Paramount Chiefs/Kings of Botswana

Botswana is a made of 8 principal or major tribes or ethnic groups that are headed by a monarch today called a paramount chief (kgosi) who were initially kings before the colonial era. They include:

• BaMangwato
• BaKoena / BaKwena
• BaTlokwa
• BaNgakwetse
• BaRolong
• Balete / BaMalete
• BaTawana
• BaKagtla

National House of Chiefs / Ntlo ya Dikgosi (Botswana ) is an advisory body to the country’s Parliament that advises the government on customary law, tribal Matters etc. Laws concerning customary under the customary courts are discussed by it before they are taken to the  main Parliament. It has a membership of 35, 8 being the paramount chiefs of the 8 major tribes, 22 elected chiefs and 5 president appointed members.

BaMangwato

Paramount Chief (Kgosikgolo) Seretse Khama Ian Khama IV of baMangwato tribe of Botswana.

He is the current reigning traditional monarch of the BamaNgwato ethnic group of Botswanasince 1979 when he was crowned. He is the son of first president of Botswana Sir Seretse Khama whom he succeeded as tribal monarch of baMangwato and British lady Ruth Khama who served as the very first first lady of Botswana and white queen of BaMangwato. Ian Khama formerly served as president of Botswana from 2008-2018 and is termed as one of the best presidents of Botswana. He is unmarried thus his younger politician brother Tshekedi Khama ii is heir.

BaTlokwa

Paramount chief (Kgosikgolo or simply Kgosi) Puso Gaborone of BaTlokwa tribe of Botswana. He has been traditional monarch since 2006 and also currently serves as the chairperson of the national house of chiefs or Ntlo ya Dikgosi. Kgosi Puso married in 2016.

BaLete / BaMalete

Paramount chief (Kgosikgolo or simply Kgosi) Mosadi Seboko of Balete (baMalete) people of Botswana.
She made history as the first female monarch in Botswana being crowned in 2003. She was the first born of her father the late monarch Mokgosi ii and succeeded her uncle who had become kgosikgolo after her brother passed away. She is also a former chairperson of national house of chiefs and currently a Member of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi or National House of Chiefs

BaTawana

Paramount chief (Kgosikgolo or simply Kgosi) Tawana ii Moremi of BaTawana tribe of Botswana.
A business law graduate from UK, he was crowned as traditional monarch in 1995 succeeding the late monarch. He left his throne in 2003 under the regency of his elder sister Princess Kealetile Moremi and moved to politics becoming a very vocal figure in parliament. Kgosi Tawana previously served as member of Parliament for Maun West. He returned fully to his throne in 2019 and left politics. He has children including Prince Oatile Tawana Moremi.

Bakoena / BaKwena

Paramount chief (Kgosikgolo or simply Kgosi) Kgari Sechele iii of BaKwena or BaKoena tribe of Botswana.
He is the current reigning traditional monarch of the tribe and sits in the national house of chiefs, Botswana

BaNgakwetse

Paramount chief (Kgosikgolo or simply Kgosi) Malope ii a Gaseitsiwe of BaNgakwetse tribe of Botswana. He has been traditional monarch since 2010 after succeeding his late father the famous Kgosi Seepapitso iv who served as longtime chairperson of national house of chiefs and ambassador of Botswana to USA and China. He previously served as deputy chairperson of national house of chiefs or Ntlo ya Dikgosi.

BaRolong

Paramount chief (Kgosikgolo or simply Kgosi) Lotlamoreng ii of BaRolong tribe of Botswana.
He has been traditional monarch since 2002. He caused uproar among the Barolong royal house after leaving the throne under regency for politics. Kgosi Lotlamoreng has however has resumed his full position as monarch. He is currently the member of Parliament of Good hope – Mabule, Botswana

BaKagtla

Paramount chief (Kgosikgolo or simply Kgosi) Kgafela ii of BaKgatla tribe of Botswana and South Africa. He has been traditional monarch since 2008. However the Botswana government had de-recognised him as monarch on grounds that he refused to submit to the national authority, claiming autonomy and refusal to attend to public officers. The Paramount chief insists the rough relationship came after he called for the review of the constitution and issues of BaKgatla tribal land which is currently under different sovereign nations. Bakgatla live both in Botswana and South Africa. He currently lives in South Africa since 2012.

Under them are many other royal chiefs around the country

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