History and People of Botswana

Early History

The San - the ancestors of the Khoisan - were once spread over much of Africa and were probably the only people in Botswana up to 3,000 years ago. The San were completely adapted to the desert environment of Botswana. They probably made the rock paintings found all over Africa, including those in the Tsodilo Hills. The paintings at Tsodilo Hills show that the people there had developed a rich culture and many experts believe that the paintings have spiritual or mythological meanings.

In the last few centuries BC, agriculture and iron-working finally found their way into northern Botswana, and many Khoi people became farmers. The next people to arrive in Botswana were the Bantu, who brought western and eastern Bantu languages, Iron Age technology, and grain farming. The San, with their simpler Stone Age technology, could not compete and either became part of the Bantu groups or were pushed into places that were no good for farming. This meant that Stone Age cultures could still be found in the Kalahari long after they had died out elsewhere.

The Tswana rose to power from a number of groups that spread through what are now the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces between the 13th and 15th centuries AD.

The Ngwato Dynasty

This remarkable dynasty begins with the rule of Khama the Great, who had been converted to Christianity by David Livingstone. Khama ousted his father, Sekgoma I, who had resisted conversion, and became king of the Bamangwato. Khama foresaw that he would need to protect his people from colonization and campaigned for the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland.

Following the death of Khama, and that of Segkoma II who had ruled in his stead, Tshekedi Khama became regent until Seretse Khama, the heir to the throne, came of age. Tshekedi's reign was marked by educational and upliftment projects. He sent people to be trained in South Africa and they returned to teach in the local school. He also built a secondary school and a college. The college gave equal importance to academics and traditional knowledge and crafts. It was also the only college in southern Africa where the houses for the black and white teachers were equal.

Seretse Khama was educated in England and in 1948 he married an English woman, Ruth Williams. As a result the British barred him from his chieftaincy and forced him to stay in exile in England for six years. It is now known that this was done to please the South African government, who were then enforcing their policy of apartheid.

Seretse, Tshekedi and the people of Botswana protested his banishment, refusing to pay taxes or to accept the British-nominated chief. Eventually Seretse returned to Botswana with Ruth. Although he was not allowed to become chief, he still played an active part in politics and helped Botswana to gain its independence.

The British

When Germany annexed Namibia in 1884, the British began to worry that the Boers in the Transvaal would collaborate with the Germans to block British access to the north road to the interior. To safeguard this road, they created the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland.

The British intended to hand over the Protectorate to Cecil John Rhodes and his British South Africa Company (BSAC), as they had no interest in governing it. However, three Botswana chiefs went to London to plead with the government not to do this, as they did not trust Rhodes. Their campaign was supported by humanitarian groups and businesses in England. Chamberlain, fearing it might cost him the next election, agreed to the chiefs' demands, with the proviso that they give Rhodes the land for his railway.

A month later, Rhodes attacked the Transvaal in the infamous Jameson Raid, and failed. The British government was angered by Rhodes' scandalous attack and refused to transfer any Protectorate lands to him. The British continued govern the Protectorate for the next 70 years.

Independence

Between 1956 and 1966 local politics developed rapidly, and in 1962 Seretse Khama and fiver others formed the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), with the aim of an organised transition to independence. During this time there was much goodwill between the British and the people of Botswana, and this helped the transition take place smoothly and peacefully.

On 1 March 1965, the BDP took power in a peaceful election and Seretse Khama became Prime Minister. The constitution was amended and the country became a republic, with the Setswana name of Botswana, and Seretse Khama its first president.

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