Kgabo II was kgosi of the Kwena tribe. He was born a junior son of the Bakwena kgosi Tebele. Tebele was succeeded by Kgabo's older brother Mogopa, and Kgabo was given control of a ward within the tribe. Following a drought, Mogopa wished to move the tribe to find rain, but Kgabo and his village did not accompany them. The Bakwena split into two separate groups: the Bakwena-Kgabo staying in Rathatheng, and the Bakwena-Mogopa that settled in Mabjanamatshwana.