Bamangwato
Encyclopedia
The Bamangwato can be said to be one of the eight 'principal' Tswana tribe
s of Botswana
, and just like any other Tswana tribe in Botswana, constitutes a small percent in the central district even in their capital serowe. They ruled over majority Bakalanga(the largest Tribe in central district)and other tribes such as the san,bitwa and tswapong . Modern Bamangwato formed in the Central District
, with its main town and capital (after 1902) at Serowe
. Its paramount chief, ostensibly a hereditary position, occupies one of the fifteen places in the House of Chiefs
, Botswana's parliamentary upper house
.
The core patrilineage of the Bamangwato are an 18th-century offshoot of the Bakwena people, but members in the Ngwato kingdom came from many sources, as was the case with all of the major 19th-century African kingdoms. Khama's paternal forebears had built several prior capitals including Shoshong
and Phalatswe, also known as Old Palapye
. (Before the advent of colonial administration and fixed infrastructure, it was common for a town to move when the local environment degraded. http://www.thuto.org/ubh/bw/oldp.htm) Khama and the Protectorate administration created the modern borders of the Central District in Botswana.
The Sengwato language caused excitement in linguistic circles in 1998 when it was realized that it contained a unique f-s sound. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_1998_Oct_31/ai_53227243
Seretse Khama
, Botswana's first president, was of the Bamangwato, and his son, current President Ian Khama
, is the tribe's paramount chief.
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
s of Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, and just like any other Tswana tribe in Botswana, constitutes a small percent in the central district even in their capital serowe. They ruled over majority Bakalanga(the largest Tribe in central district)and other tribes such as the san,bitwa and tswapong . Modern Bamangwato formed in the Central District
Central District (Botswana)
Central is the largest of Botswana's districts in terms of area and population. It encompasses the traditional homeland of the Bamangwato people. Some of the most politically connected Batswana have come from the Central District, including former President Sir Seretse Khama, former President...
, with its main town and capital (after 1902) at Serowe
Serowe
Serowe was famed as Botswana's largest village after Molepolole. Serowe has a rich history in Botswana'; it being the capital for the Bamangwato people in the early part of the 20th century and for being the birth place of many of Botswana's Presidents...
. Its paramount chief, ostensibly a hereditary position, occupies one of the fifteen places in the House of Chiefs
House of Chiefs of Botswana
The House of Chiefs of Botswana is an advisory body of the country's Parliament.-Composition:The House of Chiefs consists of 35 members. Eight members are hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes...
, Botswana's parliamentary upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
.
The core patrilineage of the Bamangwato are an 18th-century offshoot of the Bakwena people, but members in the Ngwato kingdom came from many sources, as was the case with all of the major 19th-century African kingdoms. Khama's paternal forebears had built several prior capitals including Shoshong
Shoshong
Shoshong is a town in Botswana, formerly the chief settlement of the eastern Bamangwato.-Physical location:Shoshong is located at latitude -22.95, longitude +26.48, in the Central District, about N.N.E. of Mafeking and N. of Shoshong Road Station on the Cape Town-Bulawayo railway. It is 40 km...
and Phalatswe, also known as Old Palapye
Palapye
Palapye is a large town in Botswana, situated about halfway between Francistown and Gaborone . Over the years its position has made it a convenient stopover on one of Southern Africa's principal north–south rail and road routes...
. (Before the advent of colonial administration and fixed infrastructure, it was common for a town to move when the local environment degraded. http://www.thuto.org/ubh/bw/oldp.htm) Khama and the Protectorate administration created the modern borders of the Central District in Botswana.
The Sengwato language caused excitement in linguistic circles in 1998 when it was realized that it contained a unique f-s sound. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_1998_Oct_31/ai_53227243
Seretse Khama
Seretse Khama
Sir Seretse Khama, KBE was a statesman from Botswana. Born into one of the more powerful of the royal families of what was then the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, and educated abroad in neighbouring South Africa and in the United Kingdom, he returned home—with a popular but controversial...
, Botswana's first president, was of the Bamangwato, and his son, current President Ian Khama
Ian Khama
Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama is a Botswana politician who has been the President of Botswana since 2008; he is also the Paramount Chief of the Bamangwato tribe...
, is the tribe's paramount chief.
External links
- Botswana History Pages By Neil Parsons of the University of Botswana
- Ethnologue Languages of Botswana