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{{Short description|Late chief of the Kololo people}}
{{ref improve|date=November 2012}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2012}}
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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Sebetwane
| name = Sebetwane
| birth_date = c. 1790–1800
| birth_date = between about 1790 and 1800
| death_date = July 7, 1851
| death_date = July 7, 1851
| death_place = Barotseland
| death_place = Barotseland
Line 15: Line 16:
| relatives = Princes Sesane and Litali (grandsons)
| relatives = Princes Sesane and Litali (grandsons)
}}
}}

'''Sebetwane''' (born c. 1790–1800 – died July 7, 1851) was a Southern African king, [[Basotho]] chief. He established the large and powerful [[Makololo]] nation in what is now southwestern [[Zambia]] after an arduous migration from his original home, [[Free State Province]].
'''Sebetwane''' (between about 1790 and 1800 – July 7, 1851) was chief of the Patsa branch of the [[Bafokeng]] clan. He established the large and powerful [[Makololo]] nation in what is now southwestern [[Zambia]] after an arduous migration of over 1200 kilometres from the clan's ancestral lands, near modern day Biddulphsberg, in the [[Free State (province)|Free State]] province of [[South Africa]] .


== Names ==
== Names ==
King's names also can be written as '''Sebitwane''' or '''Sibutuane'''.
King's names also can be written as '''Sebitwane''' or '''Sibutuane'''. In isizulu he is called sibidwane.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
In the early 1820s Sebetwane was the Chief of a small [[Sotho people|Sotho]] group known as the Bafokeng-ba-ha-Patsa. Facing constant attacks and losing all their cattle during the early years of the [[Mfecane]], Sebetwane urged his people to leave their homeland:
⚫
After briefly settling near the [[Victoria Falls]], in 1838 Sebetwane passed the [[Zambesi River]] and conquered the [[Lozi people|Lozi]]'s kingdom. He was both able to conciliate Makololo and Lozi and repel two attacks brought against him by [[Mzilikazi]], king of the [[Northern Ndebele people|Ndebele]]. He died on July 7, 1851, shortly after meeting at Linyati, his capital, the explorer [[David Livingstone]], with whom he developed a warm friendship.

"My masters, you see that the world is collapsing. We shall be eaten up one by one. Our fathers taught us peace means prosperity, but today there is no peace, no prosperity! Let us march!"<ref>J. Ramsay, B. Morton, and T. Mgadla. ''Building a Nation: A History of Botswana from 1800 to 1910''. Gaborone: Longmans, 1996, 66.</ref>

In 1823 they moved north near what is now the southern borders of Botswana, attacking a number of other societies and incorporating their younger members. These attacks were largely successful for three years, and the Kololo increased their population and cattle wealth. Pushed north by the advancing Ndebele, the Kololo suffered a catastrophic defeat at Dithubaruba in 1826 to a coalition of forces headed by the Ngwaketse chief Sebego I. Following this defeat they moved north-east, but continuing warfare there eventually pushed them towards the [[Okavango Delta]] in 1834.<ref>J. Ramsay, B. Morton, and T. Mgadla. ''Building a Nation: A History of Botswana from 1800 to 1910''. Gaborone: Longmans, 1996, 68-9.</ref> Once in the area, Sebetwane's heir was killed, although in 1835 Sebetwane won a major victory over the Batawana and controlled the area for a few years before striking north again around 1840.<ref>Moanaphuti Segolodi, "Ditso Tsa Batawana," 1940. https://www.academia.edu/12170767/Ditso_Tsa_Batawana_by_Moanaphuti_Segolodi_1940</ref>

⚫
After briefly settling near the [[Victoria Falls]], in 1838 Sebetwane passed the [[Zambesi River]] and conquered the [[Lozi people|Lozi]]'s kingdom. He was both able to conciliate Makololo and Lozi and repel two attacks brought against him by [[Mzilikazi]], king of the [[Northern Ndebele people|Ndebele]]. He died on July 7, 1851, shortly after meeting at Linyati, his capital, the missionary explorer [[David Livingstone]], with whom he developed a warm friendship.


== Personality ==
== Personality ==
Distinguished as both a warrior and a statesman, Sebetwane was able to consolidate his military gains by his generous and just treatment of the conquered peoples. He maintained a peaceful kingdom.{{cn|October 2013}}
Distinguished as both a warrior and a statesman, Sebetwane was able to consolidate his military gains by his generous and just treatment of the conquered peoples. Even those who had been conquered by him and eventually fled his kingdom maintained that he was an extremely warm leader: Sebetwane "loved people very much even if they were his victims."<ref>Moanaphuti Segolodi, "Ditso Tsa Batawana," 1940. https://www.academia.edu/12170767/Ditso_Tsa_Batawana_by_Moanaphuti_Segolodi_1940</ref>


== Family ==
== Family ==
Sebetwane had a wife named [[Setlutlu]]. He was succeeded by his daughter [[Mamochisane]], who soon stepped down in favour of her half-brother [[Sekeletu]]. He also had a son named Mpepe, who was an enemy of Sekeletu, and grandson called [[Litali]].
Sebetwane had a wife named [[Setlutlu]]. His oldest son, Kgwaanyane, was his favorite and was pampered. Carried around the Kalahari in a litter, he was sheltered from battle but eventually was killed in an ambush by the Herero.<ref>Moanaphuti Segolodi, "Ditso Tsa Batawana," 1940. https://www.academia.edu/12170767/Ditso_Tsa_Batawana_by_Moanaphuti_Segolodi_1940</ref> He was succeeded by his daughter [[Mamochisane]], who soon stepped down in favour of her half-brother [[Sekeletu]]. He also had a son named Mpepe, who was an enemy of Sekeletu, and grandson called [[Litali]].


