Imfuduko yama Pedi
Xa kuvakala, ngokwesiko imvelaphi yama Pedi ingabuyiselwa umva kwi Maroteng, iphiko le Kgatla, esisiseko esibalulekileyo kuba Tswana. Kukholelwa okokuba kwinkulungwane ezidlulileyo, kwixesha lo 1500, ama Maroteng ayephila kufuphi ne Vaal, phantsi kwe Nkosi uTabane.
Ngelixesha bafudukela kwindawo namhlanje eyaziwa njenge Skilpadfontein kufuphi ne Pitoli. Iintetha zivakalisa okokuba ngexesha lokuphatha lomzukulwana ka Tabane, uMotsha, inkosikazi yakhe awayeyithanda, uMmathobele, watyholwa ngokuthwala umntwana ‘owalila esesibelekweni’ (kwakukholelwa okokuba yimbonakaliso yobugqwirha). Abadala banyanzelisa umama nomntwana babulawe.
Ukuthintela oku, uThobele, owathabatha indawo ka Motsha, wazikhwebula. Yena nabalandeli abaninzi, kuquka uMmathobele nomntwana wakhe, basingisa ngase mpuma, benqumla i-Olifants umlambo i (Lepelle) kufuphi nendawo kulemihla eyaziwa njenge Marble Hall. Bahlala kumlambo iSteelpoort (Tubatse) ngeminyaka yo 1650.
Ngexesha benqumla intaba iLeolo, kuvakala okokuba bafumana iintsiba zokhwali manzi (porcupine quill) kwi nduli yeembovane, oku kwabonakala kunentsingiselo entle. Ukususela ngelo xesha ama Maroteng athatha ukhwali mani (inoko) njengento ebanikeza intlahla ze baziphilela bodwa. Exesheni aMaroteng athabatha indawo enkulu. Iimbono zohlukile okokuba ama Pedi alifumana kanjani igama lawo.
Okunye okubhaliweyo kukuba igama kukutshabalala kuka Vhambedzi, igama leqela lama Venda ahlala kwintaba uLeolo. Kukholelwa okokuba bafundisa ama Maroteng amaninzi ayengamaveza ndlebe izakhono zothengisa iintsimbi. Ngelo xesha, ama Vhambedzi ayeqhela kancinci-kancinci, isiphumo kukwaziwa njengama Pedi.
Translated by Zikhona Plaatjie