Botswana’s National Symbols

Botswana’s National Symbols

As September is Botswana month, we continue to look at the identifying markers of the country: Botswana’s national symbols.

1. Name

The first and most obvious identifier is the name. Although generally referred to simply as Botswana, the official name of this country is Republic of Botswana. This name was adopted at independence from the British, in 1966. Prior to that, the area was known as Bechuanaland Protectorate, and it neighboured British Bechuanaland, which was eventually incorporated into South Africa’s Cape Colony.

Geographically, Botswana sits on a roughly 580,000 square kilometre (225,000 sq mi) piece of land in Southern Africa, between latitudes 17.5°S and 27°S, and longitudes 20°E and 30°E. It is a landlocked country sandwiched between South Africa to the south and south-east, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the north-east. Botswana also shares a 1km long border with Zambia to its extreme northeast. This conclave forms the only true international quadripoint (place where four countries meet) in the world, and occurs between the towns of Kazungula, Botswana and Kazungula, Zambia, which have recently been made more famous by their spectacular bridge between Botswana and Zambia, over the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers (the latter being renowned for being home to the mighty Victoria Falls).

Historically, this meant Botswana was almost completely surrounded by White-minority repressive regimes in South Africa, its extension, South West Africa (now Namibia), and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) during the 1970s and 1980s at the height of liberation struggles for democratic self-determination for these states.

2. Botswana Flag

The most visible national symbol of any country is probably its national flag. Botswana has one of the easier flags to remember, which is both horizontally and vertically symmetrical, comprising a thick sky blue stripe at the top and bottom and a black one at the centre. Between the blue and black stripes are single, narrower white stripes.

The blue symbolises water and the clear skies that the country enjoys. Mainly water (rain), as Batswana are a people who value rain so much so that our national motto/greeting is “Pula!” – which literally translates to ‘rain’. The black and the white stripes are symbolic of multiracialism, while at the same time acknowledging that Blacks form the demographic majority, as symbolised by the narrowness of the white stripes.

3. Botswana Coat of Arms

Another commonly seen national symbol is the coat of arms. Among the symbols on the coat of arms is the word “Pula” (as above), a bull head and sorghum head to represent the importance of agriculture, while at the same time having an elephant tusk and two zebras, indicating the value the country attaches to its wildlife.

The largest element in the coat-of-arms is an African shield, which also acts as a background for some of the smaller elements, including said bull head, among others. The shape of the shield has however, been an issue of debate for some time, as there are some that feel it is not a Tswana shield, but more Nguni, and even East African. This objection was first brought to attention by University of Botswana historian (in the 1970s), Prof Neil Parsons; but there are others who argue that although the “Tswana shield”

shape that is often depicted in literature differs from this one, Batswana of old did indeed use both shapes.

The preferred shape proposed by Parsons et al can be seen in the coat-of-arms of the former Tswana bantustan of Bophuthatswana in South Africa, pictured here.

4. Botswana National Anthem

Penned by legendary composer, musician, and politician, Kgaleman Tumediso Motsete, Botswana’s national anthem is titled “Fatshe Leno La Rona” (this land/country is ours), and has been in use since its adoption in 1966. Among the honours KT Motsete received for his efforts is being a permanent feature on Botswana’s 20 Pula banknote, and having Gaborone’s principal motorway named after him. Private citizens have also hallowed his name by naming what is perhaps the best choral music outfit in the country after him: KTM Choir.

Unfortunately, the official English translation of the anthem is, for the want of a better word, poorly done, and has urgently needed to be revised since the first day it was published.

5. Botswana Brand

Pride Mark

ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 Code: BWA

ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 Code: BW

National Currency: Pula and thebe. BWP 1.00 = 100 thebe.

Click these links to read more about national animals and national plants.

 Featured Image courtesy of https://www.checinternational.org/events/botswana-independence-day-6d9l9

 

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