Mokope Modjadji V (27 April 193728 June 2001) was the fifth

Rain Queen Queen Modjadji, or the Rain Queen, is the hereditary queen of Balobedu, a people of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The Rain Queen is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control the clouds and rainfall. Modjadji Ro ...

of the

Balobedu The Lobedu or Balobedu ''(''also known as the BaLozwi or Bathobolo'')'' are a southern African ethnic group. Their area is called Bolobedu. They are initially known as Bakwebo (wild pigs). The name "balobedu" means "the mineral miners" lobela ...

tribe in the

Limpopo Province Limpopo is the northernmost Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while th ...

of South Africa from 1981 until her death in 2001.

Life

Mokope Modjadji was very traditional in her role as Rain Queen. She lived in seclusion in the Royal Compound in Khetlhakone Village and followed all the customs the Rain Queens were expected to follow. Mokope Modjadji met and became good friends with the then President of South Africa

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

in 1994. Mandela could speak to Mokope only through the traditional

intermediary An intermediary (or go-between) is a third party that offers intermediation services between two parties, which involves conveying messages between principals in a dispute, preventing direct contact and potential escalation of the issue. In law ...

. Later they became better friends and Mandela bought the Rain Queen a Japanese car to help her travel up the steep roads to her Royal Compound. He was then able to meet her in person and when asked about the Rain Queen Mandela said that, just like

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

, Queen Modjadji did not answer questions. On other political fronts, Queen Mokope did not support the idea of an

ANC The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election installe ...

government as she believed that its anti-traditional ideas would dilute her authority. However once the ANC came to power, they treated the Rain Queen with respect. She was even offered an annual salary. Mokope Modjadji had three children, including her designated successor, Princess Makheala. However, Princess Makheala died in 2001, two days before the death of her mother. Queen Mokope died at the age of 65. Makheala's daughter, Makobo, became the next Rain Queen. Mokope's son, Prince Masopha Edwin Modjadji, died in August 2005.

External links

Information on Rain Queen Customs
from the ''New York Times''
Obituary of Queen Modjadji V
from ''The Independent'' (London) {{DEFAULTSORT:Modjadji, Mokope 1937 births 2001 deaths Rain Queens Female heirs apparent 20th-century women rulers