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Bamonyane Clan — History & Meaning
Sotho clan · Sesotho
Totem Crocodile (kwena) — a Bakoena lineage
History & origin
The Bamonyane are a Bakoena (crocodile) lineage descended from Monyane, who in the Bakoena genealogy is named (with Mokheseng) among the sons of the Monaheng line. As a sub-branch of the Bakoena of Lesotho they share the crocodile totem and form part of the cluster of crocodile-clan chiefdoms of the Caledon valley and Lesotho that fed into the Basotho nation under Moshoeshoe I. Detailed standalone documentation of the Bamonyane is thinner than for the senior Bamonaheng and Bamolibeli lines, but their Bakoena descent and totem are consistently recorded.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Monyane, Mokoena, Monaheng, Bakoena.
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.