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Batloung ba Tlou Clan — History & Meaning
Sotho clan · Sesotho
Totem Elephant (English) — tlou (Sesotho)
History & origin
Batloung ('people who revere the elephant') are a Sotho-Tswana clan. Ellenberger and Macgregor (1912) trace them to the Barolong, whose original totem is the kudu (tholo, shared with the Batlhaping); after separating from the Barolong they adopted the elephant (tlou) as their emblem. They are counted among the clans absorbed into the Basotho nation and are found in Lesotho, the Free State and adjoining areas (with related Batau/elephant-venerating groups among the Northern Sotho). Their relationship with the elephant totem is expressed through clan praises, song and dance.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Bataung, Barolong, Batau, Batlhaping.
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.