Pedi people

Common card · No. 389085

The Pedi ( or Bapedi ) are a Sotho-Tswana ethnic group native to South Africa, who speak Sepedi, one of the 12 official languages in South Africa. They are primarily situated in Limpopo and Gauteng. The Pedi people are part of the Bantu language group. Their common ancestors, along with the Sotho and Tswana, migrated from East Africa to South Africa no later than the 7th century CE. Over time, they emerged as a distinct people between the 15th and 18th centuries, with some settling in the northern region of the Transvaal. The Pedi maintained close ties with their relatives and neighboring tribes. Towards the end of the 18th century, the primary Pedi state was established, led by supreme leaders from the Maroteng clan. In the early 19th century, the Pedi state faced significant challenges from the Nguni, particularly the Northern Ndebele under Mzilikazi and the Swati. A pivotal figure in preserving the Pedi state was Sekwati I (1827–1861), the paramount leader who introduced reforms in the...

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