NATION BUILDING
Definition of terms
Nation -a group of people sharing common history, culture and language within a defined territorial area
under one government.
Nationalism- a set of beliefs and symbols expressing identification within a given national symbol. It is a
strong feeling of love and pride towards one’s own country.
State- a country in an organized political community controlled by one government. It is simply the
government of a country.
Patriotism- the love of one’s country and willingness to defend it.
Colonialism- the process whereby western countries/nations established their rule in parts of the world
away from their territories.
Ethnicity- cultural values and norms which distinguish the members of a given group.
MFECANE AND THE EFFECTS ON BATSWANA
Definition
A period of turmoil and tribal wars that occurred in southern Africa during the early parts of the
nineteenth century.
EFFECTS
Loss of human like Kgosi Makaba was killed during the wars.
Scattering of Batswana as they flee for safety.
Increased dominance of some powerful groups over small groups.
Early stage of strong nation building as different merafe came together because there is strength in
unity.
Formation of alliances for defense purposes e.g., bangwato and bakalanga ba ka nswazi.
Emergence of powerful leaders such as Sekgoma, Sechele, Khama.
Loss of property e.g., land, cattle.
Introduction of kgamelo system which was introduced by Kgosi kgari as a way of strengthening his
power.
Batswana were captured and absorbed into the ranks of the invaders.
Loss of power by Tswana chiefs.
New military tactics learned e.g., settling on hill tops for defense like in Kanye.
Batswana realized the need to trade with the settlers to obtain firearms for defense of their people.
Political disorganization due to loss of royal family members especially leaders e.g., Kgosi makaba
death.
ORIGINS OF BATSWANA
The population of Batswana is very diverse i.e. it is made up of several ethnic groups of
different origins and languages.
The Tswana speaking groups like bakgatla, bangwaketse, bakwena etc. came from south
Africa and spread into the interiors of southern Botswana on the 1800s.
Wayei, hambukushu and subiya came from central Africa while the herero are from Namibia.
The Kalanga trace their origin from the Bapedi but later adopted the Kalanga language.
The basarwa are earliest inhabitants of Botswana.
NB: the groups arrived at different times and occupied the different areas of Botswana. However,
some were displaced by Mfecane wars.
Despite these diverse origins ,efforts geared towards unity amongst the people have been
made. These include: appreciation of each other.
Promotion of common language or language national policy.
Equal recognition of all groups in Botswana.
Willingness to work for the common goal of all.
Equal distribution of resources for the benefit of all.
Adoption of a common identity.
MULTI-ETHNICITY AS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF NATION BUILDING
Tribes or ethnic groups learn each other’s culture and take or adopt the important aspects of this
culture to make them thieves, therefore each ethnic group feel that the others are important.
It has encouraged marriage across ethnic groups which has united Batswana as a nation because
every Motswana is related to any Motswana of any tribe regardless of the background of which one
comes from.
Different ethnic groups in Botswana do respect each other in that they do not look down upon the
others despite the different ethnic backgrounds.
Multi- =ethnicity promotes a common identity when people feel that they are Batswana and ignore
their ethnicity.
THE ROLE PLAYED BYT THE DIKGOSI AND MISSIONARIES IN THE FACE OF THREATS OF
ASSIMILATION AND OR TAKE OVER BT THE BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY (BSACo) AND
THE BOER STATES OF GOSHEN AND STELALAND IN THE 1850’S UNTIL 1895.
How the bores threatened the lives of Batswana
After defending Mzilikazi, Boers told Batswana rulers that their land was under Boer control
because Boers had defeated the Batswana amandebele enemy. Rulers such as Sechele I
rejected Boer rule and this resulted in 1852-53 Boer war at dimawe where the Boers attacked
Batswana merafe.
Boers wanted laborers to work for them e.g. kgamanyane( son of Kgosi pilane of bakgatla) was
publicly flogged when he refused to supply free labor to them.
Encroachment into the lands of Batswana because they wanted to take the land e.g. bores
crossed the Vaal river and settled in eastern Botswana.
An agreement was made in 1890 by the British government to transfer Batswana land to the
BSACo without the consent of the dikgosi.
Bathoen, Khama and Sechele went to England to petition the transfer, they were accompanied
by the missionary W.C .Willoughby who acted as their interpreter .dikgosi advanced the
following reasons:
*To remain under British protection.
*To retain their powers as leaders.
*Their land is not to be sold.
*Liquor to be prohibited in their territories.
REASONS FOR THE DECLARATION OF THE PROTECTORATE
The protectorate was declared over Bechuanaland in1885 when it was least expected. The British
declared the protectorate for the following reasons:
*The Germans presence in southwestern Africa (Namibia) which they took over in 1884. The British
feared the Boers and the Germans may merge and take over Bechuanaland.
In the 1880s, the missionaries convinced the British government to protect Batswana from the
Boers.
Missionaries such as john Mackenzie helped a lot because they wanted to expand the gospel.
Protection of the road to the north which was used to reach other territories/ colonies and was also
used by the British traders.
To prevent expansion of the Boers into Batswana territory- they had already taken Goshen.
Exploration of minerals; discovery of gold in Tati and diamonds in Kimberly raised hopes of
discovery of more minerals in the region.
Need for cheap labor in the south African mines e.g., by the BSACo.
RESPONSES OF THE DIKGOSI TO THE DECLARATION OF THE PROTECTORATE
There were mixed reactions to the declaration of the protectorate.
Those feeling threatened , the nation building process ,some chiefs like Sechele and his son Sebele,
lentswe and gaseitsewe were suspicious and reluctant to accept the protection because there were no
consultations.
