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Bakubu Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Hippopotamus (kubu)
History & origin
The Bakubu (more usually Bakubung, 'people of the hippopotamus', from kubu) are a Sotho-Tswana lineage who venerate the hippopotamus. In tradition they protected hippos and would never kill one, even when the animals destroyed crops; only a persistently man-killing hippo would be dealt with, and then by hired hunters from another clan rather than by their own hands. The Setswana word kubu (hippo) also carries senses of 'rebellion' and 'sudden awakening' (kubuga). Kubu is recorded as a surname among Batswana, notably in the Ngamiland and Chobe regions of northern Botswana. Bakubung communities are found in Botswana and the North West Province of South Africa.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Kubu, Bakubung.
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.