Modjadji

English

Etymology

The personal name of the first queen of the Lobedu, a Northern Sotho woman of the early 19th century, adopted as a hereditary name; perhaps from Northern Sotho (Lobedu) mo- (“singular prefix”) + tšatši (“day, sun”).

Pronunciation

• (General South African) IPA^(key): /mɔˈdʒɑːdʒi/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /məˈdʒɑːdʒi/

Noun

Modjadji (plural Modjadjis)

1. (South Africa) The Rain Queen, or hereditary queen of the Lobedu people of the Limpopo province of South Africa, held to have various special powers including the ability to make it rain.

Derived terms

• Modjadji cycad
• Modjadji palm