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Mamogale Clan — History & Meaning
Pedi clan · Sepedi
Totem Monkey/vervet (English) / Kgabo in Setswana
History & origin
Mamogale is a chiefly name within the Bakgatla, a major Tswana grouping. The Bakgatla descend from Mokgatlo (a descendant of the ancestor Molope) and use the monkey (kgabo) as their totem; documented Bakgatla tradition attributes the totem to a monkey that helped the group cross a river while fleeing enemies. Mamogale specifically is the title/name of the chiefs of the Bakgatla-ba-Mmakau / Bakgatla communities of the former western Transvaal (North West / Gauteng border, around the Brits-Hartbeespoort area). Note: this is a Tswana (Bakgatla) lineage rather than a Pedi clan, although the Bapedi themselves originate from a Bakgatla offshoot.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Bakgatla, Mokgatlo, Kgafela.
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.