Pedi (people)

Pedi’s modern habitat, Seuhuneland, is located between the Olifants River and the Stilpurt tributary; it borders in the east with the Drakensberg, as well as the mountains of Leolo. Previously, the territory occupied by this tribe was many times larger and stretched from Rustenberg to the Waal River in the south. But after the victory of Great Britain in the war in 1879, Pedi’s territory was significantly reduced.

Around 1650, they settled in the area to the south of the Tubets River (which is the current habitat). Here the tribe began to develop and interact with other peoples in this area. Only in the second half of the 18th century did they expand their influence by uniting with neighboring tribes and inviting powerful leaders to rule the tribe. The peak of the Pedi tribe flourished in the years 1790-1820 during the reign of Tuleira. By the end of his reign, the tribe was weakened by constant wars with the invaders Ndvandwe from the southeast. Tuleira's son, Sekvati, managed to stabilize the state and suppress numerous raids by other tribes. He conducted many negotiations with African farmers (boers) in order to maintain control over their lands and not resort to violence ^[1] . By 1870, Pedy was one of three alternative sources of local government, along with Swazi and South Africa, which the Boers had created. The intensification of the struggle between the Boers and Pedi for the land led to the war in 1876, in which the Boer and Swazi forces were defeated ^[2] .

The hereditary religion (phase) included the sacrifice of an animal from both the mother and the father. The key figure in the family ritual was the kkadi (father’s elder sister). The position of ngak was inherited in a patrilineal way earlier, but now it is usually inherited by a woman from his paternal grandfather or great-grandfather.

Now most of the Lady Christians, but some still adhere to traditional religion and traditional customs.

The main traditional occupations are manual farming (sorghum, corn) and cattle breeding (large and small cattle). Traditional crafts - pottery (large vessels with red engobe and glazing), making wooden utensils (spoons, cups, benches) with geometric patterns, products from multi-colored beads. The dwelling is round, with a conical roof, the walls are wicker and plastered with clay, often painted. A variety of outbuildings (granaries, storerooms, kitchens). Traditional men's clothing - cloak-carossa, loincloth, modern - European type. Women continue to wear long blue dresses, decorated with bright edging and beads. Food - cereal and cakes of corn, sorghum, millet, vegetables, milk.

• Nakedi Ribane
• Africa Tcoai
• Seputla Sebogodi
• Tokyo Seksvale
• Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
• Caster Semenya
• Cyril Ramaphos
• Kaifus Semenya
• Manoko Semenya
• Lydia Mokgoloshi
• Dr. Mammfel Ramfel
• Ngoako Ramatllodi
• Manche Mazemola ^[3]

• Delius, Peter The Land Belongs to Us; The Pedi Polity, the Boers and the British in the Nineteenth Century Transvaal London 1984
• http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol025hk.html
• http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rsa/bapedi-kingdom.htm
• http://www.travel-journal.ru/ethno/43/1155/