Sebele II

Kelebantse Sebele a Sechele II (1892 – 2 October 1939), known as Sebele II, was chief, or kgosi, of the Kwena tribe in the Bechuanaland Protectorate (present-day Botswana) from 1918 to 1931. He succeeded his father, Sechele II. Though popular among the people, Sebele was challenged by members of his family and the British colonial administration throughout his reign. His tolerance of traditional religious practices like polygamy and the bogwera rite of passage made him an enemy of the Christian tribal headmen and the London Missionary Society. Many attempts were made by colonial leaders to undermine his popularity, criticising Sebele as a violent alcoholic and forming Tribal Councils made up of his opponents. As kgosi, Sebele led several infrastructure projects and collected grain and cattle to give to the poor.

Sebele was exiled by the colonial administration in 1931, in an effort led by Resident Commissioner Charles Rey, when he was accused of corruption and oppression. His removal incited anger among the Kwena tribes people, the Bakwena, who continued recognising him as the legitimate kgosi. He was succeeded by his younger brother Kgari Sechele II, who was appointed by Rey despite his not being next in the line of succession. Sebele's son Moruakgomo Sechele became a pretender, triggering a succession crisis in 1962.