Bafokeng

Bafokeng get their name from a period of living in a region with a lot of dew (phoka). They called themselves “Ba-Phokeng” (those who live in a place of dew). Ba-Phokeng over time then evolved to Bafokeng. However, they still use ‘phoka’ as a term of endearment when they call each other. For the most part, many Bafokeng venerate the rabbit (‘mutla) - except perhaps those who come from “Masaleng-a- Phokeng” i.e. Phokeng (at/or near Rustenburg in South Africa). These Bafokeng from Masaleng-a- Phokeng venerate the tamed crocodile (koena), which is represented in their emblem as a closed-mouth crocodile. It is worth mentioning that, at one point, all Bafokeng in fact venerated the tamed crocodile. i)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Manti,</em> Oa Khaeeane Phokeng, Jang kapele Manti ke eo A tl’o re jella. </blockquote> ii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Matlaokoane,</em> Oa ba Mahlatsi ba futa haholo, Ba futa ba boella sejaneng. </blockquote> iii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Mokhali oa Motlalane,</em> Malemane malema-tsela, Malema-thite-ka-mmoho-e-sale, Ba se ke ba e phophotha. </blockquote> iv)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Morareli’a Phole,</em> Motho oa Maotoana-finyela, Motho oa maoto, Maoto a kaalo ka linaleli. </blockquote> v)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Maotoana finyela,</em> Oa ma-Morareli’a Phohole, Oa Maotoana a kaa ka linaleli, A kaa ka joang ba Tšaane, A kaa ka joang ba molelengoane, Ba khom’a Mpiletsa, ngoan’a ‘Mope, Tšoana Makara; ba ma-Manti’a ‘Mope. Sakana-lenyane la ‘Mope le ikatise. Lihlola-pula ke lihlola-monono. Motho oabo Marareli’a Phohole, Rarollang babo Mare lithapong, Le bao re setseng, Ha e le molato oa khomo le ka o bolela. </blockquote> vi)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Maotoana,</em> Maotoana a kaalo ka linaleli. Ma-Maja-litsebe-tsa-mmutla-o-le-tala, Oa ‘Mantsane Molelengoane. </blockquote> vii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Maotoana-finyela</em> Maotoana a kaalo ka linaleli, Ma-Morareli’a Phole! Lona ba ha Makara le leshano, Maja-mmutla-o-le-tala Ba o tšehle litsebe. </blockquote> viii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Manti’a ‘Mope,</em> Molemane molema-mohaila, Malema feela a se ke a phophotha! A khomo nkhate ea ‘Masebothoane, Khomo e hatile Mochaoane mono; Ea hata o monnyane oa leotoana. Oa tebetebe reketla Ramakhobole Tsoetse li oele Li oele ka matsoele le ka lifuba! Oabo Kholu, morotoli. </blockquote> ix)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Mare-a-Tsikoane,</em> Motho oa ma-Naleli-e-nyenyane Mor’a Mallane. </blockquote> x)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Mokhali oa Motlalane,</em> Malemane, malema-tsela, Malema-tšimo-ka-mmoho A se ke a phophotha! Theosa moluoane Ramaliele. </blockquote> xi)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Ntsukunyane,</em> Oa Kata’a Sefiri, Bakhoele-bakhoejana Ba titima mabitleng. Ha le e-ja lipolokoe le ba time! </blockquote> xii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Ntsukunyane’a Kata’a Sefiri,</em> Bakhoejana ba titima mabitleng, Ba batolotsana le ba bathamahana! Oa ma-Mare rarollang babo Mare lithapong. Lija-mmutla-o-le-tala, Le se’na le o roba senoko thoahla! Fokoletsang bakhoele lipolokoe, Ha ba ata ba tla re bolaea. </blockquote> xiii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Tšele</em> Oa