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Mashego Clan — History & Meaning
Pedi clan · Sepedi
Totem Lion (English) / Tau in Sotho
History & origin
Mashego is a leading clan of the Mapulana, a Sotho group of the Bushbuckridge / lowveld escarpment area between the present-day Mpumalanga and Limpopo border. Tradition records that the Mapulana king Malele had two prominent sons: the senior Morale (Chiloane) and Mashego; after a succession dispute Mashego led his followers away and settled near Bakwena groups toward present-day Eswatini, both Chiloane and Mashego being recognised as Mapulana kings. The Mapulana totem is the lion (tau). The principal Mapulana clanships include bagaMashego, bagaMalele, bagaChiloane, bagaMogane, bagaNonyane and bagaMashile. The surname is most common in Mpumalanga.
Associated surnames
Surnames that share this clan: Mapulana, Malele, Chiloane, Mashile, Nonyane.
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.