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57-760: Bechuanaland meant "the country of the Tswana ", and for administrative purposes was divided into two political entities by the Molopo River . The northern part was administered as the Bechuanaland Protectorate , and the southern part was administered as the Crown colony of British Bechuanaland. In 1882, the Tswana country suffered two secessions by the Boer states of Stellaland and Goshen . For many months, starting in 1883, pressure

114-498: A Motswana playwright and poet. Kweneng%27 Ruins Kweneng’ ruins are the remains of a pre-colonial Tswana capital occupied from the 14th to the 19th century AD in South Africa . The site is located 30km south of the modern-day city of Johannesburg . Settlement at the site likely began around the 1300s and saw its peak in the 14th century. The Kweneng' ruins are similar to those built by other early civilizations found in

171-649: A dispatch to notify the British Government that he had occupied Bechuanaland and had entirely restored order. The two Boer republics had collapsed without any bloodshed. On 30 September 1885, Stellaland, Goshen and other territories to the south of the Molopo and Nossob rivers (excluding Griqualand West) were constituted as the Crown Colony of British Bechuanaland. In 1891, the South African Customs Union

228-400: A whistle used mostly during celebrations, which comes in a variety of forms). Botswana cultural musical instruments are not confined only to the strings or drums. the hands are used as musical instruments too, by either clapping them together or against phathisi (goat skin turned inside out wrapped around the calf area; it is only used by men) to create music and rhythm. For the last few decades,

285-522: Is a Motswana and the plural is Batswana. The three main branches of the Tswana tribe formed during the 17th century. Three brothers, Kwena , Ngwaketse and Ngwato , broke away from their father, Chief Malope, to establish their own tribes in Molepolole , Kanye and Serowe , probably in response to drought and expanding populations in search of pasture and arable land. The principal Tswana tribes are the: The largest number of ethnic Tswana people

342-432: Is a pounded or shredded meat and often served with Bogobe (Porridge). Madila is a sour cultured milk prepared from cow and goat milk over a period of time until fully matured for consumption. Traditionally madila were prepared using Lekuka a leather sack or bag used in processing and storing madila. Madila is also traditionally used as relish, eaten with pap. It can also be used in popular Tswana breakfast meal, motogo, to give

399-681: Is known for having a legal system with courts, mediators, and punishments for those found guilty, like other Sotho-Tswana cultures . Many Tswana people were farmers. Usually, farming was regulated by the leaders of the city. Tswana groups were often open to foreigners and engaged in trade with them. When Tswana people became sick, one of their remedies was consulting ngak , a traditional healer. Tswana people engaged in many artistic activities such as beadwork, basket weaving, wood working, dancing, and singing. Cattle were valued by people at Kweneng'. Oftentimes, cattle were only eaten on special occasions such as welcoming somebody, marriages, and rituals. One of

456-527: Is located in modern-day South Africa. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in the country, and the Tswana language is one of eleven official languages in South Africa . There were over 4 million Tswana speakers in the country in 2012, with North West Province having a majority of 2,200,000 Tswana speakers. From 1948 to 1994, South African Tswana people were defined by the Apartheid regime to be citizens of Bophuthatswana , one of ten bantustans set up for

513-451: Is mostly vocal and performed, sometimes without drums depending on the occasion; it also makes heavy use of string instruments. Tswana folk music has instruments such as Setinkane (a Botswana version of miniature piano), Segankure/Segaba (a Botswana version of the Chinese instrument Erhu), Moropa (Meropa -plural) (a Botswana version of the many varieties of drums), and phala (a Botswana version of

570-452: Is said to represent a woman; it brings forth light but not as scorching as the Sun (Letsatsi) and its light is associated with happiness. Venus is called Mphatlalatsana (the brilliant and blinding one) by Batswana & Kopadilalelo (seeker of evening meals). Raditladi Basin , a large peak ring impact crater on Mercury with a diameter of 263 km is named after Leetile Disang Raditladi ,

627-586: Is very fertile. The Witwatersrand system consists of sandstone deposits as well as proteas. The Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is situated in the grassland biome. The Rocky Highland Grassland and Moist Cool Grassland can be found in this area. This area allowed for easier farming for the Kweneng people. The Sotho-Tswana , a group of Bantu speakers who still live in Lesotho , Botswana and South Africa , occupied large and densely populated settlements that were impressive to

