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Batlokwa Clan — History & Meaning
Pedi clan · Sepedi
Totem Wild cat (the now-extinct 'Tlokwe' cat) and the leopard/large wildcat (Sotho/Tswana: Nkwe); the clan is nicknamed the 'Wild Cat People'.
History & origin
The Batlokwa are a Sotho-Tswana clan that broke away from the Bakgatla, tracing their royal lineage to Kgwadi, son of King Tabane. Their original totem, the Tlokwe wildcat, became extinct through over-hunting for its prized fur. The Batlokwa are most famous for the regent Queen Manthatisi (c.1781-c.1836), who led them through the Difaqane in the early 1820s, ruling on behalf of her son Sekonyela; their mobile, hit-and-run campaigns earned them their fearsome reputation. Batlokwa communities exist in Limpopo, the Free State, Lesotho and Botswana.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Tlokwa, Sekonyela, Mota, Lehana.
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.