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Bangwato Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Duiker (Setswana: phuti)
History & origin
Also called Bamangwato or BagammaNgwato, one of the eight principal Tswana chieftaincies of Botswana, an 18th-century offshoot of the Bakwena founded by Ngwato. Their capital is Serowe (after 1902) in the Central District. Tradition holds the phuti (duiker) totem was adopted after a duiker's behaviour helped an ancestor escape pursuers. The Bangwato royal Khama dynasty is internationally notable: Khama III was a 19th-century Christian reformer, and his grandson Sir Seretse Khama became Botswana's first president in 1966. The Batawana broke away from the Bangwato in the 18th century.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Khama, Ngwato, Sekgoma.
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.