Bakwena
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- 🇧🇼 Botswana
- Religion
- Traditional
- First Seen
- 1700s
- Trait
- Strength
Meaning & Etymology
Member of the Crocodile clan
The name Bakwena is derived from the Setswana words 'ba' meaning 'people of' and 'kwena' meaning 'crocodile'. It is the name of one of the main Sotho-Tswana clans in Southern Africa.
Cultural Context
Member of the Crocodile clan
Etymology
Derived from the Setswana word baka (people of) and kwena (crocodile).
Linguistic family: Niger-Congo > Atlantic-Congo > Volta-Congo > Benue-Congo > Bantoid > Bantu > Sotho-Tswana
Cultural context
In Tswana culture, clan names like Bakwena are significant as they denote lineage and belonging to a particular totem group. The crocodile is a revered animal, symbolizing strength and wisdom.
Symbolism
The name Bakwena symbolizes connection to the crocodile clan, representing attributes such as strength, resilience, and ancestral wisdom.
Naming ceremony
The Tswana naming ceremony, known as go lela ngwana, involves the elders of the family and community. The name is often chosen based on the circumstances of the birth or the family’s lineage and is announced during this ceremony.
Related names
Famous People
Sechele I
politics · Botswana · b. 1810
Sechele I was the first Christian king of the Bakwena people and a notable figure in Botswana's history.