Koena tribe

Bakoena ( in South Africa and Botswana: Bakwena ) is an ethnic group of the Basotho and Batswana, which are closely related. The Bakoena ba Monaheng form one of the main stems of the Basotho living in Lesotho and South Africa. Among the other tribes include the Batlokoa and Bataung. In Botswana live Bakwena ba ga Sechele.

The term Kwena ( in South Africa and Botswana ) and Koena ( in Lesotho) is a word in Sesotho Setswana and meaning crocodile in the tribal mythology plays a major role as a totem. The Bakoena come from the head of Monaheng (also Kali ), who lived in the 17th century and his subordinates resulted in the valley of the Caledon, which forms the border between Lesotho and South Africa today. Among the known Bakoena include Mohlomi and Moshoeshoe I. and his successor as head of the traditional Basotho.