MaPulana


The MaPulana are a Low-Veld Northern Sotho tribe found in the north eastern part of the Mpumalanga and south eastern Limpopo provinces of South Africa and Botswana. They speak Sepulana which is a Serolong and now a dialect of the broader Northern Sotho language group. Mapulaneng proper stretches from Crodile River in the south to Olifants River in the north, Lebombo Mountains in the east and also includes the whole town of Hazyview,Lepunama Sabie, Graskop, Hoedspruit, Barberton, Lydenburg and Dullstroom in the west. In Sepulana, Mapulaneng means "Place of the Mapulana people"; the tribe derive their name from their founding leader, Lepulana who later changed his name to Chiloane. Mapulana are descendants of Morolong and their origin can be traced back to Kgalagadi before they settled in Thaba Chueu, in what is today eastern Lesotho and Shakwaneng in the 1500s.Mapulana of Matshwe I got their name from their leader Pulane and they are offshoots of Amazizi and they are of Nguni origin. These group of Mapulana joined the other Mapulana of Mohlomi at Thaba Chueu after the death of their leader Tsosane who are Bakwena by origin. Mapulana settled at the Moholoholo area around 1800 and successfully defended the area from Swazi armies who they annihilated at the battle of Moholoholo in December 1864.

History

The origin of the MaPulana and the history of how long they have been living in the greater Mapulaneng area is a topic 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 Thaba Chueu, Mapulana of Matshwe I, of Pulane who are Amazizi and used to live along the Tugela River and later joined the other Mapulana at Thaba Chueu. The Mapulana of Chiloane who are Barolong by origin 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 jnr and Mashego. The two were better warriors and well respected by their followers. A bitter quarrel erupted between the two brothers over a young woman who happen to their cousin and the conflict was concealed by the royal family and told the people that the brothers fought over a grain barn After realising that the people were supporting the elder brother, Mashego left with his followers and settled along some Bakwena in what is present day Swaziland and detached 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 south east of Nelspruit and along the Lepunama River while Mapulana of Mashego lived at Motsheteng
MaPulana historian Moses Mashego tells us "They had two kings, Mashego and Chilwane, the rest were subjects and chiefs."
In December 1864, the MaPulana defeated the Swazi`s at the battle of Moholoholo under the leadership of three 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 Mswati II.The Swazi`s 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
There are legendary tales among the MaPulana about the bravery and cleverness of Sekakole 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 he turned himself into an anthill to confuse his enemy and escape.

Culture and Traditions

Religion

Like most Sotho-Tswana groups, MaPulana believe in Badimo. When they perform their ancestral worship 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 appease the spirits you occasionally need to make sacrifices. During the sacrifices traditional beer is made and an animal has to be a slaughtered. Some blood of the slaughtered animal together with some beer is poured on the legandelo as 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 tree is usually planted on the sacrificial platform.

Medicine

Traditional medicine has been and still is a specialty of Mapulana. This could be attributed to the rich sub tropical climate of Mapulaneng making herbs to grow in abundance. Traditional medicine is dispensed by Dingaka. To become a traditional doctor one has to undergo rigorous and lengthy training under a Gobela. A traditional doctor-in-training is called a letwasane.Rainmaking was also Mapulana's specialty

Initiation

Mapulana initiate their youth into womanhood and manhood. The initiation school 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. An elaborate system is in place to 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, Magolopo. As can be expected women do not have regiments.

Clan system

Mapulana have a class system, known as Dikgoro. There are those who come from Kgorong e kgolo or Kgorong ea nyana. Those from Kgorong e kgolo are of royal blood or are born from the senior wife and are expected to be dikata-pele during initiation ceremonies. This system is also used in the go loma maraka and during the planting season.
The primary Clanships of the MaPulana are bagaMashego, bagaMalele, bagaMogane, bagaChilwane, bagaNonyane,. Both Mashego and Malele are chiefs in the Bushbuckridge area, Chilwane is the chief in the Acornhoek and Pilgrem's Rest area and Mogane and Nonyane in the Graskop and Sabie area.Legendary King of Bapedi ba Mapulana of is buried in Moremi Village Botswana after relocating from Mmalebogo with his clans of Moremi and Mogoma of his uncle Disikalala.

Marriage

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. 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.

Naming

When children are born ba ya relela. 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 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! In essence, grow and be strong.

Livestock

Leruo and mashemo 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. Dipholwane was hunted for food, medicinal or ceremonial purposes.

Calendar

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 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 start in September or when plants start to bloom. Therefore, September is the New Year.
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 get planted first, dintlu last. Other crops like Mjumbula, mathape, matlapala etc. being planted at any time of the year.
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 harvest. It is strongly forbidden to eat any picking unless these processes called go loma was done.

Etymology and symbolism

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.
The totem symbol of the MaPulana is the lion.
The tribal praise poem goes as follows:
Northern Sotho
"Re batau a phaga a Malala a moenyane.
Batho ba ba boyang Phageng, ba ba boyang Shakwaneng.
Shakwana la kgomo le motho go phalang?
Go phala motho gobane kgomo re lla re djia."
English translation
"We are the people of the lion, of the wild cat of Malala of moenyane.
We are people from Phageng, we are people from Shakwaneng.
Which is more important, the reeds of a cow and a human?
A human is better since with a cow we cry while we eat the meat."

Territory

Most MaPulana live in the area from Hoedspruit to Hazyview and their surrounds. This greater area is often referred to as "Mapulaneng" which means "Place of the people of Pulana ". Their ancestral lands historically, however stretched from Klaserie including present day Graskop, Sabie and Ohrigstad.
There are also a significant number of MaPulana living in Mabopane, Winterveld and Klipgat north west of Pretoria as well as in Daveyton east of Johannesburg where there is a street named after the MaPulana. Other Villages of Mapulana include Chochocho

Notable people of MaPulana descent