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Bakhurutshe Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Kwena (crocodile) traditionally; a section later honoured Phofu (eland) in memory of their leader Phofu, becoming known as Baanaphofu / Badiphofung. The senior Bahurutshe are widely regarded as a baboon-venerating Tshwene line in some traditions, but the crocodile/eland associations are the ones consistently documented for the Khurutshe sections.
History & origin
The Bakhurutshe (Bahurutshe) are one of the oldest and most senior Sotho-Tswana lineages, traditionally regarded as a senior branch descending from Masilo, and from whom many Tswana groups (including the Bakwena) are said to have split. Their early heartland was in the Marico/Maanwane area of the western Transvaal (North West, South Africa). Sections migrated north into present-day Botswana; the Bakhurutshe of Tonota trace a separation from the main body near present-day Otse, and under Chief Rauwe settled on the western banks of the Shashe River near present-day Kalakamati and Tonota. Their name is sometimes explained as a later corruption arising from contact with Bakalanga in the Tati area.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Hurutshe, Khurutshe, Mahurutshe.
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.