The Sotho people have split into different clans over time as a result of the Mfecane (a series of wars and migrations that took place in the 19th century) [1] and colonialism. There are 3 types of Basotho, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tswana people

Members of the eight major Sotho-Tswana clans as defined in the Chieftainship Act of Botswana; Members of the Sotho-Tswana clans that reside in Botswana, South Africa, speak a standardized dialect of the Sotho-Tswana called Setswana, sometimes also referred to as the Western Sotho.

Jan 23, 2012 · Below is a high-level hierarchy capturing some of the Basotho clans (elaborated from this piece of history). The main goal of the pages under Sub Wikis section is to provide (over time) a compilation of praise poems (odes) of the Basotho clans, “lithoko tsa liboko tsa Basotho”.

History of the Basuto, ancient and modern. London, Caxton publishing company, limited, 1912. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/14004114/>. "Genealogical tables of the tribes dealt with in this history": p. 331-393. Written originally in French.

The Sotho people, or Basotho, are a Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa who speak Sesotho. They are native to modern Lesotho and South Africa. The Basotho have inhabited the region since around the fifth century CE and are closely related to other Bantu peoples of the region.

Jun 29, 2011 · By 1500 the Sotho groups had expanded to the south and west and separated into the three distinct clusters; the South Sotho (later became the Basuto and Sotho), the West Sotho (later the Tswana), and the North Sotho (later the Pedi).

Mar 21, 2011 · The Basotho were formidable opponents, and the Boers suffered substantial losses, as they were unable to penetrate the Basotho mountain stronghold of Thaba Bosiu (also called Thaba Bosigo). This war is also known as the First Basotho War or the War of Senekal (sometimes spelt Senegal).

Mar 31, 2011 · In March 1868 his country became a British protectorate and the Basotho was saved and the current borders of Lesotho were established. Most of their territory was lost, specifically fertile farming area west of the Caledon River, which they had ceded to the Boers.

According to Basotho legend, people first evolved from a marsh at a mythical place called Ntsuanatsatsi. They left the marsh in groups that became clans 'liboko', each of which was allocated an animal as god-protector. The totem for Moshoeshoe's clan, for example, was the crocodile 'koena'.

All Basotho belong to a clan, a social category whose members share a clan name that associates them with an animal totem or ancestor.