Legwale was a ''

kgosi A (; ) is the title for a hereditary leader of a Batswana and South Africa peoples tribe. Usage The word "kgosi" is a Setswana term for "king" or "chief". Various affixes can be added to the word to change its meaning: adding the prefix ''di- ...

'' of the Kwena tribe in the late 18th century. He was preceded by his father

Seitlhamo Seitlhamo (died ) was a ''kgosi'' of the Kwena tribe. He ruled from the death of his father Motswasele I c. 1785 until his own death c. 1795. He was succeeded by his son Legwale. Life Seitlhamo was the son of Motswasele I, ''kgosi A (; ...

and succeeded by his brother Maleke as regent. Gary Okihiro has contested the idea that Legwale is a single individual, saying that there were two consecutive ''dikgosi'' named Legwale who were father and son.

Life

Legwale was the son of the Kwena ''kgosi''

. As a young man, it's believed that Legwale led the Kwena people in a war with the Kgafela people in a failed attempt to reinstate Makgotso as the Kgafela tribe's regent. Legwale was briefly captured during this conflict. Upon Seitlhamo's death, Legwale became the ''kgosi''. As ''kgosi'', Legwale led a raiding party to steal cattle. This has been reported as a raid against the Birwa people in Shoshong, or against the

Shona people The Shona people () also/formerly known as the Karanga are a Bantu peoples, Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, primarily living in Zimbabwe where they form the majority of the population, as well as Mozambique, South Africa, and world ...

in Bonyani. Legwale was killed during the raid. His year of death has been reported as c. 1798 and c. 1803. Because the targets were prepared, and because Legwale was the only member of the party to be killed, rumours developed that Legwale' brothers warned the targets in advance.

Legacy

Legwale's sons included Motswasele II and Segokotlo in the great house, Molese in the second house, and his junior son Kgama. As they were still young upon Legwale's death, his brother Maleke became regent. Upon Maleke's death, his brother

Tshosa Tshosa was a regent of the Kwena tribe from 1803 to 1807. He became regent following the death of his brother Maleke, who was also a regent, and he held the position until he passed it to the Kwena heir, his nephew Motswasele II. After Motswas ...

became regent before Motswasele II became ''kgosi''. According to Gary Okihiro, the identification of Legwale as a single figure is an error and there were two consecutive ''dikgosi'' named Legwale, Legwale I and his son Legwale II.

Notes

References

* * * * {{Cite journal , last=Schapera , first=I , year=1980 , title=Notes on the early history of the Kwena (Bakwena-bagaSechele) , url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40980796 , journal=Botswana Notes and Records , volume=12 , pages=83–87 , jstor=40980796 , issn=0525-5090 Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Kwena chiefs