The Orphan And The Ants Part 3 � The Sons Of Kwena & Ngwaketse

At the beginning of last century (c. 1910) two indigenous accounts of the Bakwena Royal lineage were produced, an unpublished manuscript by a Molepolole kgosana named Kgabo Tebele and a short narrative by Kgosi Sebele I that was posthumously incorporated into the 1913 publication Dico tsa Secwana (edited by the Rev. A.J. Wookey).

In his more detailed work, Kgabo Tebele observed that notwithstanding the tales he had been taught about such ancient and legendary figures as Matsieng and his sons Masilo and Masiloyana, the earliest Bakwena Kgosi whose lineage could be traced was called Kwena, who was followed by Monageng, Kwena II, Masilo, Mogale, Mfheta, Kolobe and Raadira. The Bakwena royals were then said to have split between the descendents of Raadira’s sons Magope (Mogopa) and his brother Mamagana. The Bakwena at Molepolole are descendents of Mamagana’s lineage.

According to Sebele, and consistent with Kgabo Tebele, Mamagana was followed by Motone who was followed by Phokotsea, who was followed by Masilwe the father of Kwena III. The latter figure begat Phokotsea II the father of Malope II, who also is also said to have been the father of Mohurutshe, Ngwatwe, Ngwaketse and Khutwe.  From Malope II the line passed to Kgabo I, and then to Tebele, who was the father of Mogope II and a junior brother named Kgabo. It was the latter who founded the Bakwena baga Kgabo morafe in Botswana.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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