Editing History of Botswana (section)

=== The Difaqane ===
The ''[[Difaqane]]'', a period of conflict and displacement in southern Africa, took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.{{Sfn|Klehm|2021|p=17}} During this time, the Tswana people were subject to raids by many groups, including the [[Northern Ndebele people|Ndebele]], the [[Kololo people|Kololo]], the [[Ngoni people|Ngoni]],{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=28}} the [[Pedi people|Pedi]], and the [[Voortrekker]]s.{{Sfn|Morton|2012|p=391}} Most Tswana groups opted to retreat instead of fight.{{Sfn|Morton|2012|p=394}} This triggered extensive migration across the region, causing the Tswana tribes to more thoroughly spread and establish a stronger presence throughout the territory of present-day Botswana.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=25}} They settled primarily in the ''[[hardveld]]'' that makes up the eastern region of present-day Botswana.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=29}} The Kwena and Ngwaketse peoples migrated from [[South African Republic|Transvaal]] to the ''sandveld''.{{Sfn|Klehm|2021|p=18}} The first of the Kgatla peoples to settle in present-day Botswana, the [[Mmanaana people]], migrated from South Africa in the early 19th century before settling in [[Moshupa]] and [[Thamaga]].{{Sfn|Matemba|2003|p=53, 56}} Only some of the northwestern Tswana peoples were spared displacement or interruption.{{Sfn|Morton|2012|p=393}}

The Kololo people attacked the northwestern Tswana peoples in 1826, forcing the Kwena and Ngwaketse from their respective territories. [[Sebogo]], the regent of the Ngwaketse tribe, raised 4,000 men in their ''mephato'' and surrounded [[Dithubaruba]] where the Kololo were residing. Killing the warriors and the civilians, they permanently expelled the Kololo from the region.{{Sfn|Morton|2012|pp=393–394}}

The tribes reestablished their states in the 1840s, founding several towns and villages of varying sizes.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=31}}{{Sfn|Hjort|2009|p=693}}{{Sfn|Robinson|Parsons|2006|p=114}} Governance was based around the ''[[kgotla]]'', a deliberative forum in which the chief or a regional leader heard the concerns of most male citizens before making decisions.{{Sfn|Hjort|2009|p=695}}{{Sfn|Holm|Molutsi|1992|p=77}}