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The Place of the North-Eastern Transvaal Sotho in the South Bantu Complex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2012

Eileen Jensen Krige
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Extract

The Sotho of the North-Eastern Transvaal Lowveld occupy an area with fairly well-marked geographical boundaries. To the east, the Game Reserve, low-lying, unhealthy, very sparsely populated even in the old days, remains an effective barrier to contact with and further migrations from the Shangana-Tonga of Portuguese East Africa. South are the Olifants River and the towering Drakensberg range curving north-west then northwards to merge into the well-marked escarpment on the west dividing Lowveld from Highveld. On the north the Klein Letaba river roughly demarcates our area from the Venda and the Shangana-Tonga of the Knobnose Location. The Sotho-speaking Venda of Tswale and Moila, who fall well within this area, resemble in culture their Sotho-ized neighbours more than their own Venda kin to the north; but the Shangana- Tonga, who occupy most of the lower-lying eastern and north-eastern portion of the area and comprise at least one-third of its total population, are unassimilated strangers of different stock coming from the north-east and east. They have been entering since about 1840, usually in small bands, at first seeking the protection of and subjecting themselves to the Sotho owners of the land. On the arrival of the white man, some of their headmen were granted independent locations which have served as nuclei for the building up of more united tribal groups. (See accompanying map.)

Résumé

Les tribus sotho habitant le Lowveld du Transvaal nord-oriental, bien que faisant partie d'un grand ensemble culturel, englobant tous les peuples de l'Afrique du Sud qui parlent le sotho, accusent cependant un certain nombre de caractères distinctifs parmi lesquels on peut citer le suicide rituel du chef, la reconnaissance des femmes comme souverain, un culte des tambours sacrés. Ces phénomènes n'existent pas dans les tribus voisines. Les principaux aspects de cette civilisation sont brièvement indiqués sous les titres de: économie tribale; organisation politique et situation du chef; rêves juridiques et tribunaux; families et clans; éducation cérémonielle; mariage; religion et sorcellerie. L'étude se termine par des comparaisons; les différences constatées parmi les autres tribus bantoues du sud, en particulier le groupe Nguni, sont indiquées.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , July 1938 , pp. 265 - 293
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1938

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References

page 270 note 1 These two features occur together in the most important tribes of the Lowveld such as the Lobedu, Khaha, Narene, Thabina. The only tribes to whom this institution is foreign are the Phalaborwa and Tsubye and the two Venda tribes of Moila and Tswale. Sekhopo and Radwadu, sections of the Balobedu, broke away when the first woman succeeded and themselves have only men rulers.

page 273 note 1 Some one is, of course, inside to hold the door against the wrong claimants and in Modjadji's tribe the chief always has one hut with two doors, said to be for this purpose.

page 273 note 2 The rangoane (father's brother) or rakhadi (father's sister) are often important advisers or, especially where a woman is ruling, the malume (mother's brother).

page 274 note 1 Except among Phalaborwa, Tsubye, and the people of Tswale and Sekhopo.

page 277 note 1 In late years these schools have been languishing or dying out in the northern portion of our culture area. The Lobedu have held neither byale nor komana for 30 years, while their last circumcision was in 1919. In the south of the area, on the other hand, all the schools are still in full swing, the Letswalo having held their last bodika in 1934 and byale in 1936.

page 281 note 1 Among Venda, dhadyani are thought to be mountain spirits with one leg, one arm, &c, the sight of whom brings death to the traveller. They have no connexion with ancestor worship and are said to be mostly of Sotho origin. This is clearly a borrowing.

page 282 note 1 The Venda pour the beer on the beast.

page 288 note 1 This difference is a modern one, due to adoption by Lowveld Sotho of the Shangana-Tonga wooden stamping-block.