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Bakwena-ba-Mmanaana Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Crocodile (kwena) for the Bakwena line; note the closely related Bakgatla-ba-ga-Mmanaana hold the monkey-and-fire totem (kgabo) plus a red-and-white calf marker
History & origin
The Mmanaana groups of Moshupa/Thamaga in southern Botswana are most precisely documented as the Bakgatla-ba-ga-Mmanaana, one of the Kgatla groups that migrated from the Transvaal into present-day Botswana during the 18th century, settling around Moshupa and Thamaga under chiefs descended from the 19th-century Kgosi Mosielele I. Their sereto (totem) is the monkey/ape with fire (kgabo ya molelo le phologolo), and they carry an additional identifier: tradition says they tied a red-and-white (naana) calf to a tree to delay pursuing enemies before taking refuge with the Bangwaketse of Seepapitso at Moshupa, giving rise to the 'red and white calf' used in respectful greetings and to the name Mmanaana. If a distinct Bakwena-ba-Mmanaana (crocodile-totem Kwena) section is meant, it would share the standard Bakwena crocodile (kwena) totem; however the well-documented Mmanaana merafe at Moshupa is the Bakgatla-ba-ga-Mmanaana, with whom the name is usually associated.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Mosielele, Mmanaana.
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.