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Kalanga people

May 12, 2024

Not to be confused with Kalagan people.

The Kalanga or BaKalanga are a southern Bantu ethnic group mainly inhabiting Matebeleland in Zimbabwe, northern Botswana, and parts of the Limpopo Province in South Africa.

BaKalanga
Kalanga woman from Botswana
Total population
1.7 million
Regions with significant populations
 Zimbabwe1.1 million[1]
 Botswana600,000[1]
Languages
TjiKalanga, Shona languages ,Xitsonga,TshiVenda language
Religion
African Traditional Religion, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Shona people, Venda people, and Southern Bantu peoples

The BaKalanga of Botswana are the second largest ethnic group in the country, and their language being the second most spoken in the country (being most prevalent in the North).

The TjiKalanga language of Zimbabwe is the third most spoken language in the country, however, being recognized as a Western Shona branch of the Shona group of languages. It is likewise used in mass media.

Language edit

The native language of the baKalanga has two varieties: 1) TjiKalanga, or simply Kalanga, in western Zimbabwe, 2) Ikalanga in northeastern Botswana. Together with the Nambya language, these varieties form the western branch of the shona group (Guthrie S.10) that also includes Central Shona.[2] Kalanga-speakers once numbered over 1,700,000, though they are now much reduced, often speaking Ndebele or Central Shona languages in Zimbabwe, Tswana in Botswana, and other local languages of the surrounding peoples of southern Africa.[2]

The BaKalanga are one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in Botswana. The 1946 census indicated that there were 32,777 (40% of the numerically largest district) BaKalanga in the Bamangwato (Central) District.[3]

History edit

 
Kalanga knives with wooden sheaths; wooden pillows. From a 1910 ethnographical work.

According to Huffman (2008), the original Bakalanga people descended from Leopard's Kopje farmers.[4] These people occupied areas covering parts of north eastern Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, adjacent parts of South Africa and Mozambique by around AD 100. They traded in ivory, furs and feathers with the Indian Ocean coast for goods such as glass beads and cotton clothes.[5] The majority of these prehistoric Bakalanga villages have been discovered in Botswana and Zimbabwe in areas close to major rivers and were usually built on terraced hilltops with stone walls built around them.[6]

The Kalanga are linked to such early African States as Mapungubgwe, Khami, and the Rozvi Empire.[7] The early Bakalanga people living in the Shashe-Limpopo basin monopolised trade due to their access to the Indian Ocean coast. By around AD 1220 a new and more powerful kingdom developed around Mapungubgwe Hill, near Botswana's border with South Africa. Some of the early Bakalanga people living in the lower Shashe-Limpopo valley probably moved towards or became part of this newly formed kingdom. But studies of climatic data from the area suggest that a disastrous drought soon struck Mapungubgwe, and the Shashe-Limpopo region was uninhabited between A.D 1300 and 1420, forcing the ordinary population to scatter. Mapungubgwe had become a ghost town by AD 1290. Its golden era lasted no more than 50 years culminating in the rise of Great Zimbabwe.[citation needed]

Later, in the 15th century, the centre of power moved back west, from Great Zimbabwe to Khami/Nkami and in the 17th century to Danan'ombe (Dlodlo). The moves were accompanied by changes of the dominance from one clan to another. In the 17th century, the rozvi established southern BaKalanga became a powerful competitor, controlling most of the mining areas. The Rozvi even repelled Portuguese colonists from some of their inland posts.[citation needed]

In south-western Zimbabwe (now Matabeleland) and adjacent parts of present-day Botswana, Kalanga states survived for more than another century. The fall of the Kingdom of Butua came as a result of a series of invasions, beginning with the Bangwato Kgosi Kgari's ill-fated incursion of around 1828 and culminating in the onslaught of Mzilikazi's Amandebele.[8]