Lekotoane, Motho oa ‘Mamulane’a Motlatla, A tšela noka e tletse tsoete! </blockquote> xiv)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Tšele’a Lekotoane, </em> Oa boli le bokopa, le tsoa tšela, Le tla le litetsoanyana! Motho oa ma-Mnamulane’a Motlatla! Ba ho ja ‘mutla o le tala, Ba o ja le litsebe! Lekoeekoee ke la’ng ka ha Tšele? Ho suhuoa kobo marapo, Ho sehoe ho roaloe maotong le matsohong, Ha e sa le ba ha Tšele, e se e le ba ha Tšeana! </blockquote> xv)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Tšeele oa Lekotoane,</em> Oa ha ‘Maleboli-le-tetemisa-litetsoana Le ntse le re: “Lengoaangoaa ke la’ng? Ke la’ng baneng ba Tšeele?” </blockquote> xvi)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Tšeele </em> Motho oa Lekotoane, Oa lekoeekoee ke la’ng ho ba Tšeele, Ho behoa marapo Ho roaloa maotong le matsohong. Ke motho oa ‘Mamulane-a-motlatla, Matsoa-Kubetu nokeng ea Tšeele. </blockquote> xvii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Makara,</em> Motho oa Manti’a ‘Mope! Ngoan’a holiotsoana le letšoana Makara, Ha le lume feela, le hlola pula. Mahlola-pula ke monono, Makara, Motho oa ma-Maotoana-finyela, Motho oa ma-Morareli’a Phole. </blockquote> xviii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Maotoana-finyela</em> Oa maotoana a kaa ka linaleli, A tšoana le joang ba molelengoane. O thebe e ntšo moloi’a lithebe Oa mohats’a Nkaki le Mahanyapa. A! Makara pula o e rutoa ke mang? O e rutoa ke mosali oa hae, O e rutoa ke ‘Malesekele. </blockquote> xix)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Maotoana-finyela!</em> Oa ma-Morareli’a Phohole, Oa maotoana a kaa ka linaleli, A kaa ka joang ba molelengoane. Ba khom’a Mpiletsa, ngoan’a ‘Mope, Tšoana Makara; Ba ma-Manti a ‘Mope. Sakana-lenyane ke lihlola-monono. Motho oabo Morareli’a Phohole, Rarollang babo Mare lithapong, Le bao re setseng! Ha e le molato oa khomo, le ka o bolela. </blockquote> xx)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Mahase,</em> Oa ha Rampeoane, A hase likhomo, A hase le batho, A hase le lipulungoana naheng. Ba ha Mahooana eka likepolana, Eka linku li nyolosa mokhoabong. Batho ba ha Mangole, Batho ba ha ‘Makhomo-li-matha-le-bosiu-Shapuoe, Ha li e-n’o tsoha li le maphoka, Ebe eke li ka fehleloa moratha. </blockquote> xxi)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Mahooana,</em> Motho oabo Tlalane, E n’e siile likhomo sehlabeng, Motheta-polokoana-ea-mabele. </blockquote> xxii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Mahooana,</em> Motho oabo Tlalane! Tsebe-chitjanyana motho oa ma-Pule, Teleka li-mmamoroeroe, Ba ha Mahooana eka likepolana, Eka linku linyolosa mokhoabong. </blockquote> xxiii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng!</em> Lehooana labo Tlalane! Mahooana eka likepolane, E ka linku li nyoloha mokhoabong. Motho oa Khabele’a Mahooana, Oa Khabele’a Tsatsi, ngoan’a Molikeng; Motho oa Mahase oa hasa, Rampeoane, A hasa likhomo, a hasa le batho. Ngoan’a Mangole le Mangojane, Oa Mahatany’a bo-Mochona, Seoehlaasana se kamora’ Thithisi’a lithebe. </blockquote> xxiv)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng Mokomana!</em> Ke le motho oa ma-Mare! Rarollang babo Mare lithapong, E ka ba molato oa motho, E ka ba oa khomo, le o bolele. Mokalakale, Molip’a Komane, An’a tsofala, likhomo ra li hloka. Mohloai Komane o hloaea likhomo A hloaee le batho. Mokopu o motolotsana, Kokami, Ha oa rara, oa fihla hole-hole. </blockquote> xxv)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng Mokomana!