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Bashweneng Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Baboon (tshwene/tšoene)
History & origin
Bashweneng is a variant spelling of Batshweneng (Batšhweneng), the baboon-totem lineage of the Sotho-Tswana. The name comes from tshwene (baboon), so members are 'people of the baboon'. They are affiliated with the senior Bahurutshe, who also hold the baboon as a totem, and the group is found among Setswana, Sesotho and Sesotho sa Leboa (Northern Sotho) speakers across Botswana and South Africa. The baboon was traditionally venerated and not eaten by clan members. (Bashweneng and Batshweneng denote the same tradition.)
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Tshwene, Batshweneng (alternate clan name).
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.