The Balobedu people of the Limpopo province in South Africa have (since the 1800s) had a firm belief that their Rain Queen Modjadji had special powers amongst which was the power to control the clouds and therefore, rainfall. Wikipedia states that her "mystical rain making powers are reinforced by the beautiful garden which surrounds her royal compound. Surrounded by a parched land, her garden contains the world's largest cyad trees which are in abundance under a spectacular rain belt". There hasn't been a rain queen since 12 June 2005, following the death of Queen Makobo Modjadji. I won't get into the nitty gritty of the drama that that family is facing.
After over 150 days without rain, we had our first Spring Rain in Johannesburg today. It was short-lived but we enjoyed it and tweeted about it all afternoon.
But before we get into that, let's rewind back to 26 years ago when, in the Kwatlhai household, my mothers water broke in the middle of a mourning period. Born June 21st on a rainy Thursday, I came into the world two days before my grandfathers' funeral. My mom had always wanted to name me Palesa (flower) but because of the circumstances of my birth, she didn't want me to have a name synonymous with darkness which in this case would be a wreath. Other family members suggested "Dikeledi" (tears) and others wanted me to be named after my grandfather. Mom wouldn't have it. She and dad decided to name me Motlalepule (the one who came with rain/rain maker) and later explained to me the rain (blessing) that I came with washed away their tears from having lost a loved one.
I thought it was very poetic that I would have my first post on a rainy Spring Thursday evening like the first breath I took 26 years ago, on a rainy Winter Thursday morning.
My name is Motlalepule Kwatlhai, welcome to my world of words; a kingdom where I am the Reigning Queen.
No comments:
Post a Comment