Contents
1. Introduction
Introduction
Early Life
Mavhula was the third born son of Machipi Machethe and N'waxisalela Ngobeni. Machipi had five children, namely: Maite(c. 1843 - 1927), Mothephe(c. 1848 - 1898), James Mavhula (c. 1857 - 1956), Jan (c. 1861 - 1958) and Ben Moloiwa (c. 1869 - 1952) respectively, from the eldest to the youngest. Maite was the only daughter in the five children. Most her female grandchildren bear her name today.
Much of this family's early roots is unknown, however, from their family praise it is clear that they have been in Makwa for much longer a period. Makwa is what has today evolved to Soekmekaar and the surrounding areas. Their mention of Zwaine in the family praise, which loosely translates to a place of salt, agrees with the geography of the surrounding areas in the Molemole municipality of Capricorn Region as it is known today. These lands are rich in salt mines.
From the interviews conducted, it could be established that Mavhula and his siblings were born and raised in Makwa. He has lived under the authority of King Makwa, tended his father's cattle like any other boy until he was a man. As it expected in the African culture, and in particular that of his own people, he went to the mountain school for his initiation. And given the time of his youth, school and education were unavailable to him.
It is hard to tell what factors under his childhood could have brought about a giant with such massive goals in life as is evident in his visionary life. Others would agree, given his approach to life and wealth, that Mavhula lived beyond his time. From nothing, he accumulated hundreds of cattle, donkeys, goats and had a farming approach that covered tens of hectares of land. The more reasons he sought more and more wives to assist in moulding his wealth.
In the same period, his elder brother Mothephe passed away, leaving his widow. In their culture it was expected of him, Mavhula, to take care of the widow. She became his first, family accepted woman.
He married twelve more wives in the following years, to a known number of fourteen. All his wives, to the last, he married them while at Makwa.
So many stories are told, of a man with a vision for a better community, and of his humour, including rumours of how he used his wives to accumulate his wealth. According to narrations from his surviving children, Mavhula would brew the African beer weekly for his community, free of charge. It is said that his compound was celebration all week long, a haven for the hungry. He was the only man during his time who could bring community people together for free lunch and beer.
Another story tells of how, at some point, he prepared a dog for meat, for the same men who drank at his place. Accordingly, each time they met to share the calabash, he would provide meals, and meat was a constant. This day he killed his dog, prepared it, and served it to his visitors. After the meal, when asked if they could dine on dog meat, none of them would agree. He later showed them the dog's head.
A rumour also has it that, the same men, drunk from free beer, would sneak in his wives huts. Allegedly, this was his intention, to bring them together under one roof for his alterior gain. He would intentionally go to his hut early, leaving the men to feast alone, his wives serving them. He would later go hut after hut, doing security checks. Those caught red-handed would be presented with an ultimatum: either to bring a calf or face his wreath. The same would go for the woman, who would either bring a goat or go home for good.
But fate had long decided that Makwa was not his place. When his daughter whom he had arranged to be married at his aunt's house chose to run with King Makwa's son, things turned sour. It is said that after months of requesting the king to bring his daughter back home failed, Mavhula stormed in their weekly gathering with a sjambok, hitting everything in his way.
In weeks following the events of the sjambok, his rights to stay at his homeland was terminated. He had to leave at once. The king's orders, coupled by the then colonial Magistrate's letter, he was forced to find a new home for his vast home. Those who experienced it first hand tell of an emotional time. Parting ways with tens of hectares of farming and grazing lands, reliable sources of drinking water for him and his livestock and the altars of his forefathers.
All roads led to Lebaka area, under Kgosi Khosothupa, where his elder sister Maite was married. His removal could have not come at a better time. His younger brother Moloiwa Ben, who had moved with his sister Maite to Lebaka earlier on, had been honoured with a plot of land in the vicinity. It is told that Ben was given the land as a payment for the service he rendered to the government of the time. The land stretched from the immediate borders of Lebaka to the furthest south, about 4800 hectares in area. It is unclear whether he served as a police or soldier, but the job had to do with national security. This was Mavhula's starting point.
Mavhula moved further South, following fertile soil for his farming needs. Here he established his compound, farmed even larger hectares of land. This was before the establishment of Rosi's farm. Rosi's farm runs adjacent to Ga-Maphalle, covering hundreds of hectares. Mavhula's farm and grazing land for his livestock then extended further in the farm area, covering just about 200 hectares.
It all started when some of his relatives joined in and shared in the land. Culturally, land was free. Sharing was a natural thing. It so happens that a community evolved, a community good enough to be called a village. He was considered leader of this clan, owing to his generous nature. Cases as they arose, he solved them. The structure began like a community driven man who wanted to keep order but soon took a shape of a Kingdom. A dynasty was realised.
