Sekeletu (c. 1835–1863) was the

Makololo The Kololo or Makololo are a subgroup of the Sotho-Tswana people native to Southern Africa. In the early 19th century, they were displaced by the Zulu, migrating north to Barotseland, Zambia. They conquered the territory of the Luyana people a ...

King of

Barotseland Barotseland (Lozi: Mubuso Bulozi) is a region between Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe including half of eastern and northern provinces of Zambia and the whole of Democratic Republic of Congo's Katanga Province. It is the homeland of the L ...

in western

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are ...

from about 1851 to his death in 1863.

Biography

Sekeletu was a son of the King

Sebetwane Sebetwane (between about 1790 and 1800 – July 7, 1851) was chief of the Patsa branch of the Bafokeng clan. He established the large and powerful Makololo nation in what is now southwestern Zambia after an arduous migration of over 1200 kil ...

and Queen Setlutlu. He succeeded his half-sister

Mamochisane Mamochisane (fl. 1851) was a Makololo Queen who ruled over many people, but especially the Lozi in Barotseland, today's Western Zambia, in 1851. She was later a wife of King Sipopa Lutangu. Biography Mamochisane was a daughter of the King Sebet ...

, who had decided to step down from the throne. It was she who proclaimed him new ruler, against the ambitions of Sekeletu's half-brother Mpepe, who unsuccessfully tried to block him by insinuating that he was not the lawful son of Sebetwane, since Sekeletu's mother had been previously married to another chief. He appears to have been very young when he took power, as the explorer

David Livingstone David Livingstone (; 19 March 1813 – 1 May 1873) was a Scottish physician, Congregationalist, and pioneer Christian missionary with the London Missionary Society, an explorer in Africa, and one of the most popular British heroes of ...

presumed on first meeting him in Linyati in 1853 that he was about 18 years old. Sekeletu's relations with the explorer appear to have been very good, as confirmed by the 27 Makololo that under their king's orders went with Livingstone with the goal of finding a road between Barotseland and the port of

Luanda Luanda () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city in Angola. It is Angola's primary port, and its major Angola#Economy, industrial, Angola#Culture, cultural and Angola#Demographics, urban centre. Located on Angola's northern Atl ...

, capital of

Portuguese West Africa Portuguese Angola refers to Angola during the historic period when it was a territory under Portuguese rule in southwestern Africa. In the same context, it was known until 1951 as Portuguese West Africa (officially the State of West Africa). I ...

. His relations with another group of European missionaries were not so good. Like Livingstone, these were members of the

London Missionary Society The London Missionary Society was an interdenominational evangelical missionary society formed in England in 1795 at the instigation of Welsh Congregationalist minister Edward Williams. It was largely Reformed in outlook, with Congregational m ...

. When they arrived in 1860, headed by Holloway Helmore they had no formal introduction from Livingstone and were warned by Robert Moffat not to go until they heard from David Livingstone. Ignoring Moffats advice would prove fatal. Eight of the twelve members of the expedition died (Helmore included) of malaria. Roger and Isabella Price survived. Two of Helmore's children also survived. Ironically

had left supplies of quinine in the vicinity, but the missionaries did not know it. Isabella Price died and was buried on the plain of Mababe. David Livingstone was greatly moved by the death of the other missionaries if they had only headed Moffats advice the disaster could have been avoided.'Footing with Sir Richard's Ghost' - Patricia Glyn (2006) Sekeletu eventually proved himself an unsuccessful ruler, generating discontent among the

Lozi Lozi may refer to: * Lozi language * Lozi people Lozi people, or Barotse, are a southern African ethnic group who speak Lozi or Silozi, a Sotho–Tswana language. The Lozi people consist of more than 46 different ethnic groups and are primarily ...

, the people who had formerly ruled the land. When he contracted

leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria '' Mycobacterium leprae'' or '' Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve da ...

, Sekeletu no longer trusted the Lozi whom he suspected of having bewitched him as a leper. Therefore, many Lozi were put to death. Due to this, a year after his death the Makololo's power crumbled and the Lozi regained self-rule. Sekeletu had two sons, Princes Litali and Sesane. Members of Sekeletu's tribe believed that their king has died from

God In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...

's punishment. His uncle Mbololo later took the kingship

References

Literature

*''

Encyclopædia Britannica The ( Latin for "British Encyclopædia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various ...

'', "Sebetwane"

Centralised Societies - The Luyi (Lozi)

External links

Makololo interregnum and the legacy of David Livingstone
(PDF) {{DEFAULTSORT:Sekeletu Litungas Royalty of Barotseland Deaths from leprosy Infectious disease deaths in Zambia 1830s births 1863 deaths Year of birth uncertain