I am not of Balobedu stock, but I feel offended that a man has decided to usurp power from a woman who rightfully should have been crowned the next rain queen. I am of course referring to the story that has been the talk of the town since the Modjadji Royal Council decided recently to name Prince Lekukela Modjadji as heir to the throne.
Prince Lekukela’s detractors are adamant that the rightful heir is Princess Masalanabo Modjadji. She was widely expected to become the seventh rain queen in two centuries when she turns 18 in two years.
The council’s proclamation has shocked the Balobedu nation and the matter is now headed for the courts. The princess’s relatives have secured the services of Mathews Phosa, the erstwhile politician and a lawyer, to challenge the imposition of the prince.
As far as I’ve been able to ascertain, the Balobedu nation in Limpopo has been in existence for over 400 years. Its ruler, who has always been a woman, is believed to have the power to control clouds and bring rain.
It is this belief that has appealed to me since childhood. I thought of the rain queen as the embodiment of the magic our colonisers never managed to take away from us as Africans.
In the Zulu tradition we have Nomkhubulwane, the goddess of agriculture, rain and beer.
When there is a drought in the land of the Zulus, our elders and traditional healers gather and offer prayers to Nomkhubulwane.
Yes, of course I accept science and logic, but if some people can believe that a bearded chap long ago could walk on water, turn water into wine and die and rise from the dead three days later, how can they contradict me when I say I respect a woman of flesh and blood who can bring rain from the heavens?
This is one of the things my friend Vuyokazi and I spoke about before we sat down to a scrumptious dinner at Doppio Zero in Rosebank.
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People who know Rosebank do not necessarily think highly of Doppio, dismissing it as one of those overrated drinking places that also happen to serve food. Nothing could be further from the truth.
As it happens, we went there mainly because a ground-breaking jazz album was being launched at the recently opened Jazz Room, a section of Doppio. The album, We Want Our Land Back, is a collaboration between SA and US musicians led by Ernest Dawkins, a highly regarded jazz musician and teacher based in Englewood, Chicago.
There is no better combination than good jazz and good food, which we were happy to find at the new Jazz Room. Before the performance, I sat down to a decent, thick ribeye steak, washing it down with a bottle of Rupert & Rothschild, one of my favourite red wines.
Vuyokazi had the seafood platter, which she enjoyed. She had to leave after the meal but I went upstairs for the record launch. I was pleasantly surprised to meet old friends like Brenda Sisane, the jazz impresario.
My night was made when she introduced me to Dawkins.
If you are a lover of luxury and music, check this place out. It has regular jazz performances featuring local and international acts.
And, as I said, the food is underrated but incredibly good.
Doppio Zero *****
Cnr Cradock Street and Biermann Ave, Rosebank, Joburg
Tel: 011-447-9584
Princess Masalanabo Modjadji *****
Phumzile van Damme ****
Raymond Zondo ***
Jacob Zuma **
Ace Magashule *
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