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The Tswana tradition lies deep in the roots of Africa. The Tswanas are divided in  tribes each with their own Kgosi or head. In Mafikeng we are talking about the Barolong. During the siege Mafikeng was only one and a half kilometers from the center of the Barolong stadt, traditional capital of the Tshidi Barolong tribe. It was here that the Molema section of the tribe settled in the early 1850's while the senior section of the tribe under Montshiwa remained at Machaneng in the Kanya district. The Barolong were in many skirmishes e.g. when  the Goshenites raided Barolong cattle posts north west of Mafikeng and drove off over 3000 head of cattle.  The Tswanas is a peaceful nation and always willing to a peace treaty e.g. with Gey von Pittius and Joubert. As all independent nation the Barolong were also not willing to let the land that rightfully belong to them be taken. The English knew it was for their own good to have the Barolongs on there side. Warren offered to help Montshiwa by erecting a chapel for his Wesleyan subjects to replace the one built by Molema and wrecked during the war of 1881-1884 against the Goshenites. Three Barolong regiments made bricks and supplied unskilled labour while the Royal Engineers did the masonry and skilled work. The church was opened on December 5, 1885 and continued to be in use until recently. The Tswanas mainly lived from what the land could offer them and kept a lot of livestock, They regarded family and extended family life very high. Sol Plaatje was one of the most well known Tswana people.