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Bakwena Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Crocodile (Setswana: kwena)
History & origin
One of the largest and most senior Sotho-Tswana groups, found across Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. Tradition traces them to the ancestor Kwena, descended from the Bahurutshe/Baphofu line, with the split commonly dated to around 1475-1505 following leadership disputes. The Bakwena became politically central in Botswana; the morafe at Molepolole under the Sechele dynasty (notably Kgosi Sechele I, an ally and convert of David Livingstone) was a major 19th-century power. The Bangwato, Bangwaketse and Batawana are all recognised offshoots of the Bakwena, which is why these groups share the crocodile totem.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Sechele, Kwena, Mokwena, Bakwena.
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.