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Bataung ba Tau Clan — History & Meaning
Sotho clan · Sesotho
Totem Lion (Sesotho: tau)
History & origin
The Bataung ('people of the lion') are a major Sotho-Tswana clan whose founder was named Tau (lion), which is both the eponym and the totem. They are part of the Bantu Sotho-Tswana group spanning Sesotho, Setswana, Sepedi and Lozi speakers. Bataung chiefdoms were prominent in the 19th century; their best-known leader, Moletsane, led a Bataung following during the Difaqane/Mfecane upheavals and ultimately allied with Moshoeshoe I, becoming one of the constituent clans of the Basotho nation that coalesced in the 1820s-30s in the Caledon valley and Lesotho. The clan is historically associated with the Taung area (Taung in North West takes its name from them).
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Tau, Moletsane, Lebethe, Ramokhele, Mokoena (Bataung lines).
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.