Khesetoane Modjadji III (18691959) became the third

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 R ...

from the

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

n Balobedu tribe of the South African

Limpopo Province Limpopo is the northernmost 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 the provincial legislature is ...

.Bonnie G. Smith. «The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History: 4 Volume Set». Khesetoane reigned from 1895 to 1959. She was preceded by Rain Queen Masalanabo Modjadji and succeeded by Rain Queen Makoma Modjadji.

Life

In 1894 her predecessor, Masalanabo Modjadji, committed

ritual suicide A suicide method is any means by which a person chooses to end their life. Suicide attempts do not always result in death, and a nonfatal suicide attempt can leave the person with serious physical injuries, long-term health problems, and bra ...

. Khesetoane was the daughter of Masalanabo's "sister", Princess Leakhali, and became the heir because Masalanabo's council had already designated it before Masalanabo's death. The Royal Family names rotates between Masalababo, Mokope, Makoma, Makobo. The late Queen Makobo Modjadji and Princess Tebogo Modjadji (Now Modjadji-Kekana) were very close family members and confidantes who gave birth to their children Masalababo and Mohau (Khesetoane) days apart. Both Royal members chose education first before Royal duties. Princess Tebogo Modjadji (Modjadji-Kekana) progressed to being a Dr. of Philosophy, and founded the Rain Queen Modjadji Foundation and Awards and the Royal Princesses Association in South Africa to pursue her dreams of instilling the Balobedu Culture after completing her 1st PhD degree. She married Amandebele a Moletlane Prince Makera Kekana, appointed as the Bakoena Royal Council.

References

1869 births 1959 deaths Rain Queens 19th-century women rulers 20th-century women rulers {{SouthAfrica-bio-stub