September is Botswana Month

September is Botswana Month

Botswana got her independence from the United Kingdom on the last day of September, 57 years ago. A less known fact is that September 30, 1966 was also the 79th anniversary of Bechuanaland being divided into two countries just six months after becoming a British protectorate.

Faced with the imminent threat of the South African Boer republics, German colonisation of South West Africa, and/or incorporation into Cecil John Rhodes’ ruthless takeover scheme (whichever would come first), Queen Victoria granted protectorate status to Batswana’s lands on the 31st of March 1885.
Half a year later, the area south of the Molopo River was effectively annexed by the British, separating it from the protectorate, and making it a Crown territory known as British Bechuanaland, on the 30th of September 1885.
10 years later, this territory would become incorporated into the Cape Colony and effectively lose all ties with the protectorate to the north, except that the administrative capital of the protectorate remained in Mafikeng for a significant while after. During their fabled trip to Brighton, The Three Dikgosi, successfully negotiated with the British Crown against the idea of incorporating Bechuanaland Protectorate, thus keeping it a separate country from what would soon become the Union of South Africa.

Another less known fact is that although the Three Dikgosi are the ones who made it to statesman status in Botswana, the expedition actually had FOUR Dikgosi. Unfortunately for the Barolong living south of the Molopo, it was a done deal, as they, being in a Crown land, did not enjoy the level of autonomy as those in the Protectorate. To make matters worse, their aging ruler, Kgosi Montshiwa I, was not in a position to make the trip, and sent his son and heir, Besele, in his stead. As their land has since been incorporated into what is now the Republic of South Africa, there is very little mention of Besele (or his father) in the story of our very own “three wise men” – or should I say “three kings”.

Another fun fact that many do not know is that although we knew the late Queen Elizabeth II (ER II) as Mmamosadinyana [Madam Little Woman], that name was initially coined up and used to refer to Queen Victoria, who was known to be short in stature (at about 1.5 metres or 5 feet).

From the Lwetse [September] post, you have read that September is considered to be the first month of the traditional Tswana year, and this was not unique to Batswana, as other Southern African peoples, such as the Zulus also observed such a yearly cycle. So September is indeed Botswana Month, and we will have a slightly higher than average number of posts this month as we celebrate this month.

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