Setlutlu was not Kololo by birth; she may have been Batlokoa, or Phuthing.
[4][5] She had been captured during war, and Sebetwane, the Kololo ruler, originally awarded Setlutlu to Lechae, one of his young commanders, to serve as his wife.
[6] David Livingstone met and interacted with Setlutlu on many occasions, and frequently mentioned her in his accounts of his travels.
[7] She evidently held much influence over the commanders that Sibituane left, and wielded power.
For instance, in c. 1854, she assisted David Livingstone by outspokenly supporting his request to Mpolo to free a number of captives.