Bakoena
Bakoena (in South Africa and Botswana : Bakwena ) is an ethnic group of the Basotho and Batswana who are closely related. The Bakoena ba Monaheng are one of the main Basotho tribes living in Lesotho and South Africa. Other tribes include the Batlokoa and the Bataung . The Bakwena ba ga Sechele live in Botswana .
The expression Kwena (in South Africa and Botswana) or Koena (in Lesotho) is a word in Sesotho and Setswana and means crocodile , which plays a major role as a totem in tribal mythology. The Bakoena descend from the chief Monaheng (also Kali), who lived in the 17th century and led his subordinates into the valley of the Caledon , which today forms the border between Lesotho and South Africa. The well-known Bakoena also include Mohlomi and Moshoeshoe I and his successor as the traditional head of the Basotho.