Introduction / History

Tswanas are also called Batswana. They speak Setswana, and live in three countries in southern Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Using ox-drawn iron plows, Tswana farmers grow maize, beans, sugarcane, and millet. Some farmers engage in commercial agriculture. Their livestock includes sheep, goats, and cattle. The cattle are especially important because they are used for trade and rituals. Most Tswana homesteads include chickens, their primary source of meat. They seldom eat beef; cattle are more commonly used for milk production. Commonly, Tswana men work away from home at mines and on large farms.

Traditionally, Tswanas make their baskets, metal goods, pottery, etc. Today, they are more likely to purchase these.

Their staple food is porridge made from a mixture of sorghum and millet. At weddings and other celebrations, they eat seswaa, which is a shredded meat dish. Madila is somewhere between cheese and a sour cultured milk dish. They often eat this at breakfast with their porridge.

Tswana girls are referred to as “the one who fetches water” and given low status. Her desires are barely taken into consideration when her parents choose a husband for her.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Their traditional religious beliefs centered around the worship of a creator god and ancestral spirits. Today most are Christian, either Roman Catholic or Protestant.

What Are Their Needs?

Tswanas need more job opportunities that won’t take them away from home. Typically, a man leaves his family for long periods. Children don’t have a father figure, and the men often indulge themselves with prostitutes. The situation causes family difficulties on many levels.

Prayer Items

Pray for Tswana men to give themselves over to obey Jesus Christ; may there their families be wonderfully blessed by the Lord.
Pray that soon, Tswana Christians will go to the least-reached parts of Africa with the gospel.
Pray for Tswana disciples who will disciple others.
Pray for the Lord to provide Tswana farms with an abundant harvest as a testimony of what God can do.

Scripture Prayers for the Tswana in Zimbabwe.

References

https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/tswana.html
https://thetribalsociety.com/the-tswana-people/
https://qiraatafrican.com/en/15535/the-tswana-people/