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Formerly named Bechuanaland Protectorate, Botswana was a colony under the British crown. The name Botswana means, “Place of Tswana” in the dominant indigenous language. In political reverence it means “all citizens” of Botswana. This word however has an ethical meaning towards the Tswana, to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in the country. This double meaning may have been supported by an idea of a colorblind country. This was challenged as indigenous tribal groups sought out more governmental privileges and official recognition after years of colonial rule and abuse. It is interesting that no attempt to count population by ethnic origin has been made since 1946.[1] Botswana was shaped by a colonial dictatorship that disregarded indigenous boundaries and destroyed social fellowship; the result of this invasion was catastrophic to the cultural heritage of the nation.
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The dominant ethic group in Botswana is Tswana. This dates back to the eight original Tswana states under the British crown that ruled most of the area in the early 19th century. Going along with breaking of boundaries, a great number of Tswana exist in South Africa’s Northern region neighboring present Botswana. The populations of the eight district states in Botswana were designated officially as “tribes”, a name that is still used today within the country of Botswana among the people.[2]
According to Janet Hermans , “…Chieftainship had lost a lot of its former glory as a result of the declaration of a protectorate status over Botswana, and application of colonial rule through the policy of indirect rule, as pointed out, the reforms introduced by the colonial administration resulted in the chiefs losing their traditional executive powers.” [3] With colonial rule, each tribe lost its power to invading countries, seeking money and resources. The indigenous tribes having a government structure of their own, succumbed to the bigger colonial powers.
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Missionaries began arriving in Botswana in the early 1800’s bringing with them different customs and ideas with them foreign to the tribes that inhabited this land for thousand of years. The most famous of these missionaries were Robert Moffat and David Livingstone from the London Mission Society. Moffat came to Botswana in 1817 with the LMS, evangelizing the Bathaping people of modern day South Africa. Moffat is known for helping set up a defense for raiding parties against the tribes. Moffat would go out and gain friendship groups such as the Griquas, who were equipped with better weapons and were experts in equine tactics. David Livingstone was one of the most influential missionaries and explorers of his time. In the African language, Livingstone was known as the Ngaka, meaning doctor. Livingstone came to the region in the 1840 and was one of the first live-in resident missionary. The main purpose of the missionary was to persuade the Indigenous people of Botswana to come to Christ, and to do away with their traditions that were thought by the missionaries to be demonic and evil. These practices included: bogra mystic schools, boloi witchcraft, and rain making through chanting, and musical instruments in their daily lives. Livingstone is also famous for converting King Kgosi Sechele I of the Bakwena to Christianity.[4]
The region north of the Molopo River was made up of the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland. This land eventually broke and became the Cape Colony of South Africa. King Khama III convert to Christianity traveled to London with two tribal chieftains to persuade the colonial secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, to promise continual protection of the crown. In return they were to promise land for the construction of the railway to the North. The tribal areas have become dependent economically on their neighbors to provide a labor force for the Cape Colony and Transvaal, after the Union of South Africa.[1]
According to Penny Sonnenburg, “ Before the twentieth century, Bechuanaland was of interest to Britain only as a route to the north and as a buffer between, German South West Africa, and the Boer-controlled Transvaal. Bechuanaland had been declared one of the three High Commission territories along with Basutoland and Swaziland and was the responsibility of the Dominions Office in London. Under preasure from South Africa to allow Bechuanaland to be presumed into the Union of South Africa, the British government wavered.”[1] We can notice that the colonials continue to break up the indigenous land and make their own borders. Sonnenburg adds,” When faced with the evils of racism, Britain ultimately responded by containing the boundries-a rather passive policy but one that persevered the territories from the apartheid regime.” Here Britain is trying to contain its colony from the other colonial powers, by showing it cares for the tribes welfare outside of economic issues.
This neglect of the Indigenous ways of life through greed, and the abuse caused the people proved to be the colonial powers undoing. The colonial powers would continue to fight each other for this power. Different wars broke out everywhere. Tribal wars broke out against other tribes for chieftain control of land that once belonged to another tribe. With over 70 percent of the country converted to Christianity and many more receiving the Gospel , one can think that maybe it was His will for this land to be colonized. The cultural heritage of Botswana was almost destroyed by the colonist. With Gods helps through the missionaries being there we can see that a new fellowship was created and cultural heritage, one with thousands of Africans able to hear the Word of God.
[1] Penny Sonnenburg, Colonialism: An International, Social, Cultural, and Political Encyclopedia, Volume 1(Oxford England: ABC Cleo, 2003),52.
[1] "HISTORY OF BOTSWANA." HISTORY OF BOTSWANA. Accessed March 10, 2016. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp?historyid=ad31.
[1] International Business, Botswana: Country Study Guide Volume I(DC, USA, International Business Publications,2013), 38.
[3] Janet Hermans and Sue Brothers, Botswana In the 21st Century: Proceeding[s] Of A Sy[m]posium(Botswana: Botswana Society, 1994), 407.
[4] Gasebalwe Seretse, The Missionary Legacy: How The LMS Help Build Botswana,. Accessed: March 10th 2016. http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=6&aid=978&dir=2011/august/monday15
[5] dancing, Accessed March 10, 2016. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GOVERNOR_GENERAL_AUSTRALIA_AFRICA_TOUR_(10698721926).jpg.
[6] "Traditional Dance Troupe, Tlokweng Botswana." YouTube. Accessed March 10, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf1fgCe0Aig.
[7]"Botswana National Anthem (Instrumental) - "Fatshe Leno La Rona"" YouTube. Accessed March 10, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WetN2VsVYRU.
[8] Accessed March 10, 2016. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Baxter,_The_Reverend_Robert_Moffat,_1_April_1843.jpg.
[9]Accessed March 10, 2016. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/David_Livingstone#/media/File:Carte_de_visite_of_David_Livingstone.jpg.
[10]Accessed March 10, 2016. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Maps_of_Botswana#/media/File:Botswana_Districts_numbered_300px.png.
[11]"HISTORY OF BOTSWANA." HISTORY OF BOTSWANA. Accessed March 10, 2016. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp?historyid=ad31.
[12]Penny Sonnenburg, Colonialism: An International, Social, Cultural, and Political Encyclopedia, Volume 1(Oxford England: ABC Cleo, 2003),52.
