Microsoft Word - PhD Thesis Final.pdf - University of Limpopo ...

ecome, “Mmalebogo”, mostly spelt as “Malebogo” in literature 200 . This
name became famous and became synonymous with the Bahananwa royal
house as it identified and symbolised it.
After breaking away from the Bahurutse, because of succession disputes
within the royal house, the Bahananwa crossed the Limpopo River and
occupied the Blouberg mountains, where they still dwell today. In the
Blouberg area the Bahananwa found a small polity of the Batau of
Madibana which they easily subjected 201 . The Bahananwa polity later split
due to power struggle between the sons by the leader’s separate wives.
The smaller group, which was later known as the Kibi people, broke away
due to succession disputes, and settled on the north-eastern side of the
Blouberg mountains. The largest section, under the Malebogo dynasty,
remained on the western side of the mountain and even spread its influence
and authority as far as the Makgabeng mountains, Mogalakwena River, and
beyond. The Bahananwa even subjected some powerful groups such as the
Monyebodi, who were the Bakone. The Monyebodi later became important
senior members within the Malebogo royal house.
Smaller groups in the Makgabeng area, came to be subjects of either of the
two dominant social actors, the Bakone of Matlala or the Bahananwa of
Malebogo. These smaller groups aligned with either of the two for
200 Interview, Robert Manaka, Inveraan village, 29 December 2004.
201 British War Office, The Native Tribes of the Transvaal, p. 55.
118