Tswana people

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Tswana

Former Botswana President Ian Khama & Chief of Bamangwato

Total population

c. 15 million

Regions with significant populations

Botswana c. 1.61 million[1]

South Africa 4,067,248 (Tswana-speakers)[2]

Namibia c. 6000[3]

Languages
 Setswana, English

Religion

Christianity, African Traditional Religion.

Related ethnic groups

The Sotho, The Northern Sotho, The Bakgalagari

Person Motswana

People Batswana

Language Setswana

Country Botswana

The Tswana (Tswana: Batswana, singular Motswana) are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group who
are native to Southern Africa. The Tswana language belongs to the Bantu group. Ethnic Tswana
made up approximately 85% of the population of Botswana in 2011.[1]
The Tswana are the native people of south-western Botswana and of the North West province
of South Africa, where the majority of the Tswana live.

Contents

 1History
o 1.1Early history of Batswana
o 1.2Batswana–Boer Wars
o 1.3Battle of Khutiyabasadi
o 1.4First Matabele War
o 1.5Bophuthatswana
 2Dynasties and tribes
o 2.1Botswana
o 2.2South Africa
 3Setswana food and cuisine
 4Culture and attire
 5Music
 6Visual arts
 7Tswana Astronomy
 8Notable Tswana people
 9See also
 10References
 11External links

History
Early history of Batswana

19th Century Tswana Warrior

The Batswana are descended mainly from Bantu-speaking tribes who migrated southward into
the region 1500 years ago, living in tribal enclaves as farmers and herders. Several Iron Age
cultures flourished from around 900 AD, including the Toutswemogala Hill Iron Age settlement.
The Toutswe were based in the eastern region of what is now Botswana, relying on Tswana
cattle breed held in kraals as their source of wealth. The arrival of the ancestors of the Tswana-
speakers who came to control the region (from the Vaal River to Botswana) has yet to be dated
precisely although AD 600 seems to be a consensus estimate. This massive cattle-raising
complex prospered until 1300 AD or so. All these various peoples were connected to trade
routes that ran via the Limpopo River to the Indian Ocean, and trade goods from Asia such as
beads made their way to Botswana most likely in exchange for ivory, gold, and rhinoceros horn.
Members of the Bakwena, a chieftaincy under a legendary leader named Kgabo II, made their
way into the southern Kalahari by AD 1500, at the latest, and his people drove the Bakgalagadi
inhabitants west into the desert. Over the years, several offshoots of the Bakwena moved into
adjoining territories. The Bangwaketse occupied areas to the west, while the Bangwato moved
northeast into formerly Bakalanga areas. Not long afterwards, a Bangwato offshoot known as the
Batawana migrated into the Okavango Delta, probably in the 1790s. The first written records
relating to modern-day Botswana appear in 1824. What these records show is that the
Bangwaketse had become the predominant power in the region. Under the rule of Makaba II, the
Bangwaketse kept vast herds of cattle in well-protected desert areas, and used their military
prowess to raid their neighbours. Other chiefdoms in the area, by this time, had capitals of
10,000 or so and were fairly prosperous. This equilibrium came to end during the Mfecane
period, 1823-1843, when a succession of invading peoples from South Africa entered the
country. Although the Bangwaketse were able to defeat the invading Bakololo (Sotho-Tswana
speaking Clan) in 1826, over time all the major chiefdoms in Botswana were attacked,
weakened, and impoverished. The Bakololo and amaNdebele raided repeatedly, and took large
numbers of cattle from the Batswana—most of whom were driven into the desert or sanctuary
areas such as hilltops and caves. Only after 1843, when the Amandebele moved into western
Zimbabwe, did this threat subside.[4][5] According to all historical narratives to date, Barotseland,
or rather the Luyi state or nation, was invaded sometime between 1820 and 1840 by a branch of
Tswana peoples that the Luyi originally referred to as the Akubu, later known as the Makololo led
by their warrior charismatic leader, Sibituane a wise military strategist, occupying it and imposing
their will for over thirty years, until they were overthrown in 1864. The Makololo were infact
the Bafokeng Tswana Clan that moved from the then Transvaal areas through modern day
Botswana upnorth to the present day southern Zambia. From the 1820s to the 1860s, the name
Makololo inspired a combination of fear, horror and reverence amongst peoples of the Kalahari
between the Orange and Zambezi Rivers. The name Makololo only came about during the long
migration north. One version has it that the name came about after Sibituane took a wife named
Setlutlu of the Batlokoa (Tswana Clan), who he had previously awarded to Lechae, one of his
young commanders but who he was particularly enamoured with himself. Sibituane was
renowned for his military capabilities and his leadership qualities. The very fact of so many
victories for Sibituane over peoples who would have strongly resisted the transit of strangers
through their lands suggests remarkable abilities. This led to considerable respect for Sibituane
and the Makololo system of rule. In truth it was no contest and after a few battles the Lozi forces
were completely routed although total subjugation of Barotseland took around five years to
complete. Sibituane made his capital at Naliele but moved south again to Linyanti (present day
Sangwali) in Caprivi where he met Livingstone and Oswell in 1851. [6] [7] [8]
Batswana–Boer Wars

