BAPO 2 is an ethnic rural village in the North West province of South Africa. Royalty The royal family of Bapo 2 is the Mogale family. Previous chiefs include the founder Diderick Moerane succeeded by his son Agonkitse Mogale who was followed by Semetsa Mogale. Currently Semetsa's grandson Lebogang Meso is the chief. Lebogang's father Gobakwang predeceased his father Semetsa. Brief history of the Bapô (a branch of Setswana-speaking Matebele) The following is a brief outline of the Bapô’s history describing their origins, some of their rulers and division of the Bapô into two tribes. The brief history follows the reigns of some of the most important rulers of the Bapô from 1760 to 1900. The Sotho name Bapô is derived from the Nguni equivalent abaMbô. The tribe originated four generations after the first Ndebele chief, Musi, as a junior branch of the Ndebele of Valtyn. There is uncertainty about the identity of the first chief. He may have been Môgale o Monnyane. Other spokespersons say it was his son, Lotsane (Lozani) who, however, did not rule but Majaka (who Majakaneng is named after) who acted on his behalf. The Bapô is derived from regiments of the Ndebele (of Mankopane/Makopane) who participated in a war between two Tswana tribes during 1670 to 1720. They were sent to assist the Bakwêna Bamôgôpa and after the war refused to return as they have married Tswana women. At least five chiefs and regents initially lived at Makolokwe (Wolwekraal) where Moerane rose to prominence. He led the group to Thlôgôkgôlô (Wolhuterskop). During the reign of Chief Moerane ( 1795 to 1815) the Bapô fought various battles such as the following, namely: Against the Bakwena Bamôgôpa over the possession of Bethanië (Mantabole) at Zandfontein east of the Bapô’s villages. (The Bamogopa were defeated and their Chief Sejane More was slain). Against the Bafokeng and killed four of chief Sekete's sons. (Hostilities between the Bamôgôpa and the Bafokeng continued during Chief Moerane's reign.) From 1817 to 1823 the Pedi under Malekutu (the eldest brother of Sekwati) raided the Bapô. At the time Moerane hide in the cave known as Phato in the Magaliesberg. Although the Bapô withstood the attack, Malekutu's Pedi routed the women and children at the Bapô’s villages on their return journey while Masite and most of Moerane's sons at his head wife were killed. His grandson Mogale Mogale (born 1810) returned with him.