Botswana: Ranaka: a Village of Tranquillity in Diversity

Tall and green vegetation on the approaches to Ranaka are a good omen. The village is tranquil despite the fact that it is inhabited by five tribes. There is no dispute about the name of the village or who should be chief. Ranaka lies some 30km west of Gaborone along the Otse Police College road in the Ngwaketse territory. It has a large population of Kalangas, Bangwato, Batlhaping boora Tsogo, Batlhaping boora Sebubi and Bangwaketse.

Ranaka tribal leader Kebapetse Tekelelo, says he cannot recall when the various tribes came to settle here. But he learnt from oral history that some Batlhaping who came to settle at the village were part of the late explorer David Livingstone's crew. The circumstances under which they left Livingstone to settle in Ranaka are unknown. Tekelelo says the other Batlhaping tribe migrated from Vryburg in South Africa. Other tribes such as Bangwato ba ga Macheng and the Ikalangas, sought refuge among Ranaka people during the infamous Mfecane wars of the 19th century. He said the village's main Kgotla, also known as Kgosing ward was built by the Kalangas. The Kalangas dominate the Kgosing ward while Bangwato ward in the village is known as Macheng. "They interact a lot with other Bangwato from Serowe even today.

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