Crossing Borders...

[2] https://commons.wikimedia.org

Before Botswana became a country or a protectorate under Great Britain, it’s ethnic groups were spread all over South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. The result of colonialism, we see the borders we see today in Botswana. Some of these tribes benefited from the colonial borders because of some of the inter-tribal wars that were going on , while some of the tribes were devastated because of this outcome. [3]

[5] https://commons.wikimedia.org

Some tribal lands were broken up between the few nations, that resulted from colonial power, while some gained land. Bechuanaland was meant to be for Tswana people and administrative reasons. It was divided into 2 political entities. The North was the Protectorate, while the South was the crown colony of British Bechuanaland.  Originally the land was to be turned over as protectorate of Rhodesia or South Africa. The Tswana opposition left protectorate under the rule of the British crown until 1966. The Bechuanaland was said to be a protectorate where, Tswana or tribes were left in power, rather than the crown or colonial rule.[4]

These colonial powers eventually gave the people a national identity of ethnic groups together under a flag and a national anthem.

   Setswana

Fatshe leno la rona                                                                   

                                                                                                  

Ke mpho ya Modimo,

Ke boswa jwa borraetsho;

A le nne ka kagiso.

Chorus:

Tsogang, tsogang! banna, tsogang!

Emang, basadi, emang, tlhagafalang!

Re kopaneleng go direla

Lefatshe la rona.

Ina lentle la tumo

La tshaba ya Botswana,

Ka kutlwano le kagisano,

E bopagantswe mmogo.

English

Blessed be this noble land,

Gift to us from God's strong hand,

Heritage our fathers left to us.

May it always be at peace.

Chorus:

Awake, awake, O men, awake!

And women close beside them stand,

Together we'll work and serve

This land, this happy land!

Word of beauty and of fame,

The name Botswana to us came.

Through our unity and harmony,

We'll remain at peace as one. [6]

[1]https://commons.wikimedia.org/bechuanaland
[2] ibid
[3] "List of Ethnic Groups of Africa" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_groups_of_Africa#Southern_Africa(accessed:3-3-16)

[4]ibid
[5]  https://commons.wikimedia.org

[6] "Fathshe Leno Larona" "This Is Our Land" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatshe_leno_la_rona(Accessed: 3-3-16)