History

Botswana is inhabited by people of predominantly Tswana origin (collectively called Batswana) whose recorded history can be traced back to the 14th century. They are believed to be descendants of King Mogale who lived in the present- day Magaliesberg mountains in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. They migrated northwards, at different times and due to different causes, and established themselves in what was then a relatively unexplored territory. There are, however, several other non-Tswana ethnic groups which constitute an important segment of the population. The latter groups are believed to have come into Botswana from the north and northwest. By all accounts, present-day Botswana is a multi-ethnic society, comprising the following groups: Bangwato, Bakwena, Bangwaketse, Bahurutshe, Barolong, Batawana, Bakgatla, Balete, Bakalanga, Babirwa, Bakhurutshe, Bateti, Bayeyi, Bambukushu, Basubiya,Baherero, Bakgalagadi (Bangologa, Baphaleng, Balala, Bashaga), Basarwa/San, Bakgothu/Khoekhoe, Batswapong, Bapedi, Bakaa, Badalaonde and Barotsi.

The biggest of these groups, Bangwato, Bakwena and Bangwaketse, take their names from Ngwato, Kwena and Ngwaketse, who are believed to be King Mogale's great-great-grand children. Although friction and fighting were common among these groups, they always remained one people through language and culture and they always combined their forces against a common enemy. When they migrated north from Mogale's Kingdom, the Bangwato went further north to occupy what is now the Central District whose capital is Serowe. The Bangwaketse first settled south of present-day Mochudi before ultimately settling in Kanye, the current Administrative centre of the Southern District. The Bakwena remained at Dithejwane and later established their own capital at Molepolole.

Other Tswana clans that migrated into Botswana much later or broke away from the Ngwato, Kwena and Ngwaketse clans include Bakgatla, Barolong, Batawana, Balete and Bahurutshe. The larger of the Bakgatla group settled and established their capital in Mochudi after migrating from the Transvaal in South Africa. The Balete, who are mostly of Nguni origin, have lived so long among the Tswana stock that they are now indistinguishable by language or custom.

In relation to Botswana population, the Bakalanga are probably the largest non-Tswana ethnic group. They occupy mainly the north-eastern part of the country and the area along the border with Zimbabwe. The demarcation of colonial boundaries in the late 19th century divided the Bakalanga communities, leaving the majority in what is now Zimbabwe. The Bakalanga are in fact not one ethnic group, but a mixture of people who have come together in this land during the last three hundred years. They include the descendants of Rolong, Pedi, Senete, Nswazwi, and the Wumbe who were quite distinct ethnic groups. Over the years, there has been a lot of social integration among Botswana groups, to the extent that their original ethnic and cultural identities have become blurred.

The Bayei, Bambukushu, and Basubiya people of Botswana originate in Central Africa and have no immediate historic ties with any of the peoples of Botswana. About 1750, Bambukushu, who were at Katima Mulilo along the Zambezi River, moved southwestwards to escape the expansion of the Lozi Empire. In so doing, they dislodged the Bayeyi who had settled in the Chobe and Linyanti areas, and Basubiya who were living along the confluence of the Chobe and Linyanti rivers. Basubiya remained one group until 1929 when colonial powers drew a boundary known today as Caprivi Strip which was placed under German rule as part of what was then South West Africa ( now Namibia).The boundary left only 25% of the Basubiya in Botswana.

The Baherero settled in Botswana in the early 1900's, after escaping Germany's brutal subjugation of the people of Namibia. They arrived with only their guns and a few possessions. Most of the weapons were then confiscated by the British protectorate government of Bechuanaland. They soon learned to grow crops and raised livestock, and today, they are some of the biggest cattle-owners in Botswana.

The Bakgalagadi live mainly on the fringes or within the Kgalagadi Desert. Today, they are found throughout Botswana, but are still mainly concentrated on the higher land stretching from the west of Molepolole village to the Botswana-Namibia border. The word "bakgalagadi" means "people of the great thirst land" and was given to different groups of people living on the fringes or within the Kgalagadi Desert. However,some people dislike being called "Bakgalagadi" because it is often used in a derogatory sense to imply inferior social status or botlhanka (serfdom). These people have their own names such as Bangologa, Baphaleng, Bashaga, Bakgwatlheng, and Balala.

The Basarwa or San, sometimes referred to as Khoesan, from 'khoe' (man) and 'san' or 'sana' (those who gather food), by Bakgothu, are said to be the earliest inhabitants of Botswana and much of the surrounding area. Their proper name is "San" which means person, but they are commonly known by the derogatory term "Bushmen". There are nearly 50 000 Basarwa throughout Botswana, some parts of Namibia, overlapping into Angola and Zimbabwe. Their population is increasing, but acculturation and intermarriages have changed their traditional life-style to such an extent that today there are probably less than 3000 Basarwa living permanently by hunting and gathering.

Traditionally, Basarwa had no established homes, lived entirely by hunting and collecting veld foods, having no property other than bows and arrows, bone-knives, tanned skins, grass mats and other primitive utensils. Since independence, the Government has embarked on large-scale rehabilitation projects, which are aimed at developing and integrating Basarwa and other remote area dwellers into the mainstream of modern Botswana society. Many Basarwa children go to school while their parents seek employment in farms, mines, the private and public sectors.

The Bakgothu or Khoekhoe, probably moved into southern Africa, from the north, about 2 000 years ago. These people, called 'khoekhoe' by the Dutch settlers, in imitation of the way they spoke, are physically similar to Basarwa and spoke a related language but had a completely different culture. They had a centrally-organised political system and reared very large herds of cattle and sheep. They also smelted iron and manufactured pottery, but appear to have practised no form of arable agriculture.

The advance of the Herero from the north and the European settlers from the south had a negative impact on their way of life and political organisation, resulting in the total destruction of their original lifestyle by 1850. Affiliations between the Dutch and either slave or Hottentots women led to the emergence of the Basters and Orlams, some of whom can be found in Bokspits, south-western Botswana. None of the groups has remained completely homogeneous as there have been constant integration and assimilation between the groups over the years, to the extent that some have completely lost their original ethnic identities.

Language

Setswana is the national language and is widely spoken by over 80% of the population. The language is used in schools and the national mass media. English is the official language and about 40% of the population can read and speak English. In towns, it is not uncommon to come across conversations that are 50% Setswana and 50% English