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Bamangwato Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Phuti (duiker).
History & origin
The Bamangwato (Bangwato/Ngwato) are one of the largest Tswana groups, centred on Serowe and the Central District of Botswana. They are an offshoot of the Bakwena, founded by the chief Ngwato. Their totem is the phuti (duiker); tradition holds that the duiker became their totem because the animal once helped save their chief, Khama, when pursuing Bakwena forces had almost caught up with him. The Bangwato royal house is famous through Khama III ('Khama the Good', d. 1923) and his grandson Sir Seretse Khama, the first President of independent Botswana (1966). They absorbed many subject and allied peoples, including Bakalanga/Batalaote, Babirwa and Batswapong, into the Ngwato polity.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Khama (royal line), Bakwena (parent group).
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.