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684-450: The 15th and 16th centuries. Towards the northern end, a technique that dates between the 17th and 18th centuries is common. The most common architectural technique dates between the mid-18th to the mid-19th centuries. Kweneng' contained three major clusters. The western-most cluster of enclosed walls is predicted to be the original site of Kweneng'. It is the largest of the three sites. The eastern-most cluster of enclosed walls appears to be

741-459: The 1960s, archeologists Revil Mason and Tim Maggs used aerial imagery to map out Kweneng'. Sadr, in collaboration with scholars at many other research institutes, used Google Earth satellite imagery to map out the territory in 2012-2014. In 2015, Sadr and his team used LiDAR to map out Kweneng'. LiDAR uses laser pulses to map the landscape. Laser pulses are able to detect the ground as well as interfering vegetation and objects such as birds. By using

798-587: The Batawana and Wayeyi were able to employ additional tricks to lure the invaders towards their ultimate doom. At one point, a calf and its mother were tied to separate trees to make Lotshe's men think that they were finally catching up to their main prize, the elusive Batawana cattle. As they pressed forward, the AmaNdebele were further unnerved by additional hit-and-run attacks and sniping by small bands of Batawana marksmen. Certainly, they could not have been comfortable in

855-589: The British South Africa Company's Police, with an undetermined number of possible colonial volunteers and an additional 700 Tswana (Bechuana) allies who marched on Bulawayo from the south commandeered by Khama III , the most influential of the Batswana chiefs, and a staunch ally of the British. The Salisbury and Fort Victoria columns marched into Bulawayo on 4 November 1893. The Imperial column from Bechuanaland

912-490: The LiDAR survey, Sadr discovered that most of the southern portion of Kweneng' was covered with vegetation while the northern section was more exposed. The LiDAR survey revealed more walls in the southern portion than were previously shown by Google Earth and aerial photography. Various architectural styles are found at Kweneng’. The oldest styles lie around the edges of the site and are known as "Type N" compounds. These date between

969-692: The Limpopo River to the Indian Ocean, and trade goods from Asia, such as beads, made their way to the Batswana. Most likely in exchange for ivory, gold, and rhinoceros horn. The first written records relating to modern-day Botswana appeared in 1824. What these records show is that the Bangwaketse had become the predominant power in the region. Under the rule of Makaba II, the Bangwaketse kept vast herds of cattle in well-protected desert areas and used their military prowess to raid their neighbors. Other chiefdoms in

1026-637: The North West, Free State, Northern Cape, and Gauteng provinces. The republic of Botswana (formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland) is named for the Tswana people. The country's eight major tribes speak Tswana , which is also called Setswana. All have a traditional Paramount Chief, styled Kgosikgolo , who is entitled to a seat in the Ntlo ya Dikgosi (an advisory body to the country's Parliament ). The Tswana dynasties are all related. A person who lives in Botswana

1083-418: The abandonment of Kweneng’ and other Sotho-Tswana capitals. Archeologists have found homes destroyed by fire with valuable items such as weapons and beads left behind, suggesting a hasty abandonment. The first Europeans arrived at Kweneng' in 1836, at least 10 years after the site was abandoned. The site would have already been overgrown with bush and thicket. For this reason, its scale was not appreciated and it

1140-416: The amaNdebele to where the main body of defenders were already well entrenched. As they approached the swamp area south of Khutiyabasadi, Lotshe struggled to reunite his men, perhaps sensing that they were approaching a showdown. But, instead, Moremi's Batawana, now joined by Qhunkunyane's Wayeyi, drew the amaNdebele still deeper into the swamps. In this area of poor visibility, due to the thick, tall reeds,

1197-657: The area, by this time, had capitals of 10,000 or so and were fairly prosperous. One of these famous capitals was Kaditshwene which was the cultural capital of the Bahurutshe people, one of the principal Tswana tribes, and a center of manufacturing and trading. it had been founded in the late 1400s on the site of iron and copper ore deposits. The remains of another major Tswana settlement, Kweneng' Ruins , are found in Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in South Africa. It

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1254-422: The battle were also killed while being mercilessly pursued by the Batawana cavalry. Moremi was clearly determined to send a strong message to Lobengula that his regiments were no match. Still others died of exhaustion and hunger while trying to make their way home across the dry plains south of Chobe; the somewhat more hospitable route through Gammangwato having been blocked by Khama. While the battle at Khutiyabasadi

