Young royal couple bring joy to community as they continue ages old tradition that seeks to eliminate succession disputes writes Katlego Sekwati
“I feel ready to serve my people. Emotionally and mentally I’m ready. I know who I am. This is not just for anyone, it is a calling. If it’s a gift from your ancestors, you cannot say no. It means they prepared you spiritually.”
With these words Lekgolane Ntwampe (29) accepted her new role as the timamollo of the Mampuru royal family in Mamone in the Sekhukhune District of Limpopo.
The historic royal wedding of Kgoši Malekutu Mampuru IV ‘Ngwato ‘a Bauba’ and Queen Lekgolane took place on the 28 October 2023 at Mamone, a village in the Makhuduthamaga local municipality, Sekhukhune district, Limpopo.
Mampuru IV, a descendant of the legendary crown prince Kgoši Mampuru who was executed by the colonial regime in November 1882, leads the BaPedi ba Mamone Traditional Authority.
In BaPedi culture, timamollo is a wife married on behalf of a royal leader with the sole responsibility of giving birth to an heir to the crown. The timamollo is selected from another royal family to build friendship.
Lekgolane is Mampuru VI’s only wife for now, however he is allowed to marry other wives in future if he so wishes.
Royal family spokesperson Nkwane Chris Sekwati, explained that in BaPedi custom the first son born of the timamollo is the natural successor to the throne.
In recent times the courts have been inundated with cases involving royal families fighting over succession to kingship or chieftaincy. However with Mampuru IV’s marriage to the timamollo especially as the senior wife it is believed this will eliminate any further doubts over the succession in future.
He said they took a decision that Mampuru IV marry the timamollo as a senior wife to further avoid succession conflict in future. The BaPedi ba Mamone offered 13 head of cattle as magadi to the Magakala a Ntwampe as a token of appreciation for Lekgolane’s hand in marriage.
As part of the festivities 15 cattle donated by community members and other well wishers were sacrificed to feed the multitudes who came to join in the celebrations.
“We are very happy as our people put together and contributed in marrying the timamollo. The cattle that were sacrificed for this feast were offered by the community,” said Sekwati.
The evening before the wedding celebrations excited residents ululated in the streets of the village from the mošate (royal house) to welcome the bride. Women from the royal family led the delegation to the mošate singing and dancing to the beating of drums.
A distance away elderly men sang sacred songs from the koma (rite of passage), which are reserved only for special occassions such as the burial or wedding of the kgoši.
In the early morning of the wedding day, the old women and young girls accompanied the bride to the river. This is part of sacred rites passed down from generation to generation to teach and prepare her to be ready to lead the initiation school.
“I am the chest of the royal family. In our culture we don’t marry a women who didn’t go to the initiation school. The kgoši must also undergo initiation before he can take a wife,” said elder Rantubeng Phala, 85.
He said the Mampuru IV underwent his initiation rites school during the year 2000.
“The candle wife was taken to the river to be taught about women’s culture so that by the time she is supposed to lead the women’s initiation school she will be prepared,” said Phala.
“Ba bulele kgoro, molaka ba buleleeeee…” the bear breasted women sang on their way from the river wearing ntepa and theto which cover the loin area, waving tree branches while others beat the drums.
“The bride wears the traditional clothes that show that she doesn’t have a child yet. In our culture we don’t marry a woman who has a child,” said Rantubeng.
In front of the women, men dressed in costumes made from the hides of domestic animals sang in celebration.
Lekgolane said she got to know about Ngwato ‘a Bauba after the families met to discuss their marriage.
In an age where some traditional customs such as arranged marriages are frowned upon by some, Lekgolane expressed excitement at being married to someone from her family who will take a very good care of her unlike being married to a stranger.
The families are related by being from the same royal family tree and both share the totem noko (porcupine).
Queen Lekgolane said she is committed to bring change in Mamone and her wish is for young girls to learn more about their tradition and also accept their roots and be proud of who they are. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
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