Izithakazelo Zakwa Bafokeng Clan Names History and Origin
The Bafokeng are an Sestwana dynasty led by King Ggosi. According to Sotho-Tswana traditions, each clan is associated with an animal as its totem symbol and venerate this animal for survival and protection.
Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi is the 36th monarch of this nation. During apartheid, he helped collect community resources and buy back land that white settlers had occupied; later this enabled them to receive royalties from mining platinum metals on their land.
Bafokeng Clan Names
The Bafokeng clan, part of the Tswana ethnic group in Southern Africa, has a rich heritage with several praise names (iziduko or izithakazelo). Here are some common Bafokeng clan names:
- Bafokeng
- Ratsibi
- Motshweneng
- Mogale
- Ratlou
- Marumo
- Mabe
- Mooki
- Tau
Bafokeng Clan Origin
As Africa’s richest tribe, the Bafokeng earned their wealth through perseverance to own their land. Fighting off invaders, colonizers and apartheid to purchase it in the pristine bushveld land where they resided – their totem being a crocodile with closed mouth to represent peace and contentment as their symbol.
Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, 36th King of Bafokeng. Their current logo designed in 1995 by late Kgosi Mokgwaro George Molotlegi depicts their crocodile totem alongside water and platinum; green, blue and beige represent three minerals found within their land.
Under their leadership, Bafokeng were able to successfully break free from apartheid, reclaiming their land and earning royalties from mining activities. Their hereditary kgosi played an instrumental role in overseeing community interests such as royalties and profits from platinum industry while providing social services.
Tradition dictates that when making executive decisions about community administration matters, the dikgosana should be joined by wardmen from various constituencies. Wardmen serve to advise the kgosi on important matters as well.
Together with their council of headmen colleagues, the dikgosana and wardmen together form the council of headmen. Reciting clan names is also an integral practice amongst Bafokeng as it allows one to identify individuals by their clan and helps prevent incest by matching partners within a particular clan.
Bafokeng Clan Meaning
The Bafokeng are an estimated group of approximately 150,000 individuals residing in an area in South Africa’s bushveld about 150 km northwest of Johannesburg. Led by their hereditary kgosi (king), King Leruo Molotlegi currently leads them.
Oral tradition holds that the tribe received its name, which translates to “people of the dew,” from drinking water collected from heavy overnight dewfall. They are also commonly referred to as the People of Platinum due to the vast reserves of platinum-group metals in this region.
Bafokengs’ national symbol is the crocodile, with their flag depicting it with closed mouths in order to signify non-aggression and non-violence. A statue depicting this at Legato royal residence makes this point clear.
Customarily, the Tribal Council consisting of the Dikghosana or headmen together with Wardmen and Councillors convened regularly to make daily policies and decisions relating to day to day issues; for significant matters or ones involving large sums of money a full meeting of Dikghosana was called for.
In 1903, part of Kookfontein Farm owned by Bafokeng was transferred to the Commissioner of Native Affairs “in trust” for them, followed by Reinkoyalskraal in November.
Bafokeng Clan Etymology
Sotho-Tswana clan names often reflect their founders’ totem animals – similar to English surnames. Bafokeng, for instance, bears as its totem animal the kwena (crocodile).
Bafokeng are governed in executive matters that don’t directly involve mining by their Council of Headmen, comprised of 72 senior men known as Dikgosana who meet regularly, along with two wardmen selected from within their community at large, to advise and assist Kgosi.
At the peak of colonialism in the 1800s, Bafokeng faced many difficulties. These included dispossession of land by European and African white settlers who took large tracts away from indigenous Africans for themselves – something further compounded in southern Africa due to platinum’s discovery near Rustenburg, Kroondal and Marikana.
Though their land had been taken away, the Bafokeng were determined to remain independent and self-sufficient. One way they did this was through creatively purchasing land by paying its cost in cattle to white missionaries who then bought and registered it on their behalf despite government resistance against indigenous ownership rights of land.
Bafokeng Clan Variations
Basotho parents give their children names to honor both family and ancestors. Common examples are names based on animals (Noko or Pulumo) or tribal totems like Tau, Koena or Mofokeng as well as events or circumstances like Katleho (success) or Lefu (death).
Names can also help establish which clan a person belongs to. Children typically receive their Seboko name when introduced and this information helps identify them with one clan over another and avoid incest where members from various clans marry each other and reside under one roof.
Fokeng became known as Bafokeng through their affiliation to Bafokeng Clan. Over time through marriage with other Sotho-Tswana groups and intermarrying, Fokeng have become more “Sothoized”, becoming evident today with their stone walling style commonly found at Klipriviersburg and their pottery found at Uitkomst.
Traditional Bafokeng leadership, known as Kgosi of Bafokeng or Ba-Phokeng, was delegated by its Kgosi (known also as Ba-Phokeng in South African dialect). This leadership is recognized within the Constitution of The Executive Authority/Council of the Bafokeng Royal Nation; their Council overseeing daily running and implementation of policies of Kingdom.
