2. Kgosi Sebetwane falls in the same category of warriors like Mzilikazi, Soshangane & Zwangendaba who trekked from their original homelands & established new kingdoms & nations. Fleeing from Queen Mathantisi Sebetwane also traversed accross SADC as he built his Kololo nation.
3. Sebetwane originated from the Bafokeng clan of the BaSotho people & was chief of the Patsa. He migrated with his BaSotho people who later became known as Makololo. Around 1830 he invaded Barotseland in south western Zambia & conquered the Lozi.
4. Through conquest & assimilation by the Kololo, the Lozi language spoken in Zambia evolved from a mixture of Luyana & Kololo. Lozi language is therefore most closely related to Sesotho, SeTswana, & SheKgalagari. It is classified within the Sotho-Tswana branch of Zone S (S.30).
5. Distinguished as both a warrior and a statesman, Sebetwane was able to consolidate his military gains by his generous and just treatment of the conquered peoples.
6. A maverick politician, Sebetwane maintained a peaceful kingdom, despite the numerical disadvantage of his own Kololo people. He prevented them from forming an aristocracy & he also delegated authority to conquered chiefs.
7. Sebetwane died in 1851 & was succeeded by his son Sekeletu. During Sekeletu& #39;s reign the state weakened. In the 1880s the Kololo rulership was overthrown & the Kololo were absorbed into a reemerging Lozi state under the reign of the legendary Lewanika.
8. This thread therefore answers the question why the Lozi language spoken in Zambia is similar to Sesotho & Setswana. It is important to also clarify that by the late 1880s the Luyana language had been long lost & forgotten hence the dominance of Sesotho in the Lozi language.
9. Some useful Lozi phrases..... If you are conversant in Setswana & Sesotho they will make sense.....
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