The
Tswana is a particular ethnic group in Botswana, who moved from the eastern part of Africa to the southern part in the 14th century. The
origin of the name of
Tswana is not yet known, but it refers to the cluster of people, who speak same languages and follow similar customs. The Tswana people of Botswana were mainly cultivators, herders and hunters. Hence, they decided to get settled in the high plains. The soil was quite fertile, the grass was suitable for the cattle and there was no endemic diseases found in the livestock. The Tswana tribe in Botswana cultivated items like beans, pumpkins, gourds, sweet melons and sorghum. They found that maize, made popular by the Portuguese, was also highly productive. Only one fourth of the Tswana people live in Botswana and the rest three fourth lived in South Africa. In fact, the name Botswana has been named after Tswana people.
The Tswana people of Botswana are very close to the Sotho tribe. Actually both the Tswana and Sotho belong to the same ancestor-Mogale. These two categories of people share the same customs, religious and social beliefs, social norms and political views. The Tswana tribes in Botswana think and act in collective terms rather than acting out individually. Their society is a bit different from that of the socially and economically advanced sections. However, with passing time, the Tswana tribe of Botswana is gradually developing and their society is becoming a secular one.
