Instruct
or:
Thete IP
LEARN - ITHUTE
SEPEDI
This is the short manual compiled for Sepedi Language Beginner And
Intermediate Level.
,Table of Contents
PART 1 (CULTURAL ASPECTS)................................................................................ 1
2. NORTHERN SOTHO GROUPS.............................................................................. 2
3. TOTEMS............................................................................................................. 3
4. MODJADJI : RAIN QUEEN..................................................................................... 3
TREE...................................................................................................................... 3
INITIATION GIRLS ENTERTAIN MODJADJI................................................................4
5. CATTLE: TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES & ACTIVITIES............................................5
7. FUNERAL: POLOKO........................................................................................... 10
8. WEDDING: LENYALO........................................................................................ 11
A WEDDING IS THE PERFECT OCCASION TO DRESS UP IN ALL ONE’S FINERY.
THESE GUESTS WEAR ABBREVIATED GATHERED TOPS THAT ARE A MATERNITY
SMOCK INTRODUCED BY THE MISSIONARIES OF LONG AGO................................12
SPLENDIDLY ATTIRED GUESTS, HOLDING FLAMBOYANT RED FANS, AWAIT THE
WEDDING CELEBRATIONS THAT WILL BEGIN AT THE BRIDE’S HOME IN THE
EVENING AND CONTINUE THE FOLLOWING DAY AT THE GROOM’S. FEASTING AND
DANCING WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING..............13
MEETING AND IDENTIFYING PEOPLE....................................................................15
Vocabulary........................................................................................................ 20
Dieyie................................................................................................................... 21
Êê......................................................................................................................... 24
…na?.................................................................................................................... 24
DAILY ROUTINE.................................................................................................... 28
Vocabulary to be learned..................................................................................... 35
ACTIVITY 2........................................................................................................... 36
i
PART 1 (CULTURAL ASPECTS)
HOW DO YOU DO! HELLO! DUMELA! THOBELA!
,1. NAMES
The term Northern Sotho is used to separate this language from the
other two main Sotho groups, i.e. the Southern Sotho and the Tswana
people. In most instances our names are associated with one another
and are usually related to events or objects. Names such as Mahlatse,
Khomotšo and Madimabe are some of the instances and circumstances
which might be decisive in choosing a name for a child. For instance,
should a girl be born during a period of continuous rain, the mother
could call her Mapula, which literally means “mother of the rain.” Should
a boy be born with an exceptionally large nose, he could be called
Ranko which means father of the nose. The words rra (father) and mma
(mother) are often abbreviated to function as prefixes in the process of
creating a name.
Names may also be coined during the initiation school training (koma).
During this sacred period, each member is expected to find himself a
praise name (sereto). Initiates are also expected to compose a praise
poem. Members of the group will always use a person’s praise name to
communicate with him. A mother’s name could also change after the
birth of her son. Should a boy’s name be Lesiba, his mother could be
called Mma’goLesiba. That means Lesiba’s mother. With regards to
the co-habitation of the Sotho people with people of European origin,
Bible names such as Joseph, Paul, John and Moses are still very popular
amongst the Sotho people.
2. NORTHERN SOTHO GROUPS
The term Northern Sotho is sometimes confusing as it is applied as an
umbrella term to refer to a variety of Northern Sotho groups or tribes.
One of the more dominant groups or tribes is the Pedi people. The word
Pedi is derived from the name of an ancestral spirit, Mopedi whose
name often appears in traditional storytelling. Mopedi is also regarded
as a mythical figure. Therefore, an individual is known as a Mopedi, but
as a group they are known as Bapedi. Their language is Sepedi and
some of these people reside in an area known as Bopedi.
Bopedi is situated in the north of the Limpopo province. There are
approximately 10 million Northern Sotho people who are scattered over
Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo province. The following groups
consist of a variety of tribes and are often described as Northern Sothos:
Kutswe, Pai, Pulana, Phalaborwa, Mmamabolo, Lobedu, Kgaga, Birwa,
Tlokwa, Kone, Pedi, Kwena, Roka, Tau, Hananwa, etc.
, ii
3. TOTEMS
Earlier, reference was made to totems which practically bound the first
Sotho groups moving into South Africa, together. A totem is an animal,
bird or natural phenomenon which a group regards as a symbol of
prosperity. They also believe that the totem bears the blessing of the
ancestors.
The porcupine (noko) was extremely popular amongst the Pedi groups.
The totem animal was not worshipped but was never killed or eaten.
Examples of totems of the different groups include the eland, ant eater,
wild pig, porcupine, buffalo, kudu, elephant, crocodile, lion and baboon.
In the past, but even today groups and tribes are often distinguished
from each other on grounds of their traditional totems.
The crocodile (kwena) is a popular totem which was adopted by various
Sotho groups. These groups are referred to as the Bakwena. There is
also the Lion people (Batau), the Kudu people (Barolong), the Leopard
people (Bankwe) and the Wild Cat people (Batlokwa).
