The Tswanas are a tribe who migrated from East Africa to southern Africa during the 14th century. The origin of the name ‘Tswana’ is a mystery, but is applied to a number of groups who all speak the same language, have similar customs, but separate names.
The Tswana migrated into central southern Africa in the 14th century. As hunters, herders and cultivators they found the high plains to their liking. Game animals abounded, the grass was excellent for cattle, there were no serious endemic livestock diseases and the soil was deep and easy to cultivate.
Sorghum, beans, pumpkins, sweet melons and gourds were planted, and the Tswana found that maize, introduced by the Portuguese into the country, was also highly productive.
The origin of the name ‘Tswana’ is a mystery. It is applied to a number of groups who all speak the same language, have similar customs, but separate names. None of them ever knew themselves as the Tswana. As with several other people in South Africa, their name was given by foreigners. The meaning is unknown.
The history of the Tswana people is one of continual dissension and fission where disputes, sometimes over chieftain ascendancy, resulted in a section of the tribe breaking away from the main tribe, under the leadership of a dissatisfied chief's relative, and settling elsewhere. Often the name of the man who led the splinter group was taken as the new tribe's name.
Today there are 59 different groups in South Africa who now accept the overall name of Tswana. About three-fourths of the Tswana people live in South Africa. Only about one-fourth
live in Botswana, the country named after them.
The Tswana are closely related to the Sotho (of Lesotho and South Africa). The Sotho-Tswana are bonded in language and customs. They claim a common ancestor, Mogale. They share an agrarian culture, social structures, political organization, religious and magical beliefs and also a family life.
All the Sotho and Tswana languages are inherently intelligible, but for political and historical reasons, they have generally been considered as three languages. The larger sub-tribes are often considered as separate tribes with their separate languages.
Traditional Tswana society included men, women, children and "badimo" (ancestors, living dead, having metaphysical powers). A Tswana does not think in terms of individual rights, but of responsibilities to his family and tribe. The father is to be obeyed and respected by his wife and children at all times.
The Sotho-Tswana are organized by lineages, which developed as the tribe grew. The lineages are organized in subunits and communities. Every level exhibits the same social organization, such as the Kgotla, the traditional court, with various officials assigned various duties in the social structure at each level. In traditional Tswana religion (tribal animism) "Modimo" is the great God, or "The Great Spirit."
Because of the fact that job availability in Botswana is changing from rural to urban, many Tswanas are leaving the villages and not returning. Thus the Tswana are fast becoming a modern secular society, in Botswana as well as South Africa.
14 comments:
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I am Motswana, and true I don't know what is tswana as it is something foreign to me. But for you to say that Batswana were given the name by foreigners is a big lie. And also to say Batswana share the ancestry of Mogale is a big lie also as I don’t have any link to Mogale and I am 100% Motswana. Get your facts right first before commenting about other people inclusively. The word Batswana is in sync with the language of Setswana, even though I cannot claim to speak with authority the word “go tswana” means to leave each other primarily due to conflict. Therefore Motswana will be the people who go their own to avoid conflicts.
There exists scientific evidence that the Batswana are one of the ancient people who lived in Botswana and South Africa respectively even before the 1st century. They are mainly the ancestors of all the tribes in the Southern Africa region and there exists sufficient proof in this regard. The first known Batswana king is Kgosi Lowe who led his people during the period which spanned from before the first century. The Batswana were goldsmiths , crop and cattle farmers before the arrival of the first Portuguese colonists around the 10th century.
The allegations that Batswana originated from East Africa is false and misleading.
The name Tswana means to disperse, scatter or move away from each other. It was an old millitary strategy that was used during battles fought by Batswana, where they dispersed in order to surround the enemy. After the battles were over the Batswana will be reunited while singing victory songs.
The writer of this article is misinformed and resort to villifying the nation by alleging that the name is Portuguese.
What does the name "Bunolo" or "Bhunolo" mean ?
It means Simple,tender or soft.depending on context.
Ke Lesiba wa matshabe mokgatla wa mmakau wabo Modise morwawe Diale morwawe Mmathulare mogatsa Tabane
Ke kopa sereto sa bakgatla ba mmakau yo o seitseng hle bakgatla ballos.278@gmail.com
modimo is God, supreme being not spirit. Totems are not part of religion they are just tribal identity just like a logo nothing religious about them.
Ke rata go ka itse ka sefane sa Shuping se tlola kae?
The name Tswana was not given by foreigners as speculated, that's a lie. Tswana is people who have cone from each other who are black (tswhaana) from ntsho
I am a Mosotho of Lesotho, a descendent of Kwena son of Malope, of Musi, of Tebele, of Moshwane, of Mogale, of Melore, of Masilo, of Hurutshi. I don't understand why Basotho and Batswana are not one nation.
The term Tswana originated from the expression Baa chuana, which was introduced by Robert Moffat in his publication Missionary Labours and Scenes in Southern Africa. It is highly likely that the tribe was named as such by him around the 1780s. As the writer of the first book in this language, he is considered to be the initial colonial representative to have accomplished this feat. The original location where the name was coined was potentially situated in Northern Cape ya Batlhaping or Bataung
Wrong Modimo is noha/noga ya metsi or great water serpent. .
The term Tswana originated from the expression Baa chuana, which was introduced by Robert Moffat in his publication Missionary Labours and Scenes in Southern Africa. It is highly likely that the tribe was named as such by him around the 1780s. As the writer of the first book in this language, he is considered to be the initial colonial representative to have accomplished this feat. The original location where the name was coined was potentially situated in Northern Cape ya Batlhaping or Bataung
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