Ngwaga wa Mopedi : seka sa ngwaga wa merafe ye mengwe ya Bibele

Abstract

Mopedi knows the sun, planets (stars), constellations and stars by names, but has a number of misconceptions different from other biblical nations regarding the universe. Every day is believed to bring a new sun and it is maintained that there are twelve moons (months) which make their regular, appointed appearance. The total number of his or her days a week is six, namely Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Furthermore, Mopedi believes that a year comprised twelve months that are related to the moons which make their regular appearance in the unirverse. Observably he or she does not differentiate the planets and the stars because to him or her there is no difference. He or she has given these stars names: Mahlapolana (Mars), Kgogamašego (Vernus), Dithutlwa (Southern Stars), Selemela (Constalation), mošošonono (comet), etc. On the other hand, according to Kings 4:7 and 1 Chronichles 27:1–15, the Hebrew year followed the W Semitic Calendar with a year of twelve lunar months. However, it is not certain whether the start of the year in spring (Nisan) was for use only, because there is some evidence for the year for civil purposes being sometimes reckoned from the autumn month of Tishri as it is stated in the Chronology of the Old Testament. The investigation grounds arguments on facts that there is correlation between Sepedi and Hebrew calendars particularly in relation to similarity as well as difference between the two nations’ beliefs which are related to the number (twelve months) of the months of the year. This means that Sepedi and Hebrew believe that the year comprised twelve months. Adding to this, the four Hebrew’s early names of the months of the year, namely Abib, Ziv, Ethanim and Bul, of uncertain meaning, differ from the contemporary Hebrew calendar months. This featuristic phenomenon appears also in the Sepedi naming of the months of the year where a month is named after two or more names, such as Dibokwane (February), Hlakola (March), Mopitlo (May), Phupu (June) and Ngwatobošego (June) as well as Mosegamanye (July). The arrangement of the months of the year brings forth certain similarity to the two calendars of these two languages. However, there is difference between the two calendars in relation to the number of the days of the week.