1311-702: The borders of Botswana in the Transvaal. In 1852, a coalition of Tswana chiefdoms led by Sechele I resisted Afrikaner incursions, which culminated in the pivotal showdown of the Battle of Dimawe fought with artillery and long range rifles as well as musket fire. Although it was the Boer Commando led by the Boer Commandant-General Pieter Scholtz and Paul Kruger , as officers leading the Boer advance, who started

1368-400: The bridge over what he presumably thought was no more than a small stream. As planned, the bridge collapsed when full of AmaNdebele, who were thus unexpectedly thrown into a deep water channel. Few, if any, would have known how to swim. Additional waves of AmaNdebele found themselves pinned down by their charging compatriots along the river bank, which was too deep for them to easily ford. With

1425-447: The cavalry began to harass the much larger enemy force with lethal hit-and-run volleys. Meanwhile, another group of traditionally armed subjects of the Kgosi also made their presence known. At this point, the AmaNdebele commander, Lotshe, took the bait, dividing his army into two groups. One party pursued Moremi's small force, while the other fruitlessly tried to catch up to what they believed

1482-454: The civilians, fences for the cattle and a protective barrier around the city. It was assumed that the roofs of the houses were made from something other than stone such as wood or thatch because roofs were not present at the ruins. His team also found stone towers used for grain storage bins or look out posts. The team found clay pots and beads left by the civilization. It is well established that Tswana people lived at Kweneng'. Tswana culture

1539-475: The early 19th century. The inhabitants appear to have placed great value in cattle as two large enclosures which could have held nearly 1000 cattle are present at the site. Stone walled corridors to guide the cattle are also present. Large middens have been found at the entrances of homesteads, a status symbol signifying the wealth of the homestead. While exploring Kweneng', Sadr and his team found eroded stones which were once walls. These stones formed houses for

1596-573: The eastern region of what is now Botswana, relying on Tswana cattle breeds held in kraals as their source of wealth. The arrival of the ancestors of the Tswana-speaking people who came to control the region (from the Vaal River to Botswana) has yet to be dated precisely. Although CE 600 seems to be a consensus estimate, This massive cattle-raising complex prospered until 1300 CE or so. All these various peoples were connected to trade routes that ran via

1653-506: The enemy thus in disarray, the signal was given for the main body of defenders to emerge from their tunnels and trenches. A barrage of bullets cut through Lotshe's lines from three sides, quickly turning the battle into a one-sided massacre. It is said that after the main firing had ceased, the Wayeyi used their mekoro to further attack the survivors trapped in the river, hitting them on the head with their oars. In this way, many more were drowned. By

1710-428: The features found at the ruins of Kweneng' were piles of ash from cow dung, cow bones, and broken pottery. Bigger piles represented wealthier populations. Also, the wealthier tended to live in areas with more houses in order to support larger families. Another common ritual was the burial of important figures underneath walls of cattle enclosures. Given the lack of written accounts of pre-colonial South Africa, this site

1767-481: The first Europeans who first visited them. These explorers used terms such as ‘cities’ and ‘metropolis’ to describe them. Settlement of the site began in the 15th century with scattered homesteads which persisted until the 17th century after which Kweneng’ grew into a city. The classic phase of settlement was between 1750 and 1825. The slave trade in Delagoa Bay, and colonial expansion in the south and east likely led to

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1824-600: The first section added to the original Kweneng' since it appears to have housed the second most people. The northern cluster appears to be the most recent addition to Kweneng' since it is the smallest. Because of Kweneng’s growing population, the second and third clusters within Kweneng' were built. Aerial photographs taken by the South African government in the 1960s demonstrated the ruins. Recent studies by archaeologists used aerial photographs, Google Earth imagery and LIDAR (Light amplification and Ranging) imagery to document

1881-498: The guitar has been celebrated as a versatile music instrument for Tswana music as it offers a variety in string which the Segaba instrument does not have. Other notable modern Tswana music is Tswana Rap known as Motswako . Batswana are noted for their skill at crafting baskets from Mokola Palm and local dyes. The baskets are generally woven into three types: large, lidded baskets used for storage, large, open baskets for carrying objects on

1938-538: The head or for winnowing threshed grain, and smaller plates for winnowing pounded grain. Potters made clay pots for storing water, traditional beer and also for cooking and hardly for commercial use. Craft makers made wooden crafts and they made traditional cooking utensils such as leso and lehetlho, traditional wooden chairs and drums among others. Astronomy is an age old tradition in Africa. As with all other cultures, various ethnic groups developed their own interpretations of