4. MODJADJI : RAIN QUEEN
MODJADJI IN
TRADITIONAL
ATTIRE:
MAGICAL RAIN
TREE
or:
Thete IP
LEARN - ITHUTE
SEPEDI
This is the short manual compiled for Sepedi Language Beginner And
Intermediate Level.
,Table of Contents
PART 1 (CULTURAL ASPECTS)................................................................................ 1
2. NORTHERN SOTHO GROUPS.............................................................................. 2
3. TOTEMS............................................................................................................. 3
4. MODJADJI : RAIN QUEEN..................................................................................... 3
TREE...................................................................................................................... 3
INITIATION GIRLS ENTERTAIN MODJADJI................................................................4
5. CATTLE: TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES & ACTIVITIES............................................5
7. FUNERAL: POLOKO........................................................................................... 10
8. WEDDING: LENYALO........................................................................................ 11
A WEDDING IS THE PERFECT OCCASION TO DRESS UP IN ALL ONE’S FINERY.
THESE GUESTS WEAR ABBREVIATED GATHERED TOPS THAT ARE A MATERNITY
SMOCK INTRODUCED BY THE MISSIONARIES OF LONG AGO................................12
SPLENDIDLY ATTIRED GUESTS, HOLDING FLAMBOYANT RED FANS, AWAIT THE
WEDDING CELEBRATIONS THAT WILL BEGIN AT THE BRIDE’S HOME IN THE
EVENING AND CONTINUE THE FOLLOWING DAY AT THE GROOM’S. FEASTING AND
DANCING WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING..............13
MEETING AND IDENTIFYING PEOPLE....................................................................15
Vocabulary........................................................................................................ 20
Dieyie................................................................................................................... 21
Êê......................................................................................................................... 24
…na?.................................................................................................................... 24
DAILY ROUTINE.................................................................................................... 28
Vocabulary to be learned..................................................................................... 35
ACTIVITY 2........................................................................................................... 36
i
PART 1 (CULTURAL ASPECTS)
HOW DO YOU DO! HELLO! DUMELA! THOBELA!
,1. NAMES
The term Northern Sotho is used to separate this language from the
other two main Sotho groups, i.e. the Southern Sotho and the Tswana
people. In most instances our names are associated with one another
and are usually related to events or objects. Names such as Mahlatse,
Khomotšo and Madimabe are some of the instances and circumstances
which might be decisive in choosing a name for a child. For instance,
should a girl be born during a period of continuous rain, the mother
could call her Mapula, which literally means “mother of the rain.” Should
a boy be born with an exceptionally large nose, he could be called
Ranko which means father of the nose. The words rra (father) and mma
(mother) are often abbreviated to function as prefixes in the process of
creating a name.
Names may also be coined during the initiation school training (koma).
During this sacred period, each member is expected to find himself a
praise name (sereto). Initiates are also expected to compose a praise
poem. Members of the group will always use a person’s praise name to
communicate with him. A mother’s name could also change after the
birth of her son. Should a boy’s name be Lesiba, his mother could be
called Mma’goLesiba. That means Lesiba’s mother. With regards to
the co-habitation of the Sotho people with people of European origin,
Bible names such as Joseph, Paul, John and Moses are still very popular
amongst the Sotho people.
2. NORTHERN SOTHO GROUPS
The term Northern Sotho is sometimes confusing as it is applied as an
umbrella term to refer to a variety of Northern Sotho groups or tribes.
One of the more dominant groups or tribes is the Pedi people. The word
Pedi is derived from the name of an ancestral spirit, Mopedi whose
name often appears in traditional storytelling. Mopedi is also regarded
as a mythical figure. Therefore, an individual is known as a Mopedi, but
as a group they are known as Bapedi. Their language is Sepedi and
some of these people reside in an area known as Bopedi.
Bopedi is situated in the north of the Limpopo province. There are
approximately 10 million Northern Sotho people who are scattered over
Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo province. The following groups
consist of a variety of tribes and are often described as Northern Sothos:
Kutswe, Pai, Pulana, Phalaborwa, Mmamabolo, Lobedu, Kgaga, Birwa,
Tlokwa, Kone, Pedi, Kwena, Roka, Tau, Hananwa, etc.
, ii
3. TOTEMS
Earlier, reference was made to totems which practically bound the first
Sotho groups moving into South Africa, together. A totem is an animal,
bird or natural phenomenon which a group regards as a symbol of
prosperity. They also believe that the totem bears the blessing of the
ancestors.
The porcupine (noko) was extremely popular amongst the Pedi groups.
The totem animal was not worshipped but was never killed or eaten.
Examples of totems of the different groups include the eland, ant eater,
wild pig, porcupine, buffalo, kudu, elephant, crocodile, lion and baboon.
In the past, but even today groups and tribes are often distinguished
from each other on grounds of their traditional totems.
The crocodile (kwena) is a popular totem which was adopted by various
Sotho groups. These groups are referred to as the Bakwena. There is
also the Lion people (Batau), the Kudu people (Barolong), the Leopard
people (Bankwe) and the Wild Cat people (Batlokwa).
4. MODJADJI : RAIN QUEEN
MODJADJI IN
TRADITIONAL
ATTIRE:
MAGICAL RAIN
TREE