Rain-making edit

The Kalanga people are known for their rain-making abilities through their Supreme Being Mwali/Ngwali. These abilities have always been a part of the BaKalanga people history as well as all those other related groups. The rain-making has always been the duty of the Hosanna's or AmaWosana (the high priests in Mwali/Ngwali's church). The traditional attire of the Kalanga/BaKalanga people clearly shows the importance of rain to BaKalanga. They put on black skirts which represent dark clouds heavy with rain, and the white shirts to represent rain droplets. This is the attire worn when they go and plead for rain at Njelele shrine in Zimbabwe, which is the headquarters for the Hosanna's of Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.[9]

Bakalanga villages and towns edit

Further reading edit

  • David N. Beach: The Shona and Zimbabwe 900–1850. Heinemann, London 1980 und Mambo Press, Gwelo 1980, ISBN 0-435-94505-X
  • Catharina Van Waarden: Butua and the end of an era: The effect of the collapse of the Kalanga State on ordinary citizens. An analysis of behaviour under stress. 2012. Cambridge Monographs in African Archaeology 82. Oxford: Archaeopress.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Lewis, M. Paul (2009). "Kalanga 'The cultural people'". Ethnologue. SIL International. from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Language". Kalanga. Kalanga Language and Cultural Development Association (KLCDA). 9 June 2012. from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  3. ^ This excluded those in the North-east District Mpho, Motsamai Keyecwe (1989). "Representation of cultural minorities in policy making". In Holm, John D.; Molutsi, Patrick P. (eds.). Democracy in Botswana: The Proceedings of a Symposium Held in Gaborone, 1-5 August 1988. Botswana Society Conference publication. Gaborone, Botswana: Macmillan. pp. 130–38. ISBN 978-0-8214-0943-5.
  4. ^ Huffman, T. N. (2008). "Zhizo and Leopard's Kopje: test excavations at Simamwe and Mtanye, Zimbabwe". In Badenhorst, Shaw; Mitchell, Peter; Driver, Jonathan C. (eds.). Animals and people: Archaeozoological papers in honour of Ina Plug. Oxford, England: Archaeopress. pp. 200–214. ISBN 978-1-4073-0336-9.  See also, Huffman, T. N. (1974). The Leopard Kopje Tradition. Doctoral dissertation. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  5. ^ Van Waarden, Catharina (1998). "The Late Iron Age". In Lane, Paul J.; Reid, Andrew; Segobye, Alinah (eds.). Ditswa Mmung: The Archaeology of Botswana. Gaborone, Botswana: Botswana Society. pp. 115–160. ISBN 978-99912-60-39-6.
  6. ^ Tlou, Thomas; Campbell, Alec (1984). History of Botswana (PDF). Botswana: Macmillan Botswana Publishing Co (Pty) Ltd. ISBN 0333-36531-3. (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  7. ^ Machiridza, Lesley Hatipone (1 September 2020). "Landscapes and Ethnicity: An Historical Archaeology of Khami-Phase Sites in Southwestern Zimbabwe". Historical Archaeology. 54 (3): 647–675. doi:10.1007/s41636-020-00259-z. ISSN 2328-1103.
  8. ^ "ResearchGate" (PDF).
  9. ^ Rodewald, Mk (2010). "Understanding "Mwali" as Traditional Supreme Deity of the Bakalanga of Botswana and Western Zimbabwe: Part One". Botswana Notes and Records. 42: 11–21. ISSN 0525-5090.

