Mephato: The Rise of the Tswana Militia in the Pre-colonial Period

Abstract

After their modern polities (merafhe) took shape in the eighteenth century, Tswana leaders used male age-sets (mephato, sing. mophato) to play an increasingly active role in public affairs. Led by senior members of the political hierarchy, mephato were committed for life to carry out military and other duties. In c.1750 the Makabe Tlokwa and Kgafela Kgatla of the Pilanesberg area shared initiation and formed joint mephato, an alliance that proved the efficacy of mephato in securing their territories. In time, other Tswana created militia-style mephato. Whereas initiation was a fixed ritual that preserved societal and civic norms, mephato were deployed by the political hierarchy, in particular their dikgosi (kings, chiefs, sing. kgosi) in ways that rewarded innovation and adaptability. Mephato activities reflected, in other words, the interests and talent (or lack thereof) of Tswana leaders. Under a kgosi, the combined mephato represented his army, just as an aspiring kgosi might regard his own mophato as the instrument with which to assert himself.