The Balete people, traditionally called the Bamalete, or baMalete, are a Southern AfricanTswana people. In Botswana they have occupied a permanent territory since around 1780, officially recognized as a tribal reserve in 1909. They are the only one of eight major tribes that do not belong to the related Tswana people. They still have a traditional Paramount Chief, or Kgôsikgolo. Balete are settled in Southern Botswana villages that include Ramotswa, Gabane, Otse, Metsimotlhabe, Baaitse and Mogobane.
Phatlê Malete Maphalaolê Mongatane Maio Kgomo Mokgwê Marumô Pôwê I a Marumo 1805 Mokgôjwe a Pôwê 1805–1830 Pôwê II a Mokgôjwe 1830–1886 Mokgôsi I a Pôwê 1886–1896 Ikaneng a Mokgôsi 1896–1906 Mokgôsi II 1906–1917 Baitlotle 1917–1937 Seboko I a Mokgôsi 1937–1945 Ketswerebothata a Mokgôsi 1945–1966 Mokgôsi III a Seboko 1966–1996 Kelemogile a Seboko acting 1996–2001 Seboko II a Mokgôsi 2001–2002 Tumelo a Seboko 2002 - present Mosadi Seboko
Leboko la Balete (The Balete Poem)
Matebele a mantsho aga
ma masodi-a mphela
A ga selala le namane letlhakoleng
di robaroba matlhakola
dia robile di satla go a lala
namane tse di naka di diobe
ere faere "gou!"di be dire "goo"
kgodumo...o e tshabele mogotlhong
more wa nare ga o lebalebelwe;
mutlwa gao tswane le lenaka, o
ka tlhomolwa.
mogatsa mmolaya nare o ya a batla seantlo
a sale gale. Barwa taola tsa mere
Barwa motlhana o tlhokile motsei
o jelwe ke magakabe le manong
Barwa kgodumo ya leselesele September 1, 2012 saw the beginning of a new era for the Balete tribe, as it revived its dormant tradition of male initiation, Bogwera, under the guidance of its first ever female Paramount Chief Mosadi Seboko. Among initiates were five councilors from the South East District Council – two from the Botswana Congress Party, another two from the ruling Botswana Democratic party and one from the Botswana Movement for Democracy. The naming of the new regiment ‘Matsosa ngwao’ by Kgosi Seboko coincided with the annual national cultural day celebrations. The event attracted members of the diplomatic corps from Mozambique, Nigeria, the United States of America, the UK and, perhaps more important in an African than other context, the Chinese Women's Association.