External links edit

  • Kalanga Language and Cultural Development Association

May 12, 2024
kalanga, people, confused, with, kalagan, people, kalanga, bakalanga, southern, bantu, ethnic, group, mainly, inhabiting, matebeleland, zimbabwe, northern, botswana, parts, limpopo, province, south, africa, bakalangakalanga, woman, from, botswanatotal, populat. Not to be confused with Kalagan people The Kalanga or BaKalanga are a southern Bantu ethnic group mainly inhabiting Matebeleland in Zimbabwe northern Botswana and parts of the Limpopo Province in South Africa BaKalangaKalanga woman from BotswanaTotal population1 7 millionRegions with significant populations Zimbabwe1 1 million 1 Botswana600 000 1 LanguagesTjiKalanga Shona languages Xitsonga TshiVenda languageReligionAfrican Traditional Religion ChristianityRelated ethnic groupsShona people Venda people and Southern Bantu peoples The BaKalanga of Botswana are the second largest ethnic group in the country and their language being the second most spoken in the country being most prevalent in the North The TjiKalanga language of Zimbabwe is the third most spoken language in the country however being recognized as a Western Shona branch of the Shona group of languages It is likewise used in mass media Contents 1 Language 2 History 3 Rain making 4 Bakalanga villages and towns 5 Further reading 6 References 7 External linksLanguage editThe native language of the baKalanga has two varieties 1 TjiKalanga or simply Kalanga in western Zimbabwe 2 Ikalanga in northeastern Botswana Together with the Nambya language these varieties form the western branch of the shona group Guthrie S 10 that also includes Central Shona 2 Kalanga speakers once numbered over 1 700 000 though they are now much reduced often speaking Ndebele or Central Shona languages in Zimbabwe Tswana in Botswana and other local languages of the surrounding peoples of southern Africa 2 The BaKalanga are one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in Botswana The 1946 census indicated that there were 32 777 40 of the numerically largest district BaKalanga in the Bamangwato Central District 3 History editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Kalanga people news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message nbsp Kalanga knives with wooden sheaths wooden pillows From a 1910 ethnographical work According to Huffman 2008 the original Bakalanga people descended from Leopard s Kopje farmers 4 These people occupied areas covering parts of north eastern Botswana western and southern Zimbabwe adjacent parts of South Africa and Mozambique by around AD 100 They traded in ivory furs and feathers with the Indian Ocean coast for goods such as glass beads and cotton clothes 5 The majority of these prehistoric Bakalanga villages have been discovered in Botswana and Zimbabwe in areas close to major rivers and were usually built on terraced hilltops with stone walls built around them 6 The Kalanga are linked to such early African States as Mapungubgwe Khami and the Rozvi Empire 7 The early Bakalanga people living in the Shashe Limpopo basin monopolised trade due to their access to the Indian Ocean coast By around AD 1220 a new and more powerful kingdom developed around Mapungubgwe Hill near Botswana s border with South Africa Some of the early Bakalanga people living in the lower Shashe Limpopo valley probably moved towards or became part of this newly formed kingdom But studies of climatic data from the area suggest that a disastrous drought soon struck Mapungubgwe and the Shashe Limpopo region was uninhabited between A D 1300 and 1420 forcing the ordinary population to scatter Mapungubgwe had become a ghost town by AD 1290 Its golden era lasted no more than 50 years culminating in the rise of Great Zimbabwe citation needed Later in the 15th century the centre of power moved back west from Great Zimbabwe to Khami Nkami and in the 17th century to Danan ombe Dlodlo The moves were accompanied by changes of the dominance from one clan to another In the 17th century the rozvi established southern BaKalanga became a powerful competitor controlling most of the mining areas The Rozvi even repelled Portuguese colonists from some of their inland posts citation needed In south western Zimbabwe now Matabeleland and adjacent parts of present day Botswana Kalanga states survived for more than another century The fall of the Kingdom