1995-734: The lucrative ivory trade, and then used the proceeds to import horses and guns, which in turn enabled them to establish control over what is now Botswana. This process was largely complete by 1880, and thus the Bushmen, the Bakalanga, the Bakgalagadi, the Batswapong and other current minorities were subjugated by the Batswana. Following the Great Trek , Afrikaners from the Cape Colony established themselves on

2052-530: The native people of south and eastern Botswana and the Gauteng , North West , Northern Cape , Free State , and other provinces of South Africa , where the majority of Batswana are located. The Batswana are a Bantu-speaking mega-ethnicity of many kingdoms, who are native to Southern Africa (Parts of modern day Namibia, Botswana and South Africa) alongside the Khwe speaking kingdoms of the same region. The Toutswe were in

2109-472: The offensive, it was they who ended up on the retreat, followed by Batswana's retaliatory attacks into the then Transvaal 's Marique district, in which Boer settlements, villages, and farms were scorched. After about eight years of intermittent tensions and hostilities, they eventually came to a peace agreement in Potchefstroom in 1860. From that point on, the modern-day border between South Africa and Botswana

2166-457: The purpose of defending the policy of denying black Africans citizenship in South Africa. Bogobe is a staple food made from sorghum meal which is often eaten alongside meat or vegetables. The most popular sorghum porridge is Ting. Bogobe jwa Logala/Sengana is a traditional Setswana dish prepared from sorghum porridge mixed/cooked with milk. Seswaa is Botswana's national dish and is often served at weddings, funerals, and other celebrations. Seswaa

2223-486: The regular troops that would be provided. A force of 4,000 troops, under Sir Charles Warren, set off to recapture Stellaland and Goshen. On 7 February 1885 the force reached Vryburg , the principal town in Stellaland, then continued to the hamlet of Rooigrond , the administrative centre of Goshen. Just north of Rooigrond the town of Mafeking was laid out as an administrative centre. By 8 April 1885, Sir Charles Warren sent

2280-401: The site revealing its true scale. The ruins of the city include hundreds of households, an extensive meeting place, several stone-walled compounds and a market place. Evidence of long distance trade as far as central and southern Africa exists. Between 800 and 900 compounds have been found at Kweneng’, leading to an estimated population between 5000 and 10,000 people at the peak of habitation in

2337-561: The soft porridge that sour and milky taste. Batswana wear a cotton fabric known in Setswana as Leteisi and Sotho as Shweshwe . This fabric is often used for wedding celebrations and other traditional celebrations. In Setswana tradition mothers wear mogagolwane, a checkered small blanket during traditional baby-showers, and married women during traditional weddings are identified by it, as well as during various initiation ceremonies. Even during funerals Batswana women don mogagolwane. Tswana music

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2394-446: The solar system. Using their natural instrument the eye, Batswana have observed, commented on and named celestial objects of interest to them. There are more telling and specific names that relate to unique stellar patterns and their seasonal appearance e.g. Selemela, Naka, Thutlwa, and Dikolojwane. According to Tswana culture, the stars of Orion's sword were "dintsa le Dikolobe", three dogs chasing three pigs of Orion's belt. The Milky Way

2451-456: The southern Africa region during this period, including the Luba – Lunda kingdom, Kingdom of Mutapa , Bokoni , and many others, as these groups share ancestry. Kweneng' was the largest of several sizable settlements inhabited by Tswana speakers prior to European arrival. Several circular stone walled family compounds are spread out over an area 10km long and 2km wide. It is likely that Kweneng'

2508-424: The spot by the appearance of Batawana cavalry, who crossed the channel to the island in their sight. In addition, cattle were placed on a small islet adjacent to Kuthiyabasadi, while a group of soldiers now made themselves visible by standing up on the wooden platform. Also at the location was a papyrus bridge that had been purposely weakened at crucial spots. Surveying the scene, Lotshe ordered his men to charge across

2565-495: The time the fighting was over, the blood was reported to have turned the water along the course of the river black. While the total number of casualties at Khutiyabasadi cannot be precisely known, observers in Bulawayo at the time confirmed that over 2,500 men had left on Lotshe's expedition and less than 500 had returned. While the bulk of the amaNdebele losses are believed to have occurred in and around Khutiyabasadi itself, survivors of

2622-494: The unfamiliar Okavango environment. It was at Kuthiyabasadi that the defenders' trap was finally sprung. At the time, the place was an island dominated by high reeds and surrounded to the west by deep water. In the reeds, three well armed Batawana regiments, joined by local Wayeyi, waited patiently. There they had built a small wooden platform, upon which several men could be seen from across the channel, as well as tunnels and entrenchments for concealment. The AmaNdebele were drawn to

