Malete tribe

Bamalete, or baMalete, is the traditional name of a Southern African Tswana tribe of Nguni descent, who tend to prefer the modern name Balete

In Botswana, where they occupy a permanent territory since circa 1780, officially recognized as a tribal reserve in 1909, they are the only one of eight major tribes that do not belong to the related Tswana people. They still have a traditional Paramount Chief, equally styled Kgôsikgolo. Today, BaMalete have settled in Southern Botswana villages including Ramotswa, Gabane, Otse and Mogobane.

List of chiefs

.... - .... Pôwê I a Marumo

.... - 1805 Mokgôjwe a Pôwê (acting)

1805 - 1830 Pôwê II a Mokgôjwe (d. c.1830)

1830 - 1886 Mokgôsi I a Pôwê

1886 - 1896 Ikaneng a Mokgôsi

1896 - 1906 Mokgôsi II a Ikaneng

1906 - 1917 Baitlotle a Ikaneng (acting)

1917 - 1937 Seboko I a Mokgôsi

1937 - 1945 Ketswerebothata a Mokgôsi (acting)

1945 - 1966 Mokgôsi III a Seboko

1966 - 1996 Kelemogile a Seboko (Kelemogile Mokgosi) acting

1996 - 2001 Seboko II a Mokgôsi

2001 - 2002 Tumelo a Seboko (acting)

2002 - Mosadi a Mokgôsi (female)

Leboko la Balete (The Balete Poem)

Matebele a mantsho aga
ma masodi-a mphela(mazulu a mampela)
A ga selala le namane letlhakoleng
di robaroba matlhakola
dia robile di satla go a lala
namane tse di naka di diobe
ere faere "gou!"di be dire "goo"
kgodumo...o e tshabele mogotlhong
more wa nare ga o lebalebelwe;
mutlwa gao tswane le lenaka, o
ka tlhomolwa.
mogatsa mmolaya nare o ya a batla seantlo
a sale gale. Barwa taola tsa mere
Barwa motlhana o tlhokile motsei
o jelwe ke magakabe le manong
Barwa kgodumo ya leselesele

Sources and references

World Statesmen website on political and administrative entities