Sekhukhuneland

Sekhukhuneland
Natural region

Sekhukhuneland
Country South Africa
Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "article name needed". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
Sekhukhuneland
Location of Sekhukhuneland in South Africa

Sekhukhuneland or Sekukuniland (Afrikaans: Sekoekoeniland) is a natural region in NE South Africa, located in the historical Transvaal zone, former Transvaal Province.

Geography

This region is mainly covered by grassland[1] and was inhabited traditionally by the Bapedi in an area stretching across central and northern Transvaal.[2]

Sekhukhuneland lies in present-day Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, between the Olifants River (Lepelle) and its tributary the Steelpoort River (Tubatse); bordered on the east by the Drakensberg Range, and crossed by the Thaba Ya Sekhukhune in the southeast and the Leolo Mountains in the north.

History

At the height of the Pedi power under Thulare, about 1790-1820, historical Sekhukhuneland included an area stretching from the site of present-day Rustenburg in the east to the Lowveld in the west, and ranging as far south as the Vaal river.

The area under Pedi control was severely limited after the military campaigns by British troops in 1879. Following their defeat native reserves were created for the Pedi and for other northern Sotho people groups by the Transvaal Republic's Native Location Commission.[3]

Between 1972 and 1994 part of Sekhukhuneland was included in the Lebowa bantustan. The territory was not homogeneous, being divided into two major and several minor portions.[4] Having been intended as a homeland for the Northern Sotho speaking tribes such as the Pedi, Lebowa included swathes of Sekukuniland. However, various other non Northern Sotho Speaking tribes, including the Northern Ndebele, Batswana and VhaTsonga lived in the bantustan as well.

Sekukuniland is named after Pedi chief Sekhukhune or Sekukuni, who succeeded Sekwati in 1860 or 1861,[5] and it is the only native region in South Africa named after a famous local chief.[6] Present day Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo Province is named after this natural region.

South African artist Johannes Segogela, renowned internationally for his wooden sculptures, was born in Sekukuniland in 1936.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sekhukhuneland grasslands: a treasure house of biodiversity
  2. ↑ Death and burial customs of the Bapedi of Sekukuniland
  3. ↑ The Sekukuni Wars Part II
  4. ↑ Lebowa - Brittanica Online
  5. ↑ Dictionary of Southern African Place Names
  6. ↑ Military History Journal, Vol 2 No 5 - The Sekukuni Wars Part I
  7. ↑ Art from the African Diaspora - Johannes Segogela

Bibliography

Coordinates: 24°26′22″S 29°56′44″E / 24.43944°S 29.94556°E / -24.43944; 29.94556

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