Lobedu people

The Lobedu or Balobedu also call as the BaLozwi or Bathobolo are the southern African ethnic group. They are initially invited as Bakwebo wild pigs. The hold "balobedu" means "the mineral miners" lobela / go loba - to mine , their ancestors are component of the great mapungbuwe early civilization. They form their own kingdom, the Balobedu Kingdom, within the Limpopo Province of South Africa with a female ruler, the Rain Queen Modjadji.

It is estimated that there is around 1 million BaLobedu in South Africa . Their population is found in Greater Letaba Municipality 171 011 or 80.4% - 2011 census, Greater Tzaneen Municipality 200 000 or 46% -2011 census, Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality 70 000 or 47% - 2011 Census, Greater Giyani Municipality 20 000 or 6.4% - 2011 Census & Ga-Sekgopo villages of Limpopo. Some are found in Gauteng as labour migrants especially in Tembisa & Alexandra townships.

Traditional rulers

The Lobedu have female rulers known as "Rain Queens". The queen is believed to have powers to make rain. The Balobedu Kingdom consists of a number of small groups tied together by their queen. On 12 June 2005, Queen Makobo Modjadji died, leaving no clear successor acceptable to any members of the Queen's Council. The unhurried queen's brother has served as regent since then.

The area of Balobedu consists of around 150 villages and every village has a male or female ruler who represents Modjadji, the rain queen.

The Rain Queen was historically known as an extremely powerful magician who was expert such as lawyers and surveyors to bring rain to her friends and drought to her enemies. Visitors to the area always brought her gifts and tribute, including cattle and their daughters as wives though their role is more akin to what those in the West would call ladies-in-waiting, to appease her so that she would bring rain to their regions. The name Lobedu is thought to derive from this practice, referring to the daughters or sisters who were lost to their families. The rain queen extends her influence through her wives, because they connection her politically to other families or villages.

The Rain Queen was specified in literature as a basis for H. Rider Haggard's novel She.