All citizens of
Botswana-regardless of colour, ancestry or tribal affiliation are known as Batswana (plural) or Motswana (singular). In the
lingua franca of
Tswana, tribal groups are usually denoted with the prefix 'ba', which means 'the people of...'.Therefore, the
Herero are known as
Baherero, and the
Kgalagadi as
Bakgalagadi, and so on. Botswana's eight major tribes are represented in the
House of Chiefs, an advisory legislative body.
Tswana people The
Tswana are the largest ethnic group in Botswana.
Bakalanga The second largest ethnic group are the
Bakalanga, who mainly live in northeastern, north central as well as central parts of Botswana and
Western Zimbabwe and speak
Kalanga. In
Botswana they are based mainly, although not exclusively, around
Francistown. Modern Bakalanga are descended from the
Kingdom of Butua.
Herero village. The Herero probably originated from the eastern or central Africa and migrated across the
Kavango River into northeastern
Namibia in the early 16th century. In 1884 the Germans took possession of German south west Africa (Namibia) and systematically appropriated Herero grazing lands. The ensuing conflict between the Germans and the Herero was to last for years, only ending in a calculated act of genocide which saw the remaining of the tribe flee across the border into Botswana. The refugees settled among the
Batawana and were initially subjugated, but eventually regained their herds and independence. These days the Herero are among the wealthiest
herders in
Botswana.
Basubiya The
Basubiya,
Wayeyi and
Mbukushu are all riverine peoples scattered around the
Chobe and
Linyanti rivers and across the
Okavango pan-handle. Their histories and migrations are a text book example of the ebb and flow of power and influence. For a long time, the Basubiya were the dominant force, pushing the Wayeyi from the
Chobe river and into the Okavango after a little spat over a lion skin, so tradition says. The Basubiya were agriculturists and as such proved easy prey for the growing
Lozi Empire (from modern
Zambia), which in turned collapsed in 1865. They still live in the
Chobe district.
Wayeyi (Bayei) Originally from the same areas in
Namibia and Angola as the Mbukushu, the Wyeyi moved south from the Chobe river into the Okavango Delta in the mid-18 century to avoid the growing conflict with the Basubiya. ==See also==