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Batlou Clan — History & Meaning
Tswana clan · Setswana
Totem Elephant (tlou)
History & origin
The Batlou (Batlong/Batloung, 'people who revere the elephant', from tlou) are a Sotho-Tswana lineage whose totem is the elephant. They appear both as a Batswana group in southern Africa and as Bapedi/Northern Sotho families, where Tlou is one of the recognised totem clusters. Ellenberger and Macgregor (1912) trace the Batloung lineage back to the Barolong (whose totem is the kudu/tholo, shared with the Batlhaping), indicating an old branching within the western Sotho-Tswana. Among the Bapedi, Batlou families are concentrated around Modimolle and the southern parts of Limpopo Province. Members traditionally venerate and avoid the elephant.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Kekana, Mokhonoana, Tlou.
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.