© 2018 Dr Margaret Sheppard

Initiation

This was the traditional "rite de passage" from childhood to adulthood. For boys it was called Bogwera, and Bojale or Gorupa for girls. The young people were divided into Age Regiments. Among the Bangwaketse there has been no traditional initiation since the Matselaphale regiment in 1896, when it was abolished by Bathoen I. According to his brother Kgosimotse, Bathoen I abolished initiation because he was a Christian and wished to have all Bangwaketse children properly educated in school. He condemned bogwera and bojale as being morally bad and tending to undermine the Chief's authority.

In fact there was opposition to the abolition of initiation, mostly from Mmanaana-Kgotla, who were a subject community living in the sub-village Moshopa. Their headman, Gobuamang, strongly favoured initiation. He was supported by some people in Kanye and whenever a new age-set was created, they would organize their own illegal ceremonies either in the Bangwaketse area or in the neighbouring European farms of the Lobatse Block. Schapera states that on at least 3 occasions (1911, 1917 and 1931) more than 200 boys and girls were involved.

Some parents sent their children to take part in those organized by other tribes, for example, in 1909 with the Barolong, in 1916-17 with the Bakwena, in 1929 with the Balete. Chiefs continually warned parents that this was illegal. In 1907 Bathoen I collected 81 head of cattle in fines from fathers of daughters who had been sent to illegally held bojale ceremonies. Even as late as 1940, Bathoen 11 again warned the tribe against sending their children to attend these ceremonies (that year they were being held by the Bamalete). He later had to fine the fathers of 5 boys, 2 head of cattle each for ignoring his warning.

 As all details are secret to non-initiates, especially women, it is difficult to know exactly what happened. But the aim was to teach boys to behave as men. Schapera describes traditional Bakgatla Bogwera and the Bangwaketse was probably fairly similar. Since the last full scale initiation in 1901, age regiments (mephato) have still been formed, but nowadays the Chief just calls boys of a certain age group to the Kgotla and they are told the name of their regiment. The last of this type was formed in 1960's, but in September 1980 Chief Seepapitso IV announced at a Kgotla meeting that new regiments would be named for boys born between 1942-6, 1947-51 and 1952-6. Also in 1980 some people asked the Chief at a Kgotla meeting if initiation could be revived; this does not seem likely, as his reply was: "We no longer know how to go about those things."

Many projects were carried out by the various age regiments as the particular regiment's special duty. For example, two of the primary schools in Kanye were built by regiments and then named after them: Matsaakgang and Maisantwa Schools were both built by the regiments of those names. Motlaladibe built a road (Madba road) from Kanye to Lobatse. Majammewa dug a dam and Malwelakgosi was the regiment sent to the Second World War.

Each male regiment had its male and female branches. People of the same regiments refer warmly to "their comrades" i.e. people of their age regiment. It is a terrible thing to insult a member of a regiment senior to your own, and an offender can be severely punished by being beaten or fined. Even the Chief cannot insult a member of a regiment that is senior to his own.

Among the Bangwato and Balete more elaborate but modified initiation is still practised. In November 1978, two new regiments were created among the Bangwato, both led  by sons from the Royal Family of those tribes.One was called Matsosa and led by Sekgoma Khama, and the other was called Maemelwa and led by Modiri Khama and Sediegeng Kgamane. The new Paramount Chief of the Bangwato belongs to and leads the Malwelamotse Regiment; he is the son of the late first President of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama.

Traditionally no one was allowed to marry until they had been initiated into a Regiment. This is obviously no longer followed, certainly in Kanye, but certain elements of the system remain. As has already been stated  - respect for one's elders is very important, and it is considered a very serious offence to insult a person from a senior regiment, which is punishable at the Chief's Kgotla, Men often tease each other in a joking fashion, claiming superiority through membership of a senior age group, even if that age group has not yet been named. It should also be noted that during the collection of the 1981 Census, enumerators were issued with Events Calendars that included the years of the various regiments, to enable them to estimate the ages of respondents who did not use the modern dating system.