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Bamokoteli Clan — History & Meaning
Sotho clan · Sesotho
Totem kwena (crocodile) — inherited as a Bakoena sub-clan
History & origin
The Bamokoteli are a sub-clan (branch) of the Bakoena, and are historically the most important Sotho lineage because Moshoeshoe I, founder and first king of the Basotho nation, was born into them around 1786 at Menkhoaneng. His father Mokhachane was a minor chief of the Bamokoteli, then a small group of perhaps a few thousand people. From this base Moshoeshoe built the kingdom of Lesotho from his mountain stronghold at Thaba Bosiu (settled 1824), uniting refugee clans during the difaqane. As a Bakoena branch their totem is the crocodile.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Mokoteli, Mokhachane, Moshoeshoe, Mokoena, Letsie, Peete.
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.