King Khosothupa recognised the dynasty. He endorsed it. And occasionally helped in resolving much complex cases. In their time, seeking assistance did not mean allegiance. What one could not address could possibly be addressed by another. Unity prevailed above ego. Mavhula was an independent ruler of his newly established kingdom.
It can be shown however, that due to its nature of formation, it lacked the formalities of most royal houses. This can be attributed to the fact that he himself hardly acknowledged himself as King. It was to him, and remained for much of his leadership days, a role of keeping law and order, which the oral evidence prove he did with exceptional excellence.
Times were changing. The advent of the white man's imposed rule was at its dawn. And age was catching up with him. He was old when it was announced in the mid 1960s that they had to relocate from Pipa, to Bantu Stands, to give way to white farmers. He was pushed to the west of his location, where he re-established himself and ran his kingdom as usual. But not for long.
Still in progress...
* (As of writing this article, one Krugerrand sold for $ 1300 = R 15600. The pot described is roughly 25ml in volume. A full pot can carry about 2000 such coins. Their value could be R 31200 000!)
2. Early Life
3. Family and Marriage
4. Relocation from Makwa to Lebaka
5. The Machipi Dynasty
6. Legacy
7. Conclusion
Introduction
James "Mavhula" Machipi ( c. 1857 - 1956) , popularly known as Mavhula is the most revered, most respected and the common ancestral name on the lips of Machipi family. His name resonates in the family's altars where the African ancestral worship is still held intact. His descendants do all in their capacity to outperform one another in pleasing him from the other side of the grave.
His influence remains, and will probably spread wider with time. One of the most cherished rumour in the family makes him even more popular in death. It is said that Mavhula left behind a large pot full of gold Kruger rands(*), buried underneath what used to be his hut. It has become fashionable among those who know, to attract his attention by any means. It is said, the chosen one will be directed to the pot.
A man of fourteen wives, and a determined large-scale subsistence farmer, Mavhula founded what is today Ga-Maphalle village which he was ruler until his passing in 1956. It is said that at one time he challenged a neighboring white farmer in a feast battle. The farmer, as it is narrated, was against his cattle passing via the farm. Mavhula had been using the passage long before the farm was erected. They agreed to settle their dispute on a feast fight. Mavhula won.
His influence remains, and will probably spread wider with time. One of the most cherished rumour in the family makes him even more popular in death. It is said that Mavhula left behind a large pot full of gold Kruger rands(*), buried underneath what used to be his hut. It has become fashionable among those who know, to attract his attention by any means. It is said, the chosen one will be directed to the pot.
A man of fourteen wives, and a determined large-scale subsistence farmer, Mavhula founded what is today Ga-Maphalle village which he was ruler until his passing in 1956. It is said that at one time he challenged a neighboring white farmer in a feast battle. The farmer, as it is narrated, was against his cattle passing via the farm. Mavhula had been using the passage long before the farm was erected. They agreed to settle their dispute on a feast fight. Mavhula won.
Early Life
Much of this family's early roots is unknown, however, from their family praise it is clear that they have been in Makwa for much longer a period. Makwa is what has today evolved to Soekmekaar and the surrounding areas. Their mention of Zwaine in the family praise, which loosely translates to a place of salt, agrees with the geography of the surrounding areas in the Molemole municipality of Capricorn Region as it is known today. These lands are rich in salt mines.
From the interviews conducted, it could be established that Mavhula and his siblings were born and raised in Makwa. He has lived under the authority of King Makwa, tended his father's cattle like any other boy until he was a man. As it expected in the African culture, and in particular that of his own people, he went to the mountain school for his initiation. And given the time of his youth, school and education were unavailable to him.
It is hard to tell what factors under his childhood could have brought about a giant with such massive goals in life as is evident in his visionary life. Others would agree, given his approach to life and wealth, that Mavhula lived beyond his time. From nothing, he accumulated hundreds of cattle, donkeys, goats and had a farming approach that covered tens of hectares of land. The more reasons he sought more and more wives to assist in moulding his wealth.
Family and Marriage
When he was come of age, as expected, Mavhula brought a woman in his father's house. This was to be his first wife. It is said that despite Mavhula's love for her, she was not accepted by his mother, N'waxisalela. N'waxisalela's rejection of the woman meant that she could not stay. Mavhula found a place for her, outside his father's compound, where he continued to love her.In the same period, his elder brother Mothephe passed away, leaving his widow. In their culture it was expected of him, Mavhula, to take care of the widow. She became his first, family accepted woman.
