Overview
Together, all the herds of the Kalahari are known as the Kabambe'tapo ("the great herd"), while individual herds of like-species are simply shortened to tapo (pl. matapo; "herd of animals"). Each tapo is led by its most distinguished member, who is often but not always the most senior as well. This Mwongozi ("guide"), who is either male or female, has ascended to power because of their prowess or intelligence - or often both. Rarely do any Waongozi reach their position through brute force and barbarism; the former is often unnecessary, and the latter is an ignoble pursuit reserved for those who eat meat.
In any single herd, the males that have come of breeding age, the Kilinda ("protectors"), are charged with an extremely important task. Besides working to ensure that the herd does not become barren of young, they defend the herd from predators when possible, using whatever natural weapons they possess (antlers, horns, hooves and in desperation, even their teeth). They are not expected, however, to needlessly charge into danger when an escape route is available.
The adult females of the herd are divided among a social hierarchy, between those who have given birth, the Mama'wakubwa ("senior co-mothers"), and those who have not, the Mama'wadogo ("junior co-mothers"). Regardless of who they are, each individual Mama'mkubwa and Mama'mdogo is responsible for the care of all the youths of the herd, the mayusi ("youths"). However, despite this expectation, they are also expected that, of every one yusi of the herd, the care of their own is also put first.
Beliefs
One of the most important facets of ungulate beliefs is Kakara; the Struggle. Kakara itself is not a struggle between the different herds of the Kalahari, but between the Nyota ("stars"), who gave birth to the animals of the Kalahari, and Usiku ("night"), the opposer of the Nyota that seeks to cover the desert in unending darkness. In Kakara, the herds are faced with many challenges; famines, droughts, disease and predators, to name a few. All these maovu ("evils") are the weapons of Usiku, and each ovu sent from its domain in the Shadowlands, used to strike at and destroy the herds. Only the strongest survive these attacks, and they live to the end of their natural lives, when their spirits join the Nyota in the sky. Those who succumb are struck dead, and their spirits are taken to the Shadowlands to be tormented and eventually twisted into maovu. When the time is right, and the sky is filled with spirits, the Nyota will descend to the Kalahari with their army and destroy Usiku forever.