</em> Oa ma-Morareli’a Phohole! Rarollang babo Mare lithapong. Ba rarehile ke ho ja hlooho ea khomo; Ba jele hlooho ea khomo e le baena. </blockquote> xxvi)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng Mokomana!</em> Mofokeng oa ma-Rakubu, Oa Molip’a Komane! Mokaalakale rea eletsa, Re hloka likhomo, Beng ba tsona ba re fa marath’a lilepe. Maja-mmutla-o-le-tala! Mokaalakale o se k’a tsofala. Khomo li bona seoli, li hahele, Li bone seoli li re ke sakeng. </blockquote> xxvii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Hlono ea phoma,</em> E phometse ba ma-Mangoejane! Lemphane la matlapa ha le ribolloe. Ba sa rueng khomo e khoabana! </blockquote> xxviii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng Mophohole!</em> Oa ma-Mare’a Tsike! Ngoan’a Mare o ila nama, Motsapi, O ila nama e kopane le phieo, E kopane le mokokotlo, Motsapi! Ke oabo Mare moshemane, Ea sa beseng morarana. </blockquote> xxix)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng Mophohole </em> Oa ma-Khotholisane! Oa Napo oa Phohole, Oa lenepa-hlooho, leqobisa-mmele! Ha ea thunya pulumo’a Matšasa, E b’eke sekokotane, Raliopelo! Ba maotoana a kaa ka linaleli, Ba maotoana finyella likhopong! Ke babo Tseki le Tsekinyane. </blockquote> xxx)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Lijane’a Tlopo!</em> Oa ma-Khunoan’a Lijane! Oa ma-Masisitlo, Maleleka! Khomo ha e fete motse’a Lijane, E ka o feta ho iloe masimong, Ho iloe ho khitla lehola. </blockquote> xxxi)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Lijane! </em> Motho oa ha Pulumo ea hlaba, E hlabile ntjana e rolonyana! Beng ba lintja ba setse bal la, Ba setse ba itlhakola menyepetsi! Selepe se mali, se malobolobo. </blockquote> xxxii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Pulungoan’a Phahla,</em> Oa ma-Khomo-ha-e-tsoale-bosiu, Ha e tsoala bosiu e a hlola. E ka khona e tsoale motšeare Bashanyana ba e shebile, Banana ba e hlabele meluluetsane. </blockquote> xxxiii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Mohaila-Tsepa,</em> Oak homo nkhate, oa ma-Sebothoana! Khomo e balile Moshao monoana O monnyane oa leotoana. Motho oa ma-Mmope Otsoetse a teleteletsa, A b’a ‘n’a sunya le mahaheng. Motho oa ma-Maotoana-finyela, Oa maotoana a kaa ka linaleli, A kaa ka joang ba molelengoane. Ngoana, mpitsetse Sebili kamoo! </blockquote> xxxiv)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Molise!</em> Motho oa ha ma-Semonoko! Senoa, nkho ea mafura a lefehlo, se e qete. Ba ha Malekele Ba lekellang tlalo la khomo lele metsi Ba re baa le suba. Maja-mmutla-o-le-tala. Ba o tšohla litsebe. </blockquote> xxxv)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Morareli’a Phole!</em> Oa ma-Selai sa Matšasa! Motho oa ma-Mphu’a Phatlane! Tutubalang e moholo a koenye; E moholo o koenya bokoilitane. Batho ba maja-mmutla-o-le-tala. </blockquote> xxxvi)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa maoto-mane!</em> Oa Mahlaku! Oa Makhasane, Rasehlomeng! Motho oa ‘Mamoliehi, Oa mahlaba-poli-ka-nokaneng. </blockquote> xxxvii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng Molalatsi!</em> Motho oa ma-Semona-monoa, Eo e-reng ha a bona khom’a motho A re: “Mh! Eka eka e ka be e le ea ka!” </blockquote> xxxviii)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Tšoana</em> Oa Tšoana-Kholokoane-ea-Mmamakhabane, La ikholoka la ipeha khorong; La re: jang-jang kapele Manti ke eo a e-tla, Ke batho ba ha Sefali sa ha Kotoee! </blockquote> xxxix)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Morokonyane’a thota!