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Bapo Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Tlou (elephant). (Some sources also link Bapo to the Kwena/crocodile through neighbouring groups, but the elephant is the totem documented for Bapo ba Mogale.)
History & origin
The Bapo are of Ndebele (Nguni) origin; the Sotho name 'Bapo' derives from the Nguni 'abaMbo'. They emerged as a junior branch of the Transvaal Ndebele (of the Musi lineage, the Ndebele of Valtyn) a few generations after the founder-chief Musi. According to tradition, Bapo regiments came south to assist the Bakwena ba Mogopa in a war between Tswana groups (roughly c. 1670-1720), then declined to return home, having married local Tswana women, and were absorbed into the Tswana world. They settled in the Rustenburg district, with an early capital at the base of Wolhuterskop southeast of Rustenburg. Their best-known historical leader was Kgosi Mogale Mogale (became 12th chief c. 1837; lived at Boschfontein and died c. 1869), whose name was given to the Magaliesberg range. The modern community is today known in connection with the BAPO ba Mogale traditional authority near Brits/Rustenburg, North West Province.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Mogale, Phorotlhwane, Bapo ba Mogale.
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.