Princess Masalanabo Modjadji, who turned 18 on January 20, will be inaugurated as Rain Queen in August after the Balobedu Royal Council endorsed her to ascend to the Modjadji throne.
The inauguration was first planned for April 15, but instead, a party was held to celebrate the princess’ 18th birthday. “In April 2016 the Bolobedu Royal Nation and the government of South Africa celebrated the Modjadji Queenship of Balobedu Royal Nation at Mokwakwaila Stadium. “President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced Her Majesty Queen-elect Masalanabo Modjadji and told the Balobedu nation and South Africa that she will ascend the throne when she turns 18,” said Gabriel Selomela Rasebotsa, secretary of the Balobedu Royal Council.
“The responsibility to establish the queen’s council and to prepare for the coronation now falls in the hands of Balobedu Royal Council. We are going ahead with the inauguration, Masalanabo Modjadji is the rightful queen,” said Rasebotsa. There has been a fierce battle for the throne since the late Rain Queen, Makhobo Madjadji, died in 2005. In May last year, Masalanabo’s brother, Prince Lekukela Modjadji was appointed to the throne by a faction inside of the royal family because of the princess’ alleged lack of knowledge of traditions as she was raised by her father in Gauteng. This was however fiercely disputed.
Both Masalanabo and Lekukela are children of the late Queen Makobo Modjadji. “Those who inaugurated Prince Lekukela last year are trying to ruin our culture. We only have a queen, any man who wants to rule can apply to be a chief or headman,” Rasebotsa said. “We chose August as it is Women’s Month and no one can change the fact that the Balobedu nation will be ruled by a woman.” He said the royal families, Modjadji, Mokoto, Mahasha, Modika, Malemetja, Rabothata, and Mohale are currently planning the coronation of the queen. “On Saturday, the princess celebrated her birthday with her school friends in Gauteng where she is attending school.
She invited her peers from Bolobedu who performed the Modjadji sun dance (khekhapa) and the rain dance (mosebetho). The celebration marked the rebirth of the Modjadji queenship which is known to be the incarnation of the Queen of Heaven (Mwari or Mwali we Denga) and her representative on earth,” Rasebotsa told the Herald. Dr. Mathole Motshekga, a former national executive member of the ANC and in whose household Princess Masalanabo grew up, said that the government, including the former president, Jacob Zuma, and the current president, have recognised Princess Masalanabo as the Rain Queen. “Now that she has turned 18, the only way forward is for her to ascend the throne,” he said.
Source: Letaba Herald
