most beautiful cycads – Encephalartos transvenosus grows (known as Mofakas) in the sacred forest - a tree that symbolises ice according to the local dialect. This is one of the largest cycads which grows up to 12.2 m tall and its stem reaches a diameter of 0.4 – 0.45 m. The trees have beautiful, shiny green leaves which are up to 2.4 m long as well as giant cones which are up to 40 kg heavy and up to 1 m long. A forest of these plants is very unusual – this could be the forest of prehistoric times when dinosaurs were still alive. Local people have protected this sacred forest for generations and continue to do this now and as a result the cycads are also protected.

“Khelobedu” is the language spoken in and around Balobedu people. Khelobedu is grammatically similar to both Tshivenda and Sesotho.

References https://uncensoredopinion.co.za/the-forgotten-tribe-of-balobedu-also-known-as-the-rain-queen-kingdom/ Rain songs and the observance of the rain cult amongst the Lobedu people of Queen Modjadji1 Annekie Joubert http://rainqueensofafrica.com/2011/03/modjadji-the-rain-queen/ https://www.wondermondo.com/modjadji-cycad-forest/