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Bahananwa Clan — History & Meaning
Pedi clan · Sepedi
Totem Baboon (Sotho/Tswana: Tshwene). An earlier Bahurutshe-derived totem was the springbok (tshepe), abandoned in tradition because its 'snoring' was thought to betray them to enemies; the baboon was adopted at Blouberg where baboons were abundant.
History & origin
The Bahananwa (also rendered Gananwa/Bagananwa) are a Sotho-Tswana people whose ancestry links to the Bahurutshe. Under their leader Lebogo (Malebogo line) they migrated to and made the Blouberg Mountains (about 110 km from Polokwane/Pietersburg, near the Soutpansberg) their permanent home. Lutheran (Berlin) missionaries arrived during the reign of Kgoshi Matsiokwane, with Rev. Beyer arriving in 1868. They are best known for the 1894 Malebogo (Malaboch) War, when Kgoshi Kgalushi Seketa (Malebogo) resisted the South African Republic (ZAR) before being defeated and imprisoned.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Maleboho, Malebogo, Lebogo, Matsiokwane.
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.