Barolong Of Borolong: An Oddity In The Central District?

| Monday August 20, 2007 00:00

BOROLONG: 'Borolong,' a sign proclaims to anyone arriving at this village to the west of Francistown situated on the banks of Shashe River. The name of the village elicits curiosity, particularly to those conversant with the geographical and tribal boundaries of Botswana.

To such, the name Borolong is synonymous with the Southern District, particularly the Goodhope Sub District, which takes its name from the principal village/town of the great Barolong tribe of Kgosi Lotlaamoreng III.

This Borolong near Francistown is one village that is growing and developing at a very fast pace. Its proximity to Francistown could be the main reason for its rapid expansion.
It is a village that boasts significant social infrastructure in the form of a clinic, a primary school and a junior secondary school.

That it is on the banks of the great Shashe River is a boost to its agro-based economy demonstrated by ploughing fields and the sight of cattle, donkeys and smallstock everywhere.

For those who don't know, an overland visit to the mining town of Orapa will surely give you a chance to pass through this village.

Soft-spoken Kgosi Arnold Sello Molema is the chief of this seemingly sleepy and peaceful village.

'We are proud Barolong and will remain so forever,' Kgosi Molema begins his brief narration of the history of Borolong. 'Originally we are from Thabanchu in South Africa. Due to inter-tribal wars, we found our way to this side.'

His grandfather arrived here around 1908 and settled on Beetshe Farm on the banks of the Shashe River which runs just east of the village. 'When he and his followers arrived in this village, they found the BaNgwato people as this was their land. They were then given this piece of land in 1912 by their Ngwato brothers.'

Molema says the humble beginnings of Borolong can also be traced to a small hill that stands east of the village which was used as the boundary between the new village and BaNgwato. 'This small hill continues to be viewed as the root of this village. We continue to attach great significance and importance to it'.

Today, the hill is used to signal momentous events by use of a piece of iron rail placed at the top of the hill. 'When there is to a public gathering of the people or pitso, someone will climb up to hit the gong and the villagers will know that they have to converge at the kgotla,' Kgosi Molema says, adding that the gong is also used to notify people of the passing away of someone in the village.

Borolong village comprises four wards - Basimane, Mokwena, Sebina and Maunya. Kgosi Molema maintains that all the four wards are characterised by a sense of unity that prevails in the cultural and ethnic diversity of the people of Borolong.

'Basimane is the largest ward,' he says. 'It is mainly made up of people of Rolong origin. It is called Basimane as we consider ourselves young in relation to the main Barolong tribe from we came.

'This does not, however, imply that we are inferior to them. It underscores the respect we have for them and that we consider them to be our elder brothers.'

The Mokwena ward originally belonged to the people who were BaKwena who similarly came to settle here during times of the inter-tribal wars. Says Molema of them:'We gave them that part of the village to settle. They have since been absorbed into the population and have become an integral part of our community.

'Mpatane ward is made up of BaKhurutshe, while those of Sebina are mainly of Kalanga origin. They also came during that period of unrest and settled in this village.'

Although Molema is happy with the rate at which the village is growing and developing, he is perturbed that this is concomitant with new challenges.

'The crime rate is very high. This includes housebreaking and stocktheft, the two leading forms of crime in this village. It is such a headache.'