Queen Modjadji series spotlights Unofficial Languages: A Call for Recognition and Preservation

19 Jul 2024

The Queen Modjadji series on Mzansi Magic brings attention to Khelobedu, a largely unrecognised language, igniting a broader debate about the preservation and recognition of South Africa’s unofficial languages. This highlights the urgent need for policymakers to act and ensure the protection of indigenous languages.

In the wake of the Queen Modjadji series airing on Mzansi Magic on July 14, 2024, viewers are introduced to Khelobedu or Selobedu, one of South Africa’s unofficial languages. Predominantly spoken in the Mopani and Vhembe regions of Limpopo, and by some in Tembisa and Alexandra townships in Gauteng, Khelobedu is often misinterpreted as a Sepedi dialect. However, it is a distinct language, deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Balobedu tribe under Queen Modjadji.

The Legacy of Queen Modjadji

Queen Modjadji, also known as the Rain Queen, represents one of the few remaining female dynasties globally, and the only ruling queen in southern Africa. The new drama series, inspired by her life, highlights a language and culture unfamiliar to many people, prompting mixed reactions and underscoring the urgency to recognixe other indigenous languages.

Read in Daily Maverick: Thirty years later, we are still marginalised’ — indigenous communities’ fight for recognition continues

Commenting on the series Dr Carla Lever, an honorary research fellow at the Centre for Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, University of Cape Town said: “It’s exciting to see filmmakers engage the rich and often under-explored sociocultural histories in this country. Series such as this hold the potential to engage people of all backgrounds. Likewise, though, we must hold a diversity of representation with an ethics of care and consultation. South Africa is teeming with stories. But which storytellers get to tell them, especially on a global platform? After all, what might be an anecdote for some may be an ancestor for another. I look forward to seeing the series, and learning more about its production.”

Voices from the Balobedu community

Koena Mashale and her mother Pulane Raophala, from a Lobedu family in Medingen village, Tzaneen, told Daily Maverick they feel represented by the series, however they emphasised the need for broader recognition of Khelobedu as an independent language, not just a dialect of Sepedi.

“Every time I speak my language, no one understands, and others find humour in it. I often have to explain what I mean because people don’t know the language. We switch to Sepedi in Gauteng, but Khelobedu will never leave our tongues,” said Raophala.

Mashale said; “Already there is a misconception of what the language is, and it is not necessarily accepted with others emphasising it as a dialect of other languages when it is a language of its own. Others go as far as mocking us, calling us speakers of the language Khilokhela instead of Khelobedu. I end up getting frustrated and give up on explaining. As for the TV show, they come and go. It’s going to air a few episodes and then it will be out of sight and out of mind. Maybe what we need is for the language to be officially recognised.”

Read in Daily Maverick: Indigenous languages at forefront of new higher education policy but major compliance challenges remain

Khelobedu is not alone in its struggle for recognition. Sepulana and KhoeKhoe languages face similar challenges. Tolerate Hope Chiloane, a communications and sustainability professional who speaks Sepulana, notes the difficulties of being a Mopulana in a world that barely acknowledges their existence.

“Navigating the world as a Mopulana person is so hard. I find myself explaining myself most of the time. Most people don’t know that we exist as Mapulana. When people hear me speak my own language, I have to explain myself, my tribe, and where we are from. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter how much I explain, people won’t still get it because we are not necessarily a minority, but we are few and we don’t have media exposure like any other tribes. Therefore, to not explain further, I just say Sepulana is a dialect of Sepedi, or I am Mopedi. It’s also difficult for people to understand my language so it helps to be multilingual. I only speak my language when I talk to my family and friends from home. Other than that, I speak IsiZulu or SePitori or English. In school, I also had to do Sepedi as a home language because Sepulana is not taught,” said Chiloane.

The Plight of Indigenous Languages

Chief Wayne Xammi Petersen, the spokesperson of the Links Royal House and member of the National Executive Committee of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa), said it was quite sad that no indigenous language had ever been regarded as one of our official languages, especially since |Xam has appeared on the coat of arms since democracy was achieved.

“I am from!Ora|ona (Korana) origin and our native language, even if very few speakers still exist, is !Orakobab, also known as Kora. We are part of the central and southeastern varieties of Khwēkhwē (also spelled Khoekhoe), a name describing the collective of central and southeastern indigenous varieties. These indigenous languages gave rise to now officially recognised languages. There is this false narrative of the existence of a Khoi-San language when in fact there are many indigenous languages that fall under this ‘Khoi-San’ family.

“Among those languages are Namakowab (now being introduced through the Pan-South African Languge Board [PanSalb] and the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture), are Xirigowab, !Orakobab (Kora), Gonakobab, Hai||om (Damara), !Ui, |Xam, N|uu (the language spoken by Ouma Katrina Esau), which are part of the so-called San dialects, just to name a few. This is why it's very interesting that even sign language now has formal recognition status as an official language, but absolutely no indigenous language has this status.”

According to Peterson: “The status of being unofficial sees the languages just dying a slow and painful death. As a country, we boast of this Rainbow Nation status, yet it lacks a certain colour as the forgotten indigenous people do not feature in this so-called Rainbow Nation. It is high time that prioritisation is sought after to not only ensure the survival of the language, but also to ensure that future generations embrace their true ancestral history, ancestral languages, and ancestral customs and cultural practices. Language is that key required to unlock Pandora’s box, for a nation without a language is a subject and property of those whose language they speak.”

According to Julius Dantile, executive head of languages at the Pan South African Language Board (PanSalb), both official and unofficial languages were crucial for cultural and linguistic diversity.

“Unofficial languages can become mainstream if their speakers use them daily in all contexts, including business and education. In South Africa, many official languages were considered dialects during the colonial and apartheid eras. PanSalb differentiates between standard and official languages and recognises that non-standard varieties are unofficial. South African laws aim to recognise languages at various government levels, and some languages could become official at provincial or local levels based on the concentration of speakers. However, this could impact their development negatively if not managed properly.”

Call to Action

Dantile added that South Africa must review linguistic practices that sustain colonial, exploitative, and discriminatory systems.

“Incorporating non-standard languages into the curriculum is essential to enhance the standard variety’s effectiveness. Educational systems should embrace all knowledge forms, not just mainstream ones, which are also indigenous somewhere. The concept of minority languages is a misleading notion from the Global North. In South Africa, mainstream languages imposed during colonialism remain dominant due to past policies. In the Global South, colonial languages are often official, marginalising indigenous languages. PanSalb calls for a review of linguistic practices that sustain colonial and discriminatory systems, emphasising the need to prioritise and integrate indigenous languages to preserve cultural heritage and ensure their survival.” DM

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South Africa

The Legacy of Queen Modjadji

Voices from the Balobedu community

The Plight of Indigenous Languages

Call to Action