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Bafokeng Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Crocodile (Setswana: kwena) — the genealogical Sotho-Tswana totem; the name Bafokeng means 'people of the dew'
History & origin
A Tswana community centred on the Rustenburg valley in South Africa's North West Province, organised today as the Royal Bafokeng Nation under the Molotlegi dynasty. The name Bafokeng ('people of the dew') reflects oral tradition about the dew-rich, fertile valley where they settled. In the 19th century the community pooled money to buy land outright (notably through missionary Henri Gonin), securing communal title. After the 1925 discovery of the platinum-rich Merensky Reef beneath their land, the Bafokeng became one of the wealthiest African communities through mining royalties and the Royal Bafokeng Platinum company, funding infrastructure including the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Molotlegi, Mokgatle, Fokeng.
We publish the full diboko (clan praises) only once we can verify them against documented tradition — for this clan they are still being confirmed. If you can share an authoritative version, corrections are warmly welcomed.