An 1865 Portrait of Kgosi Sechele I in Ntsweng Bechuanaland

During the 1840s and 1850s trade with Cape Colony-based merchants opened up and enabled
the Batswana chiefdoms to rebuild. The Bakwena, Bangwaketse, Bangwato and Batawana
cooperated to control the lucrative ivory trade, and then used the proceeds to import horses and
guns, which in turn enabled them to establish control over what is now Botswana. This process
was largely complete by 1880, and thus the Bushmen, the Bakalanga, the Bakgalagadi,
the Batswapong and other current minorities were subjugated by the Batswana. Following the
Great Trek, Afrikaners from the Cape Colony established themselves on the borders of
Botswana in the Transvaal. In 1852 a coalition of Tswana chiefdoms led by Sechele I resisted
Afrikaner incursions which culminated with the pivotal showdown of the Battle of Dimawe fought
with artillery and long range rifles as well as musket fire. Although its the Boer Commando led by
The Boer Commandant-General Pieter Scholtz andPaul Kruger, as an officer leading the Boer
advance who started the offensive, it was they who ended up on the retreat followed by
Batswana's retaliatory attacks into the then Transvaal's Marique district in which Boer
settlements, villages and farms were scotched. After about eight years of intermittent tensions
and hostilities, eventually came to a peace agreement in Potchefstroom in 1860. From that point
on, the modern-day border between South Africa and Botswana was agreed on, and the
Afrikaners and Batswana traded and worked together peacefully.[9]
Battle of Khutiyabasadi
The Batawana's (Tswana tribe/clan) fight against invading Ndebele of 1884. When the
amaNdebele arrived at Toteng, they thus found the village abandoned. But, as they settled down
to enjoy their bloodless conquest, about seventy mounted Batawana under Kgosi Moremi's
personal command appeared, all armed with breech-loading rifles. In classic commando style the
cavalry began to harass the much larger enemy force with lethal hit and run volleys. Meanwhile,
another group of traditionally armed subjects of the Kgosi also made their presence known.
At this point the amaNdebele commander, Lotshe, took the bait dividing his army into two
groups. One party pursued Moremi's small force, while the other fruitlessly tried to catch up to
what they believed was the main body of Batawana.
As the invaders generally lacked guns, as well as horses, Moremi continued to harass his
pursuers, inflicting significant casualties while remaining unscathed.
The primary mission of Moremi's men was not, however, to inflict losses on the enemy so much
as to ensnare them into a well designed trap. His force thus gradually retreated northward
towards Khutiyabasadi, drawing the amaNdebele to where the main body of defenders were
already well entrenched.
As they approached the swamp area south Khutiyabasadi, Lotshe struggled to reunite his men,
perhaps sensing that they were approaching a showdown. But, instead Moremi's Batawana, now
joined by Qhunkunyane's Wayeyi drew the amaNdebele still deeper into the swamps.
In this area of poor visibility, due to the thick tall reeds, the Batawana and Wayeyi were able to
employ additional tricks to lure the invaders towards their ultimate doom. At one point a calf and
its mother were tied to separate trees to make Lotshe's men think that they were finally catching
up to their main prize, the elusive Batawana cattle. As they pressed forward the amaNdebele
were further unnerved by additional hit and run attacks and sniping by small bands of Batawana
marksmen. Certainly they could not have been comfortable in the unfamiliar Okavango
environment.
It was at Kuthiyabasadi that the defenders' trap was finally sprung. At the time, the place was an
island dominated by high reeds and surrounded to the west by deep water. In the reeds, three
well armed Batawana regiments, joined by local Wayeyi, waited patiently. There they had built a
small wooden platform, upon which several men could be seen from across the channel, as well
tunnels and entrenchments for concealment. The amaNdebele where drawn to the spot by the
appearance of Batawana cavalry who crossed the channel to the island in their sight. In addition,
cattle were placed on a small islet adjacent to Kuthiyabasadi, while a group of soldiers now made
