Va Pedi va Afrika Dzonga

© Dr Peter Magubane

Ku Famba ka va Pedi

Kuya hi ndzhavuko lowu tivekaka, va Pedi vanga landzelerisiwa kukondza hiya fika e Maroteng, swihluke swa va Kgatla, namuntlha i xirho xa nkoka xa va Tswana. Kutshembiwa leswaku malembe lawa yotala swinene lawa ya hundzeke, kwalomu ka 1500, vanhu va Maroteng ava tshama ekusuhi na nambu wa Vaal.

Ehansi ka hosi Tabane laha vanga rhurha kuya tshama laha namunthla hinge hile Skilpadfontein kusuhi na Pretoria. Lava vaswitivaka vahlamusela leswaku hinkarhi waku fuma ka ntukulu wa Tabane wa jaha, Motsha, nsati wakwe wa xirhandzwa, Mmathobele, a hehliwa hikuva a tswale nwana loyi anga rila ahari e khwirini ra mana wa yena (leswi aswitekiwa swiri xikombiso xa vuloyi).

Vakulukumba vakoxile leswaku nwana na mhani wa yena va dlayiwa. Ku sivela leswi, Thobele, loyi anga fuma endzhaku ka Motsha, u phatlukile na vanhu vayena. Yena na valandzeri vayena lavotala, kukatsa na Mmathobele na nwana wakwe, vakongome e vuhuma dyambu, vatsemakanya nambu wa Olifants (Lepelle) River kusuhi na laha namuntlha hinge hile Marble Hall.

Vafike vatshama ekusuhi na nambu wa Steelpoort (Tubatse) kwalomuya ka malembe yava 1650. Loko varikarhi va tsemakanya tintshava ta Leolo Mountains, kuvikiwa kuva vakumile mimitwa ya xihloni ehenhla ka xitshuka, leswi aswi tekiwa tani hi xikombiso xa leswinene. Kusuka kwalano Maroteng u tekile xihloni (noko) lexi tani hi xihadyani lexi ava pfumela eka xona kutani vasungula kuva na vutitivisi byo hlawuleka.

Hiku famba ka nkarhi, Maroteng u tumbuluxile ndzhawu yikulu leyi ayi rhangela. Mavonelo ya hambana eka ndlela leyi va Pedi vanga kuma hakona vito ra vona. Vanwana vatshemba leswaku vito leri i vukungundwani bya Vhambedzi, vito ra ntlawa wa va Venda lava tshamaka etintshaveni ta Leolo Mountains. Kutshembiwa leswaku vadyondzisile nhlayo yotala ya swita swifamba swa Maroteng vuswikoti byo petsa tinsimbi. Eka nkarhi walowo, Vhambedzi vavuye vatwisisiwa hiku olova, leswinga endla leswaku vahlangana kutani vativeka tani hi va Pedi.

Translated by Ike Ngobeni