of Butua came as a result of a series of invasions beginning with the Bangwato Kgosi Kgari s ill fated incursion of around 1828 and culminating in the onslaught of Mzilikazi s Amandebele 8 Rain making editThe Kalanga people are known for their rain making abilities through their Supreme Being Mwali Ngwali These abilities have always been a part of the BaKalanga people history as well as all those other related groups The rain making has always been the duty of the Hosanna s or AmaWosana the high priests in Mwali Ngwali s church The traditional attire of the Kalanga BaKalanga people clearly shows the importance of rain to BaKalanga They put on black skirts which represent dark clouds heavy with rain and the white shirts to represent rain droplets This is the attire worn when they go and plead for rain at Njelele shrine in Zimbabwe which is the headquarters for the Hosanna s of Botswana South Africa and Zimbabwe 9 Bakalanga villages and towns editSerowe Shashe Mooke Mbambanyika Mopipi Nata Gweta Letlhakane Orapa Rakops Changate Xhumo Makalamabedi Tonota Kandana Gombalume Magalanyeza Tjangula Gwambe Mbila Mabungwe Bambadzi Masukwane Mulambakwena Tutume Maitengwe Nswazwi Nshakashongwe Matenge Makaleng Tjizwina Hulela Mpatane Mathangwane Masunga Gambule Sekakangwe Vhukwi Zwenshambe Kalakamati Sinotsi Matobo Semitwe Marapong Sebina Butale Ramokgwebana Mapoka Tokwana Masendu Nhopemano Mafule Makumbi Mbimba Tjolotjo Masingwaneng Tsamaya Mosetse Dagwi Nkange Senete Matjinge Gulubane Themashanga Ntoli Nlapkhwane Gampo Khame Kgari Moroka Sechele Letsholathebe Kalakamati Goshwe Madlambudzi Ndolwane Masendu Bhagani Makhekhe Bilingoma Malebegwa Sihore Malalume Malopa Bambadzi Hingwe Jutjume Makhulela Tjehanga Mbalambi Lemu Ngwana Butshe Nswazwi Gutu Dombodema Hikwa Male Tjompani Sevaka mafeha mabhongani Mathangwane Makorokoro Hhobodo Madabe Tjingababili MafuleFurther reading editDavid N Beach The Shona and Zimbabwe 900 1850 Heinemann London 1980 und Mambo Press Gwelo 1980 ISBN 0 435 94505 X Catharina Van Waarden Butua and the end of an era The effect of the collapse of the Kalanga State on ordinary citizens An analysis of behaviour under stress 2012 Cambridge Monographs in African Archaeology 82 Oxford Archaeopress References edit a b Lewis M Paul 2009 Kalanga The cultural people Ethnologue SIL International Archived from the original on 14 September 2012 Retrieved 25 October 2012 a b Language Kalanga Kalanga Language and Cultural Development Association KLCDA 9 June 2012 Archived from the original on 18 September 2018 Retrieved 18 September 2018 This excluded those in the North east District Mpho Motsamai Keyecwe 1989 Representation of cultural minorities in policy making In Holm John D Molutsi Patrick P eds Democracy in Botswana The Proceedings of a Symposium Held in Gaborone 1 5 August 1988 Botswana Society Conference publication Gaborone Botswana Macmillan pp 130 38 ISBN 978 0 8214 0943 5 Huffman T N 2008 Zhizo and Leopard s Kopje test excavations at Simamwe and Mtanye Zimbabwe In Badenhorst Shaw Mitchell Peter Driver Jonathan C eds Animals and people Archaeozoological papers in honour of Ina Plug Oxford England Archaeopress pp 200 214 ISBN 978 1 4073 0336 9 See also Huffman T N 1974 The Leopard Kopje Tradition Doctoral dissertation University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Van Waarden Catharina 1998 The Late Iron Age In Lane Paul J Reid Andrew Segobye Alinah eds Ditswa Mmung The Archaeology of Botswana Gaborone Botswana Botswana Society pp 115 160 ISBN 978 99912 60 39 6 Tlou Thomas Campbell Alec 1984 History of Botswana PDF Botswana Macmillan Botswana Publishing Co Pty Ltd ISBN 0333 36531 3 Archived PDF from the original on 4 June 2021 Retrieved 29 May 2020 Machiridza Lesley Hatipone 1 September 2020 Landscapes and Ethnicity An Historical Archaeology of Khami Phase Sites in Southwestern Zimbabwe Historical Archaeology 54 3 647 675 doi 10 1007 s41636 020 00259 z ISSN 2328 1103 ResearchGate PDF Rodewald Mk 2010 Understanding Mwali as Traditional Supreme Deity of the Bakalanga of Botswana and Western Zimbabwe Part One Botswana Notes and Records 42 11 21 ISSN 0525 5090 External links editKalanga Language and Cultural Development Association Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kalanga people amp oldid 1222936112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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