themselves visible by standing up on the wooden platform. Also at the location was a papyrus
bridge that had been purposely weakened at crucial spots. Surveying the scene, Lotshe ordered
his men to charge across the bridge over what he presumably thought was no more than a small
stream. As planned, the bridge collapsed when full of amaNdebele, who were thus unexpectedly
thrown into a deep water channel. Few if any would have known how to swim.
Additional waves of amaNdebele found themselves pinned down by their charging compatriots
along the river bank, which was too deep for them to easily ford. With the enemy thus in disarray,
the signal was given for the main body of defenders to emerge from their tunnels and trenches. A
barrage of bullets cut through Lotshe's lines from three sides, quickly turning the battle into a
one-sided massacre. It is said that after the main firing had ceased, the Wayeyi used their
mekoro to further attack the survivors trapped in the river, hitting them on the head with their
oars. In this way, many more were drowned. By the time the fighting was over, the blood is
reported to have turned the water along the course of the river black. While the total number of
casualties at Khutiyabasadi cannot be precisely known, observers in Bulawayo at the time
confirm that over 2,500 men had left on Lotshe's expedition and less than 500 returned. While
the bulk of the amaNdebele losses are believed to have occurred in and around Khutiyabasadi
itself, survivors of the battle were also killed while being mercilessly pursued by the Batawana
cavalry. Moremi was clearly determined to send a strong message to Lobengula that his
regiments were no match. Still others died of exhaustion and hunger while trying to make their
way home across the dry plains south of Chobe; the somewhat more hospitable route through
Gammangwato having been blocked by Khama. While the battle at Khutiyabasadi was a great
victory for the Batawana and defeat for the amaNdebele, for the Wayeyi of the region the
outcome is said to have been a mixed blessing. While they had shared in the victory over the
hated Amandebele, one of its consequences was a tightening of Batawana authority in the area
over them, as Moremi settled for a period at nearby Nokaneng.[10]
First Matabele War
The First Matabele War was fought between 1893 and 1894 in modern-day Zimbabwe. The
British South Africa Company had no more than 750 troops in the British South Africa Company's
Police, with an undetermined number of possible colonial volunteers and an additional 700
Tswana (Bechuana) allies who marched on Bulawayo from the south commandeered by Khama
III, the most influential of the Batswana chiefs, and a staunch ally of the British.. The Salisbury
and Fort Victoria columns marched into Bulawayo on 4 November 1893. The Imperial column
from Bechuanaland was nowhere to be seen. They had set march on 18 October heading north
for Bulawayo and had a minor skirmish with the Matabele near Mphoengs on 2 November. They
finally reached Bulawayo on 15 November, a delay which probably saved the Chartered
Company's then newly occupied territory being annexed to the imperial Bechuanaland
Protectorate.[11]
Bophuthatswana

Flag of Bophuthatswana
The Bophuthatswana Territorial Authority was created in 1961, and in June 1972
Bophuthatswana was declared a self-governing state. On 6 December 1977 this 'homeland' was
granted independence by the South African government. Bophuthatswana's capital city was
Mmabatho and 99% of its population was Tswana speaking. In March 1994 Bophuthatswana
was placed under the control of two administrators, Tjaart van der Walt and Job Mokgoro. The
small, widespread pieces of land were reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994.
Bophuthatswana is part of the North West Province under Premier Prof Job Mokgoro. On 9 May
2018, Mahumapelo, who was Premier before Prof Mokgoro, announced that he would take leave
of absence and appointed Finance MEC Wendy Nelson as acting premier. President Cyril
Ramaphosa appointed an inter-ministerial task team to investigate violent protests in the
province's capital Mahikeng and other towns through the province over a long period of time.
Supra Mahumapelo officially resigned on 23 May 2018.