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| Sekwati I | |
|---|---|
| King of the Bapedi | |
| Reign | c. 1824 – 20 September 1861[1] |
| Predecessor | Phetedi |
| Successor | Sekhukhune I |
| Born | Sekwati Thobejane Unknown |
| Died | 20 September 1861 |
| Burial | Thaba Mosega |
| Issue | |
| Father | Thulare |
| Religion | African traditional religion |
Sekwati (c. 1824–20 September 1861) was a 19th-century paramount King of the Maroteng, more commonly known as the Bapedi people.[2] His reign focused on rebuilding the Marota Kingdom at the conclusion of the Mfecane and maintaining peaceful relations with the Boer Voortrekkers and neighboring chiefdoms in the north-eastern Transvaal. He was the father of rivals Sekhukhune I who took over the Marota/Pedi paramountcy by force, and Mampuru II, his rightful successor.[3]
By the death of his father Thulare I in 1824, the Marota or Pedi Kingdom was in a state of despair due to the turbulence caused by the Mfecane ("the crushing") or Difeqane ("the scattering") and encroaching white settlers (Boers) into the Transvaal. Sekwati came into power after the deaths of his older brothers, who were killed during raids by Mzilikazi's Matabele. To rebuild the empire, he moved his capital from Phiring to Thaba Mosego.
- ^ Kevin Shillington, Encyclopedia of African History, p. 1194
- ^ Winter, J. A. (1913). The History of Sekwati. South Africa: South African Journal of Science.
- ^ South African History Online. "Pedi & Anglo-Pedi Wars 1876-1879". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
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