He married twelve more wives in the following years, to a known number of fourteen. All his wives, to the last, he married them while at Makwa.
So many stories are told, of a man with a vision for a better community, and of his humour, including rumours of how he used his wives to accumulate his wealth. According to narrations from his surviving children, Mavhula would brew the African beer weekly for his community, free of charge. It is said that his compound was celebration all week long, a haven for the hungry. He was the only man during his time who could bring community people together for free lunch and beer.
Another story tells of how, at some point, he prepared a dog for meat, for the same men who drank at his place. Accordingly, each time they met to share the calabash, he would provide meals, and meat was a constant. This day he killed his dog, prepared it, and served it to his visitors. After the meal, when asked if they could dine on dog meat, none of them would agree. He later showed them the dog's head.
A rumour also has it that, the same men, drunk from free beer, would sneak in his wives huts. Allegedly, this was his intention, to bring them together under one roof for his alterior gain. He would intentionally go to his hut early, leaving the men to feast alone, his wives serving them. He would later go hut after hut, doing security checks. Those caught red-handed would be presented with an ultimatum: either to bring a calf or face his wreath. The same would go for the woman, who would either bring a goat or go home for good.
But fate had long decided that Makwa was not his place. When his daughter whom he had arranged to be married at his aunt's house chose to run with King Makwa's son, things turned sour. It is said that after months of requesting the king to bring his daughter back home failed, Mavhula stormed in their weekly gathering with a sjambok, hitting everything in his way.
In weeks following the events of the sjambok, his rights to stay at his homeland was terminated. He had to leave at once. The king's orders, coupled by the then colonial Magistrate's letter, he was forced to find a new home for his vast home. Those who experienced it first hand tell of an emotional time. Parting ways with tens of hectares of farming and grazing lands, reliable sources of drinking water for him and his livestock and the altars of his forefathers.
All roads led to Lebaka area, under Kgosi Khosothupa, where his elder sister Maite was married. His removal could have not come at a better time. His younger brother Moloiwa Ben, who had moved with his sister Maite to Lebaka earlier on, had been honoured with a plot of land in the vicinity. It is told that Ben was given the land as a payment for the service he rendered to the government of the time. The land stretched from the immediate borders of Lebaka to the furthest south, about 4800 hectares in area. It is unclear whether he served as a police or soldier, but the job had to do with national security. This was Mavhula's starting point.
The Machipi Dynasty
On arrival to Lebaka, his huge family presented a problem. It was too big to accommodate. Fourteen wives and children, and livestock beyond count, the only solution was to point him in the direction of his own land. The vast forest land in the Southern part of Lebaka was given to him. This formed part of the portion of land given to Ben. The area would later be named Pipa, today popularly known as Ga-Maphalle.Mavhula moved further South, following fertile soil for his farming needs. Here he established his compound, farmed even larger hectares of land. This was before the establishment of Rosi's farm. Rosi's farm runs adjacent to Ga-Maphalle, covering hundreds of hectares. Mavhula's farm and grazing land for his livestock then extended further in the farm area, covering just about 200 hectares.
It all started when some of his relatives joined in and shared in the land. Culturally, land was free. Sharing was a natural thing. It so happens that a community evolved, a community good enough to be called a village. He was considered leader of this clan, owing to his generous nature. Cases as they arose, he solved them. The structure began like a community driven man who wanted to keep order but soon took a shape of a Kingdom. A dynasty was realised.
King Khosothupa recognised the dynasty. He endorsed it. And occasionally helped in resolving much complex cases. In their time, seeking assistance did not mean allegiance. What one could not address could possibly be addressed by another. Unity prevailed above ego. Mavhula was an independent ruler of his newly established kingdom.
It can be shown however, that due to its nature of formation, it lacked the formalities of most royal houses. This can be attributed to the fact that he himself hardly acknowledged himself as King. It was to him, and remained for much of his leadership days, a role of keeping law and order, which the oral evidence prove he did with exceptional excellence.
Times were changing. The advent of the white man's imposed rule was at its dawn. And age was catching up with him. He was old when it was announced in the mid 1960s that they had to relocate from Pipa, to Bantu Stands, to give way to white farmers. He was pushed to the west of his location, where he re-established himself and ran his kingdom as usual. But not for long.
Still in progress...
* (As of writing this article, one Krugerrand sold for $ 1300 = R 15600. The pot described is roughly 25ml in volume. A full pot can carry about 2000 such coins. Their value could be R 31200 000!)
Comments
Post a Comment