The name was relevant in that Batswapong settled at the hills as a defence strategy during the civil war era. Their totem is also Kwena because of conservation for water areas and Kwena.īatswapong tribe’s name Tswapong, is derived from Letswapo, a Sengwato expression of the foot of a hill. Kwena is their totem because it is a strong animal. Kwena (crocodile) is the totem for Bakwena. Their reason for choosing this totem is that the heart is a strong organ and it is hard to reach and be touched. The tribe associate themselves with this animal because during tribal wars they would not be easily seen by their enemies. Thakadu is difficult to see especially during the day. A common question asked to know a tribes’ totem is “o tswa kae? O bina eng?” (which tribe do you belong to? What totem do you follow?”) It is common to have different tribes following the same totem.Īs oral traditions and history books report, it is believed that the Batlokwa tribe follow thakadu (ant bear) because it’s an animal that is hard to find with its good hiding skills. The word ‘go bina’ (literally translated to 'to dance'however it means a solemn allegiance because of spiritual significance) is commonly associated with totems. It is believed you will get sick or have some disease in your body. Totems are given extraordinary respect, so much so a particular tribe that follows that totem can’t under any circumstances kill, eat or harm that particular animal. It was either as a refuge or to camaflouge a specific tribe’s chief from his enemies.Ī totem is given respect, usually because of a specific event that has occurred in a group's history, or more generally because of the nature of the interaction between the tribe and their particular totem animal or object.
Totems are also followed for their strong animalistic characteristics, aesthetic beauty and tough nature of the object like a heart.
In Botswana totems are conceived and intended as an instrument of conservation to protect wildlife and natural resources. The totem serves as a symbolic representation of a strong association with a specific animal, and with the natural world in general. Intro The occurrence of totems is common throughout Africa.