</em> Letotomana lenyela-tlatlaneng, Lelepeletsa-mokota-ka-lilomo. </blockquote> xl)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha ma-Tututu!</em> Oa ha Mosetsana! Lepulungoana-Phahla! Haeso khomo ha e tsoale bosiu, E tsoala motšeare banana ba e shebile, E bonoa ke Tsime le Bothepane. </blockquote> xli)<blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Morokonyane’a thota!</em> Letotomana lelula-tlatlaneng, Lelepeletsa mmalo-ka-lilomo. </blockquote> xlii) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Mantho e kholo</em> E a khopa, Ramotšelisi, E khopa basali ba batho, Ke motho oa Maletlapa-ha-le-ribolloe, Ha o ka le ribolla, o ka bona ntho tse kholo! </blockquote> xliii) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Khetsi’a Malekele,</em> Batho ban eng bal eke letlalo la khomo, Le eso ho faloe, La ba hlola, la koala batho ba Lijana, Batho ba mohlano o mofubelu, O reng tlere-tlere! </blockquote> xliv) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng,</em> Ngoana khomo e tšoana, Khomo ea seema-ka-lelebe-thoteng, Ea ‘na ea hlaba mangope ho heleha, Ke Lemphane, Ke ngoana khomo e tšoana, Ke motho oa ma-Nnyoana! </blockquote> xlv) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Lijana,</em> Ha ke matha lebatha le a nkhopa, Feela batho ha ba mpona, ba ntelekisa, Le moo ba mponang teng, ‘Me ke sa je letho la motho! </blockquote> xlvi) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng, Lemphane,</em> Ke mor’a Patsa, Ke motho oa Matlapa-ha-le-ribolloe! </blockquote> xlvii) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ma-Ntsukunyane,</em> A Kata’a Sefiri, Re bakhoele, rona, Re titima mabitleng! </blockquote> xlviii) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Lijana,</em> Ke ngoana Mare, Mare a Ntsikoe, Le ba raretseng bana ba Mare, Ba se na molato? Molato oak homo o ka be o boleloa, Re mpe re o lefe. Le ba tlatlapelang bana baa? Le ba otlelang? Hobane ha ba utloe, Molato oa bona re ka mpa ra o lefa, Ke bana ba Pulumo, Ba Pulumo ea Lephahla! </blockquote> xlix) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa Lijana, </em> Ke ngoana ma-Mare, Mare a Ntsikoe, Le ba raretseng bana ba Mare, Ba se na molato? Molato oak homo o ka be o boleloa, Re mpe re o lefe. Le se ke la mo otla, Ha a utloe, Ke ngoana mali a Phohole, Ke ngoana ea kharametsoang, Ha a kharametsoe ka bokhopo, O kharametsoa ka tumelo! </blockquote> l) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng,</em> Oa ha Malejoe-ha-le-ribolloe, Ha o ka le ribolla o tla bona kilibitla, Mofokeng e motelele, Thella, o oele! Tsuu, khotlonono, Khatla! Lomo se methati e leshome, Mola thoteng ha bale ba khiba, Ngope le ka tloloa ke ngoale e telele, E khutšoane e ka robeha menotoana, Mofokeng, qhanolla lipere li fule, Ntoa boholo-holo ke ea hosasa, Rona ha re sa bona tse fulang ka lisale! </blockquote> li) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng,</em> Ke Lehooana labo Tlalane! Ke motho oa Mahase’a Rampeoana, Ke hasa likhomo, Ke hasa le batho, Ke hasa le lipulungoana naheng, Ke ngoana tau ea ma-Tsebela, Nong ha le ntje, mmane a mpone, Le tšaba ho tšoehla molomo! </blockquote> lii) <blockquote><em>Mofokeng oa ha Tšele,</em> Oa ma-Mmulane’a Motlatla, Ho itsoe shoii, shoii! Ho uoe kae? Ho uoe ha ‘Makepile letsemeng, Lebuli le hlaha kae? Le hlaha motjeng, Le bebenya litelu! </blockquote>