His brother [[Mbololo (king)|Mbololo]] later became a king.
His brother [[Mbololo (king)|Mbololo]] later became a king of makololo


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', "Sebetwane", (2000)
*''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', "Sebetwane", (2000)


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.barotseland.com/history3.pdf Makololo interregnum and the legacy of David Livingstone] (PDF)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060511000000/http://www.barotseland.com/history3.pdf Makololo interregnum and the legacy of David Livingstone] (PDF)


{{Litungas of Barotseland}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Sebetwane
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =Sebitwane
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =High Chief, Litunga
| DATE OF BIRTH =Ca. 1790
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1851
| PLACE OF DEATH = Barotseland
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sebetwane}}
⚫
[[Category:South African people]]
[[Category:Zambian people]]
[[Category:South African chiefs]]
⚫
[[Category:19th-century Zambian people]]
[[Category:Litungas]]
[[Category:Litungas]]
[[Category:18th-century births]]
[[Category:1851 deaths]]
[[Category:1851 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Mfecane]]

Latest revision as of 13:07, 31 May 2024

Sebetwane
Bornbetween about 1790 and 1800
DiedJuly 7, 1851
Barotseland
Other namesSebitwane and Sibutuane
Known forEstablishing Makololo nation
TitleKing (chief) of the Makololo tribe
SuccessorQueen Mamochisane
Spouse(s)Queen Setlutlu
Queen Kololo
ChildrenQueen Mamochisane
King Sekeletu
Prince Mpepe
RelativesPrinces Sesane and Litali (grandsons)

Sebetwane (between about 1790 and 1800 – July 7, 1851) was chief of the Patsa branch of the Bafokeng clan. He established the large and powerful Makololo nation in what is now southwestern Zambia after an arduous migration of over 1200 kilometres from the clan's ancestral lands, near modern day Biddulphsberg, in the Free State province of South Africa .

Names

[edit]

King's names also can be written as Sebitwane or Sibutuane. In isizulu he is called sibidwane.

Biography

[edit]

In the early 1820s Sebetwane was the Chief of a small Sotho group known as the Bafokeng-ba-ha-Patsa. Facing constant attacks and losing all their cattle during the early years of the Mfecane, Sebetwane urged his people to leave their homeland:

"My masters, you see that the world is collapsing. We shall be eaten up one by one. Our fathers taught us peace means prosperity, but today there is no peace, no prosperity! Let us march!"[1]

In 1823 they moved north near what is now the southern borders of Botswana, attacking a number of other societies and incorporating their younger members. These attacks were largely successful for three years, and the Kololo increased their population and cattle wealth. Pushed north by the advancing Ndebele, the Kololo suffered a catastrophic defeat at Dithubaruba in 1826 to a coalition of forces headed by the Ngwaketse chief Sebego I. Following this defeat they moved north-east, but continuing warfare there eventually pushed them towards the Okavango Delta in 1834.[2] Once in the area, Sebetwane's heir was killed, although in 1835 Sebetwane won a major victory over the Batawana and controlled the area for a few years before striking north again around 1840.[3]

After briefly settling near the Victoria Falls, in 1838 Sebetwane passed the Zambesi River and conquered the Lozi's kingdom. He was both able to conciliate Makololo and Lozi and repel two attacks brought against him by Mzilikazi, king of the Ndebele. He died on July 7, 1851, shortly after meeting at Linyati, his capital, the missionary explorer David Livingstone, with whom he developed a warm friendship.

Personality

[edit]

Distinguished as both a warrior and a statesman, Sebetwane was able to consolidate his military gains by his generous and just treatment of the conquered peoples. Even those who had been conquered by him and eventually fled his kingdom maintained that he was an extremely warm leader: Sebetwane "loved people very much even if they were his victims."[4]

Family

[edit]

Sebetwane had a wife named Setlutlu. His oldest son, Kgwaanyane, was his favorite and was pampered. Carried around the Kalahari in a litter, he was sheltered from battle but eventually was killed in an ambush by the Herero.[5] He was succeeded by his daughter Mamochisane, who soon stepped down in favour of her half-brother Sekeletu. He also had a son named Mpepe, who was an enemy of Sekeletu, and grandson called Litali.

His brother Mbololo later became a king of makololo

References

[edit]
  1. ^ J. Ramsay, B. Morton, and T. Mgadla. Building a Nation: A History of Botswana from 1800 to 1910. Gaborone: Longmans, 1996, 66.
  2. ^ J. Ramsay, B. Morton, and T. Mgadla. Building a Nation: A History of Botswana from 1800 to 1910. Gaborone: Longmans, 1996, 68-9.
  3. ^ Moanaphuti Segolodi, "Ditso Tsa Batawana," 1940. https://www.academia.edu/12170767/Ditso_Tsa_Batawana_by_Moanaphuti_Segolodi_1940
  4. ^ Moanaphuti Segolodi, "Ditso Tsa Batawana," 1940. https://www.academia.edu/12170767/Ditso_Tsa_Batawana_by_Moanaphuti_Segolodi_1940
  5. ^ Moanaphuti Segolodi, "Ditso Tsa Batawana," 1940. https://www.academia.edu/12170767/Ditso_Tsa_Batawana_by_Moanaphuti_Segolodi_1940
[edit]
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