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In the Bolobedu Mountains in the village called Modjadji close by the holy Rain Forest, 35 kilometre from Duiwelskloof in the Northern Province of South Africa lives Modjadji, the legendary Rain Queen of the Bolobedu people. She recently built herself a beautiful modern palace, and was rewarded recognition by the Weather Bureau in Pretoria for their contribution to the good rains.
The Rain Queen is alive and well, and may be visited with special approval and arrangements by her indunas - or headmen. It is a visit well its worth.
T.V. Bulpin documented the history of Modjadji. He tells the story which beings in Zimbabwe or Bokhalaka, the Land of the Kranga People legendary inhabitants of the Monomotapa Kingdom, in the sixteenth century. Tradition tells that a Kranga princess named Dzugundini had a child after a relationship with her own brother. She fled from the wrath of their father with a handful of loyal followers - stealing the magic tribal rainmaking medicines as she left. For many weary years she wandered southwards in search of sanctuary and eventually with her followers found refuge in the Daja forest in a valley by the Molototsie River.
For two hundred years the tribe of Dzugudini prospered and increased in this tardily and secure place. By the year 1800 the people of Dzugudini was a major tribe. They erected stone terraces and small scaled Zimbabwe ruins as places of worship. At this time the tribe had as their chief Mugodo. In the dark recesses of the Daja forest he held communion with the ghosts who warned him that his sons were plotting his downfall. He killed all his sons and told his daughter it was the desire of the spirits that he must marry her on his death - she should become queen. It was been decreed by the ancestral spirits that a dynasty of women be founded.
He built a secret village deep in the forest where she eventually gave birth to a son, who was immediately strangled. Her second child was a girl, and the female dynasty was founded. When Mugodo died Modjadji became queen. She remained in complete seclusion in her forest retreat. There she busied herself in weaving magic spells which was practised by her ancestors perhaps a thousand years ago. By means of these spells, Modjadji conjure up all manner of myths and fancies around her person. She became renowned as a rainmaker and her reputation spread throughout South Africa. To Modjadji, the Rain Queen, came ambassadors and supplicants for rain. Her prophesies were unquestionable believed like an African Oracle.
The land of Modjadji became known as lo Bedu, "The Land of Offerings", and her people were called the Bolobedu. Modjadji and her people were highly respected and warring tribes never touched them. Even Chaka and Moselekatsi came to her not assegai in the hand but hat in the hand - Modjadji was never seen. Her secrecy brought her greatest fame. All manner of the fantastic myths were spread around her person and power. Among the many myths was the idea that she lived forever. Unfortunately this is not true. Today Modjadji reigns in Bolbedu. In March 1996 she granted interviews to the media who peppered her with questions. She told the media that part of her rain-making rituals take place in October when she pours water onto a shrine in her palace and implore the tribes ancestors to send rain to the region. Beer is brewed and poured on the ground. All the people dink the beer off the ground after which she plays the traditional drums to initiate the rain dance.
She also told the media that the devastating drought of the last 3 years was the result of the angering of the ancestors when some young people burnt down the traditional palace and with it some very important cultural items. Because of this she built a new palace of which each brick was laid wither her own hands. When the palace was finished the rains came.