Diboko: Sotho, Tswana and Pedi Clan Names and Totems
In the Sotho and Tswana languages a seboko, plural diboko, is the name of a clan or family. [1]
A seboko is also a totemic name, usually that of an animal, shared by everyone in the clan. Early written accounts record that each group venerated the animal whose name it bore and would not kill or eat it. Writing in 1902, George Theal gave the Bakwena as the crocodiles and the Bataung as the lions. [2]
The seboko also served as a respectful form of address, and ritual songs and dances were connected with the animal or object it named. [2]
Each people names the clan praise in its own word: lithoko in Sesotho, maboko in Setswana and direto in Sesotho sa Leboa. Where a recorded praise is still under licence review, its page says that the praise exists and why it is not shown. [3]
Diboko · Sesotho · A–Z
B
- Bafokeng
- Bafokeng ba Komane (Mokomana)
- Bafokeng ba Mahoana (Mahooana)
- Bafokeng ba Mangole (Mahase, Mahooana)
- Bafokeng ba Ntsikoe (ba Kata a Sefiri)
- Bafokeng ba Patsa
- Bafokeng ba Tšele (Tseele)
- Bafula (Bafula-kolobeng)
- Bahlakoana
- Bakhatla (Bakgatla)
- Bakoena
- Bakoena ba Makhetha / Nku-tšooana and other Bakoena praise-houses (index entry)
- Bakubung (Bataung ba Sefatsa / sons of Tsukulu)
- Bamaieane (Bamaiyane)
- Bamantsane (Bakoena ba Ntsane)
- Bamokoteli (Bakoena ba Mokoteli)
- Bamolibeli (Bakoena ba Molibeli)
- Bamonaheng (Bakoena ba Monaheng)
- Bapeli (Bapedi)
- Baphuthi
- Baramokhele (Bakubu ba Ramokhele; fourth branch of the Bataung)
- Barolong (of Sifunelo / Moroka)
- Basia (Basiea)
- Bataung
- Bataung ba Hlalele (senior branch of Morapeli)
- Bataung ba Thulo (Mophethe / Moletsane's house; second branch of Khomo)
- Batlokoa
- Batloung
- Batšoeneng (Batsueneng) of Khiba
Diboko · Sesotho sa Leboa · A–Z
B
- Babirwa (Limpopo)
- Bagamaja
- Bagamathabatha
- Bagammamabolo (diKolobe)
- Bagatšhwene (Chuene)
- Bahananwa
- Bahlalerwa ba Mojapelo
- Bakgaga ba Mphahlele
- Bakone ba Dikgale
- Bakone ba Matlala (Ga-Matlala, Pietersburg)
- Bakone ba Matlala (Sekhukhuneland and Moutse offshoots)
- Bakone ba Mothiba
- Bakone ba Segwegwe
- Bakone of Sekhukhuneland (other stock)
- Bakopa
- Bakutswe
- Bakwena ba Moletjie
- Bakwena ba Mongatane
- Balobedu (Modjadji)
- Banareng ba Letswalo
- Bantwane
- Bapai
- Bapedi ba ga Magakala
- Bapedi ba Maroteng
- Baphalaborwa (Malatji)
- Baroka
- Batau
- Batlokwa ba Ramokgopa / ba Machaka
- Batlou ba Makgoba
- Batswako / Bahlala (Mohlala)
Diboko · Setswana · A–Z
K
Questions About Diboko
What does diboko mean?
Diboko is the plural of seboko, the Sotho and Tswana word for the name of a clan or family.
Are diboko totems?
Yes. A seboko is a totemic name, usually that of an animal, shared by all the members of a clan. Early accounts record that a clan would not kill or eat the animal it was named for.
What is a clan praise called in Sesotho, Setswana and Sepedi?
Lithoko in Sesotho, maboko in Setswana and direto in Sesotho sa Leboa.
How do I find my seboko?
Look up your clan or surname in the A to Z index on this page. Each seboko has its own page with its totem where recorded and the sources it was read from.
If your family holds more than the record does, add what your family holds.