The Special Collections Book of the Week this week is:

The Mudjadji Dynasty: the principles of female leadership in African cosmology by Mathole K. Motshekga

The Mudjadji dynasty, which still exists, is traceable to ancient Ethiopia. The rain Queens who ruled from 1800 to 2006 show striking similarities to the Candaces of Ancient Ethiopia. A comparative study of these dynasties, along with their underlying cosmologies is particularly important for the development of ethical leadership. This book investigates the principles of female leadership in Southern Africa, with special reference to the Mudjadji cosmology, and traces the origins of these principles back to Ancient Ethiopia to show that these principles are directly linked to the African cosmology of the goddess Mwari.

This #WomensMonth UP Special Collections celebrates the power of women, which is joyfully embodied in the sculpture ‘The Rain Goddess’ by Willem de Sanderes Hendriks. This sculpture was recently installed in front of the Old Merensky, and we encourage the UP Community to go and view this thought-provoking artwork. The figure is interpreted as a woman ecstatically embracing rain after a long time of drought. In African lore and mythology rain, and its accompanying thunder, is synonymous with power. Therefore the power of nature is encapsulated within the female figure of this sculpture. Queen Modjadji/Mudjadji, the hereditary queen of the Balobedu, is known as the Rain Queen, and is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control the clouds and rainfall.

Special Collections has an exhibition on Queen Modjadji on level 3 of the Merensky 2 Library for the month of August.

Access: https://univofpretoria.on.worldcat.org/oclc/221829202

This book is available at Special Collections, housed on level 5 of the Merensky 2 Library, and is part of our Africana (ZA) Collection. Our copy is signed by both the author and Prince Mpapatla, son and brother of the two previous reigning Queens.

Information on ‘The Rain Goddess’ sculpture was provided by UP Museums. For information on their collections go to their webpage.

The Special Collections unit of the Department of Library Services plays a stewardship role in the acquisition and preservation of the Library's rare and valuable information resources, making them accessible to students, staff and researchers, as well as safeguarding them for future generations.