2679-499: Was a great victory for the Batawana and a defeat for the AmaNdebele, for the Wayeyi of the region, the outcome is said to have been a mixed blessing. While they had shared in the victory over the hated Amandebele, one of its consequences was a tightening of Batawana authority in the area over them as Moremi settled for a period at nearby Nokaneng. The First Matabele War was fought between 1893 and 1894 in modern-day Zimbabwe. The British South Africa Company had no more than 750 troops in

2736-594: Was abandoned in the 1820s during the period of colonial expansion-related civil wars known as the Mfecane or Difaqane, leading to the dispersal of its inhabitants. Kweneng' is located in Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve , South Africa. Suikerbosrand consists of two geological systems: the Ventersdorp and the Witwatersrand system. The Ventersdorp system consists of steep mountain sides, flat plains and volcanic soil, which

2793-479: Was agreed upon, and the Afrikaners and Batswana traded and worked together peacefully. The Batawana's fight against the invading Ndebele of 1884 when the AmaNdebele arrived at Toteng, they found the village abandoned. But, as they settled down to enjoy their bloodless conquest, about seventy mounted Batawana under Kgosi Moremi's personal command appeared, all armed with breech-loading rifles. In classic commando style,

2850-464: Was declared a self-governing state. On 6 December 1977 this 'homeland' was granted independence by the South African government. Bophuthatswana's capital city was Mmabatho and 99% of its population was Tswana speaking. In March 1994, Bophuthatswana was placed under the control of two administrators, Tjaart van der Walt and Job Mokgoro. The small, widespread pieces of land were reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994. Bophuthatswana now forms part of

2907-460: Was extended to British Bechuanaland, and, in 1895, the colony was annexed to the Cape Colony and now forms part of South Africa , the area around Mafikeng . Tswana people The Tswana ( Tswana : Batswana , singular Motswana ) are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa . Ethnic Tswana made up approximately 85% of the population of Botswana in 2011. Batswana are

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2964-623: Was not documented until recently. Kweneng' has been difficult to identify from an aerial view due to the dense vegetation covering the ruins. Before using LiDAR imagery, researchers used aerial photographs and Google Earth satellite imagery. Karim Sadr , an archaeology professor at the University of Witwatersrand located in Johannesburg, South Africa , has studied Kweneng using LiDAR imagery and has compared his findings to other researchers who have used aerial photography and Google Earth imagery. In

3021-600: Was nowhere to be seen. They had set march on 18 October heading north for Bulawayo and had a minor skirmish with the Matabele near Mphoengs on 2 November. They finally reached Bulawayo on 15 November, a delay which probably saved the Chartered Company's then newly occupied territory being annexed to the imperial Bechuanaland Protectorate . The Bophuthatswana Territorial Authority was created in 1961, and in June 1972 Bophuthatswana

3078-463: Was occupied from the 15th to the 19th century AD and was the largest of several sizeable settlements inhabited by Tswana speakers before European arrival. Several circular stone-walled family compounds are spread out over an area of 10km long and 2km wide. During the 1840s and 1850s, trade with Cape Colony-based merchants opened up and enabled the Batswana chiefdoms to rebuild. The Bakwena, Bangwaketse, Bangwato, and Batawana cooperated to control

3135-518: Was placed on the British Government to take action in Bechuanaland because of unrest in the area. On 29 October 1884, the British Government appointed Sir Charles Warren as Special Commissioner of Bechuanaland. On 13 November 1884, Parliament voted a sum of £675,000 (this is equivalent to over £32 million today) for military operations in Bechuanaland. Sir Charles Warren was authorised to recruit an irregular force of 1,500 in South Africa in addition to

3192-407: Was the main body of Batawana. As the invaders generally lacked guns, as well as horses, Moremi continued to harass his pursuers, inflicting significant casualties while remaining unscathed. The primary mission of Moremi's men was not, however, to inflict losses on the enemy so much as to ensnare them in a well designed trap. His force thus gradually retreated northward towards Khutiyabasadi, drawing

3249-418: Was viewed by the Tswana as Molalatladi, the place where lightning rests. It was further believed that this place of rest also kept the sky from collapsing and showed the movement of time. Some even claimed that it turned the sun to the east, in a way to explaining the rising of the sun. It was also believed that it was a supernatural footpath across the sky along which ancestors' spirits walked. The moon (Ngwedi)

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