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Balete Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Buffalo (Setswana: nare); they describe themselves as 'Ba bina Nare' (those who venerate the buffalo)
History & origin
A southern Tswana group, also called Bamalete/baMalete, who form one of the principal tribes of southeastern Botswana, centred on the village of Ramotswa near Gaborone. They trace their origins to migrations from the former Transvaal/North West region of South Africa, displaced amid the Mfecane and later Boer pressure (around 1852), establishing Ramotswa as their capital around 1875. Tradition says they chose the powerful, aggressive nare (buffalo) as their totem to symbolise the strength of their warriors. In 1909 the Bechuanaland Protectorate formally delimited the Bamalete Native Reserve.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Mokgosi, Ikaneng, Malete.
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.