Batalaote are an ethnic group found in Botswana and south-western parts of Zimbabwe, commonly mistaken to be part of a larger group called Bakalanga-Banyai.
[1] They speak dialects such as: Dhalaunda was the leader of one of these "Kalanga" sub-tribes and the clan was named after him, originally Badhalaunda, but then Bangwato changed it to Batalaote, as they changed Bakalanga to Bakalaka, maybe because of difficulty pronouncing the Kalanga words.
They are found in the central district of Botswana and south-western parts of Zimbabwe.
Some of them live in Serowe; former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, is a member.
They are thought to have been a part of the Rozvi/Lozi People upon a time beofore they fled zimbabwe due to supposed civil strife and their totem is a heart/pelo/moyo and they do not pierce their ears.