Information AboutTswana |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TSWANA | |
| ethnic groups in botswana | |
| ethnic groups in namibia | |
| ethnic groups in south africa | |
| ethnic groups in zimbabwe | |
Tswana ('''Motswana''', plural '''Batswana''') is the name of a Southern African people. The Tswana Language , also called Setswana, belongs to the Bantu group of the Niger-Congo languages. In the Nineteenth Century , a common spelling and pronunciation of Batswana was Bechuana. Europeans therefore referred to the area inhabited by the Batswana as Bechuanaland . In Setswana, however, '''Botswana''' is the correct name for the place of Batswana. BOTSWANA The modern republic of Botswana (formerly the British protectorate Bechuanaland ) is thus named for the Tswana people. Ethnicity or language Seven of the country's eight 'major' clans speak Setswana, the exception being the BaMalete or Balete. All have a traditional Paramount Chief, styled ''Kgôsikgolo'', who is entitled to a seat in the House Of Chiefs . The Tswana dynasties are all related, and some have known splits into two or three competing lines. The principal Tswana clans are the:
Language: basic phrases Madam Mma Sir Rra Hello, Sir Dumela, Rra ~Mma (basic pronouns as above) How are you? Le kae? - I am fine Ke teng Thank you Ke a leboga It's OK Go siame Goodbye Sala sentle (stay well) Goodbye Tsamaya sentle (go well) Yes Ee eg: Ee, Mma No Nyaya eg: Nyaya, Rra I don't speak Ga ke bue Setswana Setswana Note: The G is a guttural one, similar to ch in German or Scots. Citizenship Ethnic Batswana make up a majority of the population of Botswana. However, the term "Batswana" is sometimes used simply to mean citizens of Botswana, and can include Khoisan people, white people and others. SOUTH AFRICA The largest number of ethnic Batswana people actually live in South Africa . They are one of the larger black minorities, and Setswana is one of the eleven official languages nationwide. Until 1994, South African Tswana people were notionally citizens of Bophuthatswana , one of the few Bantustan s that actually became reality as planned by the Apartheid regime. The Chiefs of the following Batswana polities are all styled ''Kgôsi'' (less lofty then ''Kgôsikgolo''):
ELSEWHERE In Namibia and Zimbabwe the Batswana don’t constitute any significant polity. bahururshe baga gopane LIVESTOCK Tswana is also the name of some breeds of animal originating in Botswana. ; Cattle : Tswana (cattle) ; Ass : The Tswana donkey is used for draught power purposes. REFERENCES SEE ALSO |
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