HISTORY
The earliest inhabitants of Botswana were San or Basarwa (Bushmen) who were in the area an estimated 30.000 years. Their nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle has left few traces except rock paintings. More technologically advanced and powerful pastoral and agricultural Bantu groups moved in from the north-west and east around the first and second century AD.
The first Setswana speaking group, the Bakgalagadi, arrived sometime in the 14th century. While, there was plenty of land the different peoples coexisted peacefully but in the early 19th century, a captain of Zulu broke away and led a Zulu force northwards. The local people were scattered and forced into more arid lands.
By 1830 Christian missionaries started the development of a common dialect Setswana.
Around 1836, the Boer Trekkers, escaping British rule, began to arrive and displace other groups. In the 1840s British missionaries David Livingstone and Robert Moffat settled stations among the Bakwene. Moffat translated the Bible into Setswana. This dialect was finally standardized by the colonial authorities.
In 1872 Khama III became chief of Barmangwato, one of the tribes of the Botswana group. He secured immunity from Matabele raids and increased order and stability. To avoid Boer rule, particularly after the discovery of gold at Tati, Khama asked for British protection. This was given in 1885. The British government put 'Bechuanaland' under its protection and stopped hostilities between the Bastwana and Boers settlers. The terms that were established let Khama retain control of administration, law and justice while Britain was responsible for security.
The territory south of the Molopo river was annexed to the Cape Colony in 1895 while the rest remained under British protection as Bechuanaland. A capital was chosen at Mafikeng, a town settled almost exclusively by Tswana speaking tribes.
Bechuanaland successfully resisted pressure to grant mining concessions to the British South Africa company and also in 1909 successfully resisted becoming part of South Africa.
Over the next half century, the country languished. It became a provider of cheap labour for South Africa's mines; education and welfare were neglected and the administration came entirely into colonial hands.
In 1923 Khama III died, his son and successor Sekgana died after being in power two years. Three-year-old Seretse Khama, inherited the leadership with his uncle, Tshekedi Khama as Regent. Seretse Khama's accession in 1950 changed the tone of Bechuanaland politics. While studying law in London, he married a white English woman. This was rated as a serious breach of tribal customs in Botswana.
In 1951 an European-African advisory council was formed. Seretse Khama was forced to stand down as chief of the Ngwato. The UK yielded to pressure and held him in exile until 1956.
On his return to Bechuanaland, Seretse Khama campaigned for change and in the 1960s founded the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Its policy sought a non-racial and democratic but traditional society in which chiefs and traditional courts still had a role.
In 1960 a representative legislative council was set up, there was now a formal negotiating mechanism and independence was achieved in a series of peaceful moves. Central authority was strengthened. The position of the Chiefs and African courts defined.
In 1964 Britain accepts proposals for democratic self-government. In 1965 the seat of government was transferred from Mafikeg to Gaborone. In the pre-independence elections of 1965 the BDP won 28 of the 31 elective seats. The country achieved independence as a republic on 30th September 1966 with Seretse Khama as president.
Seretse Khama led the country from 1965 until his death in 1980 when he was succeeded by Dr Omett Masive, formerly vice-president, who was knighted as Sir Ketumile Masive in 1991.Historical facts in the book:
The author describes beautifully throughout the book the History of Botswana, the different tribes who form the population of the country. He also explains the differences among them. During the whole novel the author mentions which languages do they speak, the official one which is English, and the common dialect which is Setswana.
In one of the chapters he introduces the part of the History in which the Boers settle down in Botswana, how the country becomes a protectorate and finally gains its independence and changes into a democratic but traditional country.
The latest point I'd like to mention as it is established in the novel, is about how Botswana's population share their traditional beliefs and rituals with others ceremonies much more Christian. In this way they continue maintaining the beliefs which were taught by Christian missionaries, they read the Bible and go to Sunday school and on the other hand they believe in black magic.
Flora Lomener Carmona