The Ba Tlokoa, or Wild Cats in Sesotho, are one of the many Sotho-Tswana clans who reside in Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa. They are also referred to as Ba Tlokwa, Batlokwa and Batlokoa. The clan was scattered over a vast area and are of historic significance to the Sotho-Tswana clans.

Photograph Circa 1960 - Barbara Tyrrell - Peter Jurgens

Recorded history of the Ba Tlokoa, is centered around the Mfecane, Lifaqane or Difaqane, which occurred during the early 19th century.

Click the link below to learn more about the .....

During the Mfecane, stories were told of a Ba Tlokoa leader named Mantatisi "Mma-Ntatisi" and the horde she led. It was said she was a terrifying one-eyed woman who suckled her troops at her breast. Regent for her son Sikonyela, Mantatisi fought to keep the Ba Tlokoa intact.

Following Hlubi attacks on her people, Mantatisi marched west from Natal. Her mob of 50,000 people crossed the Drakensberg mountains, into present day Lesotho, leaving a path of destruction. They continued to the Orange River, which was in flood stage. Unable to cross, they travelled north and again besieged the Basotho.

Mantatisi drove Moshoeshoe from his fortress near the Caledon River. He found safety at Thaba Bosiu. While Moshoeshoe lead his people to this new home, Tlokoa cannibals among her army ate many stragglers.

Because of Mantatisi's notoriety, all Tswana-Sotho raiders became known as  "boo-Mma-Ntatisi", or "Mantatee Horde" by the English. Known also as the "Destroyer of Nations", she was only stopped from entering the Cape colony by British forces near Aliwal North. Eventually Mantatisi settled her people on Marabeng Mountain.

 Mantatese was succeeded by her son Sikonyela. It is said that when he became chief, Mantatese lived a lonely, drunken life.

Sikonyela

Murder Murder Murder

Sikonyela pillaged for another twenty years and in the process, accumulated large herds of stolen Zulu cattle. Shaka had been murdered by his two half brothers Dingane and Mhlangana.  Dingane became King.

In 1837, under threat of war and without a fight, Sekonyela succumbed to Piet Retief, by returning Dingane's cattle to the voortrekkers. Retief took the cattle to Dingane, in exchange for a promised land grant in Natal. Retief and his men entered the kings kraal unarmed, where they were captured, taken up a hill and slaughtered.

 The reverend J.C. Bryant reports the tale of Motsholi, who had reached Sikonyela after fleeing from Zululand. In his eagerness, Sikonyela chopped off Motsholi’s head so as to possess the mans neck ring.

    Nquthu Municipal Crest

Basotho and Batlokwa  Battle Axes - 19th Century

As the century drew to a close, a group of Ba Tlokwa aligned themselves with the British. During the 1870's, they were rewarded with land in Natal’s Vryheid district between Dundee and Nquthu at Witsieshoek, as were the Kwena. In 1926 the Orange Free State government placed the Tlokwa under the authority of the Kwena. In 1930 each group was given it's own regional authority.

Once settled, area specific beadwork developed, unique to the location. Beaded fashion differed to that of typical Basotho apparel. In relative isolation, Tlokwa preserved their cultural fashions far longer than most Basotho clans.