TSWANA (singular Motswana, plural Batswana) is the name of a Southern African people, and of its Bantu language.

In the 19th century, a common spelling and pronunciation was Bechuana, and the area where they lived was known as Bechuanaland. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bechuanaland Protectorate (BP) was a protectorate established in 1885 by Britain in the area of what is now Botswana. ...

• For their Niger-Congo language, which is also known as Setswana, see Tswana language

Tswana, also known as Setswana, is a Bantu language. ...

home state Botswana

The modern republic of Botswana, formerly known as the colony of (British) Bechuanaland, is named after this people (Bantu languages often use prefixes, in this case bo-, for grammatical flexions and for word derivations, rather then endings and suffixes as is more usual in Indo-European languages).

Seven of the country's eight 'major' tribes (the only exception being the baMalete or Balete) are Tswana, and still have a traditional Paramount Chief styled Kgôsikgolo, all dynasties being related (some have known splits in two or three competing lines), in an officially recognized tribal reserve : baRôlông (reserve created in 1935), baKwêna (reserve created in 1899), baNgwaketse (reserve created in 1899), bamaNgwato (reserve created in 1899), baTawana (reserve Ngamiland created in 1899), baTlôkwa (reserve created in 1933) and baKgatla (no reserve). BALETE is 1- the modern name of choice of a Southern African Bantu tribe, traditionally named baMalete - see that article. ...

• As the Batswana constitute the majority population of Botswana, the word is also sometimes used to cover all citizens of Botswana, i.e. including other tribes such as various Khoisan.

South Africa and homeland (bantustan)

The largest number of Batswana live in South Africa, were they are one of the larger black minorities whose language is official status. Until 1994 they were notionally citizens of Bophuthatswana, one of the few bantustans that actually became reality as planned by the Apartheid regime. Flag of Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana was a former Bantustan (homeland) in the north of South Africa. ... Bantustan refers to any of the territories designated as tribal homelands for black South Africans during the Apartheid era. ...

elsewhere

Sources and References

• [WorldStatesmen website on political and administrative entities]